Jason Mewes
From Degrassi Wiki
Jason Edward Mewes (born June 12, 1974) is an American television and film actor known for playing foul-mouthed drug dealer Jay, the vocal half of Jay and Silent Bob from the "View Askewniverse" films of Mewes' childhood friend Kevin Smith. He has appeared in all of Smith's films except Jersey Girl.
Mewes grew up in Highlands, New Jersey, living with his mother, a heroin addict, who died of AIDS in 2002.[1] He has never met his father. He was raised primarily by his aunt, but would often steal from her so that his mother could buy drugs. He himself started using heroin in his early 20s, and remained addicted for the next decade.[1] Smith entered Mewes into the first of a series of drug rehabilitation clinics in 1997, after noticing Mewes was nodding off during the filming of Chasing Amy.[1] Mewes' attempt at sobriety was short-lived, however; in 1999, he was arrested for possession of heroin and a syringe, in violation of his probation.[2] He also stole Smith's ATM card and charged $1,100, and had heroin FedExed to the hotel where the press junket for Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back was being held.[1] Smith had taken Mewes in to live with him and his wife, Jennifer Schwalbach Smith, but kicked him out after he was caught using again.[1] In another attempt to get clean, Mewes moved in with his mother, who gave him OxyContin to ease the withdrawal symptoms; Mewes was soon addicted to that substance as well.[1] In 2003, he made another attempt at sobriety, this time successful; to date, he has remained sober.[1] [edit]Career
While he is mostly known for acting in films, Mewes also has worked in television. He voiced the role of Jay in the short-lived Clerks: The Animated Series. He, along with Smith, appeared in the films Scream 3, Bottoms Up and on Degrassi: The Next Generation. He appeared in two episodes of a three-part story arc in which he and Smith film a new addition to Smith's New Jersey films entitled Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh? at Degrassi Community School. They appear again on Degrassi (in a two part episode), at the premiere of Jay and Silent Bob go Canadian, Eh? in Canada. Mewes, Smith, and Degrassi star Stacie Mistysyn made the cover of Canadian TV Guide. He and Kevin Smith will return to Degrassi: The Next Generation for some of the final 4 episodes of season 8 entitled Paradise City. In 1998, he starred as "Gary Lamb - Ground Activist" in a series of Nike commercials directed by Smith. In Scarface: The World Is Yours Mewes provides a voiceover for a thief who steals some tapes. The character's dialogue, consisting mainly of constant stream-of-consciousness profanity, is entirely consistent with that of the Jay character. Mewes starred in the pilot episode of a Kevin Smith directed sitcom called Hating Hal (which never advanced beyond the pilot stage.) During a radio interview on WJFK 106.7, Mewes confirmed that at one time, he had a deal with Kevin Smith, that if he stayed sober, that they would make Clerks 2. He also stated that he is doing a film called K 11 with Kristen Stewart and Nikki Reed, and that he dyed his hair black for this role.[3] [edit]Filmography
Year Film Role Notes 1994 Clerks Jay 1995 Mallrats Jay 1996 Drawing Flies Az 1997 Chasing Amy Jay 1999 Dogma Jay Tail Lights Fade uncredited The Blair Clown Project Witness #3 Spilt Milk 2000 Scream 3 Jay Vulgar Tuott the Basehead 2001 Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back Jay 2001-2002 Clerks Jay 6 episodes 2002 R.S.V.P. Terry High Times' Potluck Guy Hot Rush 2003 Pauly Shore Is Dead Jay the MC as Jay Mewes 2004 Powder: Up Here Evil Villain 2005 Degrassi: The Next Generation Himself 4 episodes My Big Fat Independent Movie Answering Machine voice Tom 51 The Pleasure Drivers Counter Monkey 2006 Clerks II Jay Feast Edgy Cat National Lampoon's TV: The Movie Bottoms Up Owen Peadman The Tripper Joey Jack's Law Bobby Mewes 2007 Netherbeast Incorporated Waxy Dan 2008 Bitten Jack Video Zack and Miri Make a Porno Lester Tattoos: A Scarred History Himself Noah's Ark: The New Beginning Ham voice Fanboys Himself cameo 2009 Tom Cool Midgets Vs. Mascots Jason uncredited Silent But Deadly Thomas Capper post-production Repo T.J. post-production Shoot the Hero Nate post-production Mitch and Stu's Quest Stu pre-production The Science of Cool[4] Coach Cambria In production K-11 Ray pre-production
