John Early (born January 21, 1988) is an American comedian, actor, and singer. He has appeared on 30 Rock as Jenna Maroney's son and in the independent film Fort Tilden. He starred in Search Party, which aired on TBS and HBO Max from 2016 to 2022. In 2025, he made his directorial debut with the film Maddie's Secret.
Early life Early is from Nashville, Tennessee. His father was a Presbyterian minister and his mother a minister at a church of the Disciples of Christ. As a youth, he attended Interlochen Center for the Arts during the summer. [https://a24films.com/notes/2025/11/with-davine-joy-randolph-john-early A24films.com John Early Interview.
He attended the University School of Nashville. He graduated from New York University, where he majored in acting at the Atlantic Acting School.
When he was 11, he became a big fan of Australian actress Toni Collette and ran a fan website devoted to her.
Career Early tours the country with his stand-up/variety show "Literally Me" and also hosts a monthly variety event, "Showgasm", at Ars Nova in New York City. He was featured on Lauren Lapkus's podcast With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus (Episode 41, August 28, 2015), and in Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp, which was released on Netflix in 2015. He has made voice appearances on two episodes of Bob's Burgers as brunch blogger Dalton Crespin.
Early frequently collaborates with comedians such as Hamm Samwich and Kate Berlant in a variety of sketch and filmed presentations. In 2016, he wrote and starred in a 30-minute episode of the sketch show Netflix Presents: The Characters. In 2017, he and Berlant starred in the Vimeo miniseries 555, directed by Andrew DeYoung. He also had a small role as Evan in the 2017 drama Beatriz at Dinner. In 2019, Early appeared in the music video for "Squidward Nose" by Cupcakke. In July 2019, he starred in an episode of Drunk History about Martha Mitchell.
Early appeared in a sketch titled "Credit Card Roulette" in the Netflix comedy program I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson and in the music video for "Anti-Hero" by Taylor Swift. In 2022, Peacock released a sketch comedy special produced by Early and Berlant, Would It Kill You to Laugh?. In 2023, HBO released John Early: Now More Than Ever, a stand-up and musical comedy special, followed in 2024 by the release of the musical covers of 1970s-era songs from the special as his debut album, Now More Than Ever.
Maddie's Secret, Early's debut film as a director, premiered at the 2025 Toronto International Film Festival.Etan Vlessing, "John Early’s ‘Maddie’s Secret,’ Nadia Latif’s ‘The Man in My Basement’ Join Toronto Film Fest Lineup". The Hollywood Reporter, July 23, 2025.
Personal life Early is gay, and a member of the Democratic Socialists of America.
Filmography Film
Year Title Role Director Notes 2013 Sardines Out of a Can Arnie Shonali Bhowmik 2014 Fort Tilden John Sarah-Violet BlissCharles Rogers 2016 Other People Gabe Chris Kelly 2016 Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising Darren Nicholas Stoller 2017 Beatriz at Dinner Evan Miguel Arteta 2017 Fun Mom Dinner Alfred Alethea Jones 2017 What Children Do Pastor Wes Dean Peterson 2017 The Disaster Artist Chris James Franco 2018 Thread John Max Rosen Short film 2019 Late Night Chris Reynolds Nisha Ganatra 2019 Good Posture Sol Dolly Wells 2020 Save Yourselves! Blake Alex Huston FischerEleanor Wilson 2020 Inspector Ike Chip Conrad Graham Mason 2022 DC League of Super-Pets Barry Allen / The Flash Jared Stern Voice 2024 Stress Positions Terry Goon Theda Hammel 2024 Big City Greens the Movie: Spacecation Alexander Anna O'Brian Voice 2025 Maddie's Secret Maddie Himself 2025 Eternity Ryan David Freyne 2026 She Keeps Me Young Daniel Doron Max Hagay 2026 Never Change! Tim Marty Schousboe 2026 Coyote vs. Acme Henry Heslop Dave Green
Television
Year Title Role Notes 2012 30 Rock Jerome Episode: "Standards and Practices" 2015High Maintenance Wayne Episode: "Sabrina" 2015 Broad City Brandon Episode: "The Matrix" 2015 Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp Logan 2 episodes 2015The Special Without Brett Davis Tyler Episode: "Vic & the Moose & Tyler" 2016–2018Animals. The Assistant, Monty, Fashion Rat 2 Voice, 4 episodes 2016Love Daniel Episode: "Party in the Hills" 2016Netflix Presents: The Characters John the Intern, Jason, Riley, Vicky 2 episodes 2016Difficult People Mickey Episode: "Kessler Epstein Foundation" 2016Haters Back Off Maureen The Mattress Queen Episode: "Starr Off the Parade" 2016–2022Search Party Elliott Goss Main cast 2017Portlandia Funeral DirectorEpisode: "Fred's Cell Phone Company" 2017Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later Logan 4 episodes 2017–2021Bob's Burgers Dalton Crespin / Receptionist Voice, 3 episodes 2017–2020At Home with Amy Sedaris Russell Schnabble 5 episodes 2018Another Period ReporterEpisode: "Sex Nickelodeon" 2018Human Kind Of Callie / Mr. JakeVoice, 6 episodes 2018–2022Big City Greens Alexander Voice, 12 episodes 2019Los Espookys Mark Stevens 4 episodes 2019–2022Tuca & Bertie Dirk / various Voice, recurring role 2020Helpsters Fashion FilEpisode: "Chef Charlie/Fashion Fil" 2020–2022Central Park Augustus Voice, 2 episodes 2020–2022Close Enough Mr. Timothy Brice Campbell Voice, recurring role 2021I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson Leslie Episode: "Didn't you say there was gonna be five people at this table?" 2021The Fungies! Torsean / Billy FungieVoice, episode: "Billy Fungie" 2021–2025The Great North Henry Tuntley / various Voice, recurring role 2021–2023Summer Camp Island Bearded Sheep Voice, recurring role 2022Robot Chicken Elefun / World War I Pilot #1Voice, episode: "May Cause Involuntary Political Discharge" 2022Life & Beth JohnEpisode: "Life & Beth" 2022–2023The Afterparty Detective Culp Recurring role 2022Killing It Kevin Brailing Episode: "The Kingmaker" 2022American Dad! VariousVoice, 2 episodes 2022Archer WallyVoice, episode: "Distraction Action" 2022Rick and Morty Grand Orbship Council-MemberVoice, episode: "Analyze Piss" 2022Would It Kill You to Laugh? Himself Comedy special 2023John Early: Now More Than Ever Himself HBO comedy special 2024 Girls5eva Chuck Dennis Episode: "Bomont" 2024Laid Himself Episode: "Flagstaff" 2024The Simpsons Joel Voice, episode: "Convenience Airways" 2025Very Important People Bill Episode: "Barbara and Bill" 2025Long Story Short Jean-Pierre Voice, episode: "Hannah's Dance Recital" 2025Universal Basic GuysKardgenVoice, episode: "I Am Jar" 2026The ComebackJosh Abrams3 episodes2026King of the HillDave VealVoice, episode: "No-Cuddle Offense"
Music videos Year Title Performer(s) Album 2019 "Squidward Nose" Cupcakke Not applicable 2022 "Anti-Hero" Taylor Swift Midnights
Theatre YearTitleRoleVenueRef.2025What We Did Before Our Moth DaysTimGreenwich House Theatre
Discography 2024: Now More Than Ever
References
External links