Gregory Jbara (; born September 28, 1961) is an American actor and director. He is known for his roles as Deputy Commissioner Garrett Moore in the CBS police procedural Blue Bloods (2010–2024), Dan O'Keefe in the Fox sitcom Grounded for Life, and for his performance as Jackie Elliot in Billy Elliot the Musical (2009), for which he earned a Tony Award.
Early life and education Jbara was born in Nankin Township (now Westland), Michigan, the son of an advertising office manager"Jbara biography," filmreference.com and an insurance claims adjuster. He is of Lebanese and Irish descent.GregoryJbara.com - A Midsummer Night's Dream movie premiere report by actor, 1999 GregoryJbara.com - Interview with actor, 2000 After graduating from Wayne Memorial High School in Wayne, Michigan, Jbara attended the University of Michigan from 1979 to 1981. He majored in Communication Studies and took classes in Theatre and Musical Theatre. He left Michigan to attend the Juilliard School's drama division (1982–1986, Group 15), where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Both of Jbara's brothers also have careers in the entertainment industry. Mike, formerly President and CEO, WEA Corp.,GregoryJbara.com: NETC Convention 2006 Photo MarketWire.com: Mike Jbara Named President and CEO, WEA Corp. is now CEO at MQA.Billboard.com: Warner Music Names Stu Bergen Int'l President; Promotes Mike Jbara, Matt Signore, Matt Flott Brother Dan had a career primarily as an unscripted TV show producer.GregoryJbara.com: Billy Elliot Opening Night PhotoSonyPictures.com: Ripley's Believe It or Not: Production Bio Jbara also has a sister, Judy, who is Chief Supervision Officer at Northwestern Mutual Woodland Hills.GregoryJbara.com: 2007 Stage / Broadway / Recording News: September
Career Jbara made his feature film directorial debut with Adam Seidel’s screen adaptation of his hit Off-Broadway play Original Sound now streaming on AppleTV and Prime Video. Jbara portrays Chairman Magnuson in Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer and enjoyed in 15 seasons as "DCPI Garrett Moore" on the hit CBS police drama Blue Bloods. Other film roles include "Sam Ringo" in Adam Seidel's Alien, Intervention (2023), and "Buck/Hector Scriggles" in Oscar Brill's A Ramble Towards Rain (2023). Jbara originated the role of "Jackie Elliot" (known as "Dad") in the Broadway production of Billy Elliot the Musical, which opened on November 13, 2008. For his portrayal of "Dad," Jbara received the Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, and Tony awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical during the 2008-2009 Broadway awards season. He is the voice of "Pastor Wilson Knox" in the Adventures in Odyssey radio series for Focus On The Family.OuterCritics.org - Awards for 2008-2009 outercritics.orgDramaDesk.org - Awards for 2008-2009 dramadesk.orgTonyAwards.com - Nominees and Winners, Billy Elliot tonyawards.com
On May 5, 2005, Sardi's caricatures of Dirty Rotten Scoundrels stars Butz, Gleason, Jbara and Scott were unveiled in a ceremony hosted by fellow co-star Sara Gettelfinger.On the Scene: Four Scoundrels Make the Wall at Sardi's, Broadway.com Video Feature archived at gregoryjbara.com (Scoundrels star John Lithgow had already been caricatured at Sardi's.)A Wall Full of Scoundrels at Sardi's, Photo Op:Broadway.com Buzz In a 2008 Grand Rapids Press interview, Jbara (noting the importance of being caricatured at the landmark Broadway restaurant) said, "You don't remember a year later who won the Tonys, but that picture will be in Sardi's for the rest of my life."Stage, screen star comes to aid of Actors' Theatre - mlive.com article archived at gregoryjbara.com
Jbara received the BackStageWest Garland 2000 Award for his performance in the West Coast premiere of George Furth's play Precious Sons, co-starring Nora Dunn, Michael Malota, Ginger Williams and Adam Wylie.The Blank Theatre Company - Awards
In 2006, Jbara received a Special Award from the New England Theatre Conference for his achievement in theatre.NETC Online: Excellence in Theatre Awards
Jbara appeared as TV Land's on-camera spokesperson in eight different spots featuring three generations sitting on a couch: grandpa (William Severs), father/boomer (Jbara) and teenage son (Dylan Kepp). The spots focused, humorously, on the contrasts among those generations and were first shown on TV Land during the TV Land Awards broadcast on April 22, 2007.
Jbara's most prominent TV roles to date have been as NYPD Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Garrett Moore on the CBS drama Blue Bloods (2010–2024) and as Dan O'Keefe in the Fox/WB sitcom Grounded for Life (2002–05).
Filmography
Film YearTitleRoleNotes1988The House on Carroll StreetOffice Boy1988Crocodile Dundee IIYoung Cop1991Married to ItCafe Waiter1995JeffreyAngelique1995Victor/VictoriaSquash BernsteinTV movie1996One Fine DayMetro Reporter1997In & OutWalter Brackett1999The Out-of-TownersEdward1999A Midsummer Night's DreamSnug2000CementFergus2002The First $20 Million Is Always the HardestHank2003Touch 'Em All McCallBobby MellingerTV movie2004The Sure Hand of GodRev. Bigbee2004Disney Sing-Along Songs: Home on the Range - Little Patch of HeavenThe Willie BrothersVideo2004Beverly Hills S.U.V.CustomerTV movie2006Ira & AbbyJingle Singer #22006World Trade CenterAccountant in Karnes Office2007Epic MovieMel Gibson2008Out of StepJackShort film2008Exit SpeedJerry Yarbro2010Remember MeLes Hirsch2012Big MiracleGeneral Stanton2013Broken CityPost Columnist2014InfiltratorsEric Volker2014Trust MeDean Richards2017The Mice WarGeneral Kan2023OppenheimerSenator Warren Magnuson2023Alien InterventionSam2024A Ramble Towards RainBuck, Hector Scriggles2024Rock and Doris (try to) Write a MovieEdgar
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1987NewhartRoyEpisode: Fun with Dick and Joanna1998The CloserBob Jr.Episode: Dobbs Takes a Holiday1998CybillGeorge WestEpisode: Cybill Sheridan's Day Off1998The Drew Carey ShowRon2 episodes1998Suddenly SusanWallaceEpisode: Trash-Test Dummies1999FrasierBartender2 episodes1999-2000Rocket PowerVarious characters5 episodes2000Yes, DearLloydEpisode: Arm-prins2000-2001That's LifeJo Jo Regosi2 episodes2001Malcolm in the MiddleMikeEpisode: New Neighbors2001Ally McBealRev. ComptonEpisode: Reach Out and Touch2002Crossing JordanStan BenedictEpisode: Bombs Away2002ProvidenceDrewEpisode: Things That Go Bump in the Night2002-2005Grounded for LifeDan O'Keefe9 episodes2003The West WingCongressman SegalEpisode: Angel Maintenance2003Touched by an AngelScott MorganEpisode: At the End of the Aisle2003Without a TraceCoach Jim ShirleyEpisode: Sons and Daughters2004The Tracy Morgan ShowCoachEpisode: Coach Tracy2004FriendsGene - 'Pyramid' ContestantEpisode: The One Where the Stripper Cries2004Century CityGeorge HannEpisode: Sweet Child of Mine2004As Told by GingerDelivery ManEpisode: The Wedding Frame2005Higglytown HeroesThe Tree Trimmer HeroEpisode: Kip Gets Swing Fever/Wayne's Pieces of Gold2006ConvictionJudge Herman ZimetEpisode: True Love2006Twenty Good YearsGaryEpisode: The Crying Game2007The UnitCol. BrightEpisode: Paradise Lost2007Come On OverDirector GregEpisode: Thespians2008MonkStan LawrenceEpisode: Mr. Monk Gets Lotto Fever1999-2008Family GuyJonathan, Nazi Guard, Nazi General, Priest2 episodes2010Law & OrderOscar NewtonEpisode: Brilliant Disguise2010Glenn Martin, DDSEpisode: Jackie's Get-Witch Quick Scheme2011The Cleveland ShowAlbert Calleros, BarryEpisode: The Way the Cookie Crumbles2011Nurse JackieMr. FinnEpisode: Game On2011TremeEpisode: On Your Way Down2011-2024Blue BloodsDCPI Garrett MooreRecurring role2008-2011American Dad!Plastic Surgeon, Brad, Logan3 episodes2014The Other HefDickie HefmanMain role2019-2023Adventures in OdysseyWilson Knox10 episodes
Stage "Dad" in Billy Elliot the Musical (2008) (originated role) "André Thibault" in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (2005) (originated role) "Billy Flynn" in Chicago (revival) "Squash (Mr. Bernstein)" in Victor/Victoria (1995) (originated role) "Sohovik" in Damn Yankees (1994) (revival; originated role) "Bellhop #1/Bootblack" in Born Yesterday (1989) with Ed Asner and Madeline Kahn (Broadway revival) "LIFFE Trader, John" in Serious Money (1988) with Alec Baldwin and Kate Nelligan (Jbara's Broadway debut) "Alfred P. Doolittle" in My Fair Lady (2013) for the Kennedy Center "Mr. Bunder" in the West Coast Premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's play, Little Fish (2007) starring Alice Ripley "Vinnie" in the Geffen Playhouse Premier of Neil Simon's Oscar and Felix (update to The Odd Couple) "Ike/Bess Truman" in the West Coast Premiere of Michael John LaChiusa's play, First Lady Suite "Clark Gable" in The Blank Theatre Company's The Living Room Series presentation of Mark Saltzman's new play, Mr. Shaw Goes To Hollywood "Chick Clark" in Wonderful Town (2000) for City Center Encores! "Kevin Cartwright" in Privates On Parade (1989) with Jim Dale and Simon Jones "Smudge" in Forever Plaid "Gunther, Wotan, Hagen, Dwarf, Giant" in Das Barbecü (Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, Connecticut) "The Frankenstein Monster" in Have I Got A Girl For You! (Jbara's Off-Broadway debut)
Awards YearAwardCategoryResult2000Back Stage West Garland Award2009Tony AwardsBest Featured Actor in a Musical2009Outer Critics Circle AwardsOutstanding Featured Actor in a Musical2009Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Performance in a Musical
References
External links Official Site: GregoryJbara.com Broadway.com: Backstage at Billy Elliot With Billy's Dad Starring Gregory Jbara
Voice Actor Profile: VoiceChasers.com Gregory Jbara at the Internet Off-Broadway Database Gregory Jbara on Instagram