Jerry Messing is an American actor. He is known for a recurring role in the TV program Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000).

Jerry Messing
OccupationActor
Years active1997–2003

Career

edit

Messing played Pugsley Addams in the 1998 film Addams Family Reunion, and had a reoccurring role on the short-lived cult NBC dramedy Freaks and Geeks as Gordon Crisp, an optimistic geek with trimethylaminuria.[1] He also appeared in five episodes of Even Stevens and two episodes of Mr. Show with Bob and David. Messing has not appeared in an acting role since 2003.

In 2011, Messing appeared in a music video for artist Viennie V, playing a contestant on a dating show. As of 2019, the video has over 770,000 views.[2]

"Fedora Guy" meme

edit

On October 31, 2013, a picture of Messing appeared on Reddit. The photo features Messing wearing a trilby and grinning at the camera. After being widely disseminated online, Messing was labeled "Fedora Guy" and the picture became synonymous with "neckbeard" and "nice guy" stereotypes, as well as a joke at the expense of zealous atheists. Messing has stated in subsequent interviews that the picture was an outtake for a headshot photoshoot he took when attempting to restart his acting career, after briefly attending Florida International University to study psychology.[3][4][5] As Messing noted, "I'm certainly not thrilled with the communities the photo has come to represent, but it isn't something I can really do anything about—so I don't let it bother me."[4]

Fedora Productions

edit

In January 2020, Messing started the YouTube channel "Fedora Productions". YouTube.

COVID-19 Diagnosis

edit

In August 2021, it was revealed that Messing had been admitted to a Florida hospital and put on a ventilator after contracting COVID-19.[6][7] He had previously received his first dose of the Pfizer–BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine and was awaiting his second dose when he became sick. In September 2021, after spending two weeks in a coma, Messing was removed from the ventilator and taken out of the ICU, able to breathe on his own. He had lost the ability to walk but, as of September 2021, was going through rehabilitation.[8]

Filmography

edit

Film

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1998 Addams Family Reunion Pugsley Addams
2000 Finding Kelly Justin Harold

Television

edit
Year Title Role Notes
1997 George & Leo Boy #1 Episode: "The Halloween Show"[9]
1998 Mr. Show with Bob and David William Van Landingham III/
Willups Brighton's son
Episode: "Show Me Your Weenis!"[10]
Episode: "Sad Songs Are Nature's Onions"[11]
1999–2000 Freaks and Geeks Gordon Crisp[12] 11 episodes
2000–2003 Malcolm in the Middle Big Boy #2 Episode: "The Bully"[13]
Episode: "Clip Show #2" (archive footage)[14]
2000–2002 Even Stevens Artie Ryan[15] Episode: "Foodzilla"[16]
Episode: "Battle of the Bands"[17]
Episode: "Head Games"[18]
Episode: "Band on the Roof"[19]
Episode: "Snow Job"[20]
2002–2003 The Brothers García Tiny Recurring Role

References

edit
  1. ^ "Where Are They Now? The Cast Of Freaks And Geeks". ScreenRant. 2016-05-18. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  2. ^ Viennie V - For You (Official), archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2019-12-20
  3. ^ "A Freaks And Geeks alum reflects on becoming the face of fedora-tipping gentlemen everywhere". News. 23 April 2018. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  4. ^ a b Esposito, Brad (17 December 2015). "Meet "The Fedora Guy," One Of The Internet's Most Famous Memes". BuzzFeed. Retrieved 2019-12-20.
  5. ^ Where Is Jerry Messing "Fedora Guy" Now?, archived from the original on 2021-12-21, retrieved 2019-12-20
  6. ^ Schroeder, Audra (2021-08-20). "Jerry Messing, 'Fedora Guy' and 'Freaks and Geeks' actor, fighting COVID". The Daily Dot. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  7. ^ Press-Reynolds, Kieran (2021-08-21). "Jerry Messing, the 'Freaks & Geeks' actor who became known as the 'Fedora Guy' meme, was reportedly hospitalized with COVID-19". Business Insider. Retrieved 2021-08-21.
  8. ^ Stiles, Patti (2021-09-07). "@PenelopeSnickerdoodlePatti". Twitter. Retrieved 2021-09-07.
  9. ^ The Halloween Show – Internet Movie Database
  10. ^ Show Me Your Weenis! – Internet Movie Database
  11. ^ Sad Songs Are Nature's Onions – Internet Movie Database
  12. ^ Gordon Crisp – Internet Movie Database
  13. ^ The Bully – Internet Movie Database
  14. ^ Clip Show #2 – Internet Movie Database
  15. ^ Artie Ryan – Internet Movie Database
  16. ^ Foodzilla – Internet Movie Database
  17. ^ Battle of the Bands – Internet Movie Database
  18. ^ Head Games – Internet Movie Database
  19. ^ Band on the Roof – Internet Movie Database
  20. ^ Snow Job – Internet Movie Database
edit