Jonah Ray

Jonah Ray
Name	Jonah Ray
Birth name	Jonah Ray Rodrigues
Birth date	3 August 1979
Birth place	Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Occupation	Comedian, actor, writer, television host, podcaster
Years active	2001–present
Spouse	Amanda Pace, 2014

Jonah Ray. Jonah Ray Rodrigues is an American comedian, actor, writer, and television host. He is best known as a co-host of the Mystery Science Theater 3000 revival and for his long-running comedy podcast The Nerdist Podcast. His career spans stand-up comedy, television production, and voice acting, establishing him as a prominent figure in contemporary geek culture.

Early life and education

Jonah Ray Rodrigues was born in Honolulu, Hawaii, and spent his early childhood in Ewa Beach before moving to Maui. His family later relocated to Las Vegas, Nevada, where he attended Bonanza High School. Drawn to alternative comedy and punk rock culture from a young age, he began performing stand-up in local venues. He briefly attended the University of Nevada, Las Vegas before fully committing to a career in comedy and moving to Los Angeles.

Career

Ray's early career in Los Angeles involved performing at venues like the Comedy Store and Largo at the Coronet. He gained significant recognition as a founding host and co-creator of The Nerdist Podcast with Chris Hardwick and Matt Mira, which became a cornerstone of the Nerdist Industries network. This led to hosting duties on G4's Attack of the Show! and writing for The Andy Milonakis Show. His television work expanded with roles on The Sarah Silverman Program and as a correspondent on The Henry Rollins Show. A major breakthrough came in 2015 when he was cast as the new host for the Netflix revival of Mystery Science Theater 3000, alongside new robot puppets Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot. He has also released several comedy albums, including *Hello, Mr. Magic Plane Person, Hello*, and starred in the Hulu series The Who Was? Show. His voice acting credits include Adventure Time, Bob's Burgers, and Solar Opposites.

Personal life

Ray married photographer Amanda Pace in 2014 in a ceremony officiated by his friend and fellow comedian Kumail Nanjiani. The couple resides in Los Angeles and has one son, born in 2017. An avid fan of professional wrestling, he has appeared on the WWE Network series WWE Ride Along and frequently references wrestling in his comedy. He is also known for his passion for heavy metal music and video games, interests often woven into his podcast and stand-up material.

Filmography

* *The Mighty Boosh* (2007) – Television series * *The Sarah Silverman Program* (2007–2010) – Television series * *Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return* (2017) – Television series * *Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Gauntlet* (2018) – Television series * *Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Live Tour* (2019) – Stage show * *The Who Was? Show* (2018) – Television series * *How to Be a Person* (2020) – Television special * *The Standups* (2021) – Television series * *The Munsters* (2022) – Film

Discography

* *Hello, Mr. Magic Plane Person, Hello* (2009) – Comedy album * *This Is Crazy Mixed-Up Plumbing* (2012) – Comedy album * *You Deserve a Jonah Ray* (2015) – Comedy special (Seeso) * *Don't Stop Me, Hawaii!* (2018) – Comedy album

Awards and nominations

Ray's work on the Mystery Science Theater 3000 revival earned him a Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Award nomination in 2017 for Outstanding Picture Editing for Variety Programming. His podcast, The Nerdist Podcast, was consistently ranked among the top comedy podcasts on iTunes and received widespread critical acclaim, helping to popularize the long-form interview format within the comedy community.

Category:American comedians Category:American podcasters Category:American television hosts Category:1979 births Category:Living people