Jonathan Niven Cryer (born April 16, 1965) is an American actor, screenwriter, director, and film producer. He is the son of actress–singer Gretchen Cryer. He made his motion picture debut in the 1984 romantic comedy No Small Affair, but gained greater fame as "Duckie" in the 1986 John Hughes-scripted film Pretty in Pink. In 1998, he finished writing and producing the independent film Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five, which was well received.
Even though he gained some fame by starring in these films, it took several years to find success on television; the shows he had starred in (The Famous Teddy Z, Partners and The Trouble with Normal) did not last very long. In 2003, he was cast as Alan Harper on the CBS hit comedy series Two and a Half Men, opposite Charlie Sheen, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2009. He received three earlier Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series for his work on the show.
The Little Pageant That Could
Self (archive footage)
2024
BRATS
Self
2024
Extended Family
Jim Kearney · (13 episodes)
2023
1982: Greatest Geek Year Ever!
Self
2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show
(1 episode)
2022
Password
Self - Celebrity Guest · (1 episode)
2022
18½
H.R. 'Bob' Haldeman (voice)
2022
Devoured
Narrator · (6 episodes)
2022
Big Time Adolescence
Reuben
2020
Crisis Aftermath
Self · (1 episode)
2019
Batwoman
Lex Luthor · (1 episode)
2019
The Kelly Clarkson Show
Self · (2 episodes)
2019
The Joel McHale Show with Joel McHale
Eugenio Derbez · (1 episode)
2018
Ryan Hansen Solves Crimes on Television
Jon Cryer · (2 episodes)
2017
Drop the Mic
Self · (1 episode)
2017
Will & Grace
Jon Cryer · (1 episode)
2017
Justice League Action
Felix Faust (voice) · (3 episodes)
2016
Must See TV: An All Star Tribute to James Burrows
Self
2016
DC's Legends of Tomorrow
Lex Luthor · (1 episode)
2016
Supergirl
Lex Luthor · (20 episodes)
2015
The Late Late Show with James Corden
Self · (1 episode)
2015
Hit by Lightning
Ricky Miller
2014
The Flash
Lex Luthor · (1 episode)
2014
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (1 episode)
2014
And the Oscar Goes To...
Self (archive footage)
2014
Mom
Customer · (1 episode)
2013
Ass Backwards
Dean Morris
2013
John Hughes: Life Moves Pretty Fast
Self
2012
Arrow
Lex Luthor · (1 episode)
2012
Company
David
2011
Conan
Self · (1 episode)
2010
Due Date
Alan Harper
2010
Who Do You Think You Are?
Self · (1 episode)
2010
Shorts
Dad Thompson
2009
Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2009
Weather Girl
Charles
2009
Stay Cool
Javier
2009
Tortured
Brian Mark
2008
Unstable Fables: 3 Pigs and a Baby
Richard Pig (voice)
2008
Danny Phantom: Reality Trip
Freakshow (voice)
2006
Hannah Montana
Ken Truscott · (2 episodes)
2006
The Reichen Show
Self · (1 episode)
2005
Metro Chase
Mr. Stamm
2005
American Dad!
Quacky (voice) · (1 episode)
2005
American Dad!
Desk Clerk (voice) · (1 episode)
2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self · (2 episodes)
2005
Retrosexual: The '80s
(archive footage) · (5 episodes)
2004
The Tony Danza Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2004
The Soup
Self · (3 episodes)
2004
Danny Phantom
Freakshow (voice) · (2 episodes)
2004
On Air with Ryan Seacrest
Self · (1 episode)
2004
NCIS
Cyril Taft · (2 episodes)
2003
Two and a Half Men
Alan Harper · (262 episodes)
2003
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (3 episodes)
2003
Hey Joel
Joel Stein · (13 episodes)
2003
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (1 episode)
2003
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
Jon Cryer (uncredited) · (1 episode)
2000
The Trouble with Normal
Zack Mango · (7 episodes)
2000
Big Brother
Self - Actor, 'Two & a ½ Men' · (1 episode)
2000
Family Guy
Kevin (voice) · (1 episode)
1999
Becker
Roger · (1 episode)
1998
Holy Man
Barry
1998
Hercules
The Winged Wolves (voice) · (2 episodes)
1998
Glam
Jimmy Pells
1998
Getting Personal
Sam Wagner · (18 episodes)
1998
Two Guys and a Girl
Justin · (1 episode)
1998
Went to Coney Island on a Mission from God... Be Back by Five
Daniel
1998
Plan B
Stuart Winer
1997
Dharma & Greg
Brian (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1997
The View
Self · (1 episode)
1997
Cannes Man
Self
1997
The Practice
Terry Pender · (1 episode)
1997
E! True Hollywood Story
(2 episodes)
1996
The Pompatus of Love
Mark
1996
The Rosie O'Donnell Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1996
Mr. Show with Bob and David
Duckie · (1 episode)
1995
Partners
Bob · (22 episodes)
1995
The Outer Limits
Trevor McPhee · (1 episode)
1995
Heads
Guy Franklin
1994
The Waiter
Tommy Kazdan
1993
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(1 episode)
1992
Hot Shots!
Jim 'Wash Out' Pfaffenbach
1991
Penn & Teller Get Killed
Frat Boy #3
1989
The Famous Teddy Z
Teddy Zakalokis · (20 episodes)
1989
Rap Master Ronnie: A Report Card
1988
Hiding Out
Andrew Morenski / Max Hauser
1987
Dudes
Grant
1987
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace
Lenny
1987
O.C. and Stiggs
Randall Schwab Jr.
1987
Morgan Stewart's Coming Home
Morgan Sewart
1987
Pretty in Pink
Philip F. 'Duckie' Dale
1986
Amazing Stories
Phil · (1 episode)
1985
Noon Wine
Teenage Herbert
1985
No Small Affair
Charles Cummings
1984
Tony Awards
Self - Performer · (1 episode)
1956