# J. P. Manoux
**J. P. Manoux** (full name Jean-Paul Christophe Manoux) is an American actor, comedian, director, and writer, best known for playing dual roles as Vice Principal Hackett and Curtis the Caveman on the [Disney Channel](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-channel) series *Phil of the Future* and for voicing Kuzco in Disney's animated series *[The Emperor's New School](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-emperors-new-school)*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) Born in 1969 in [Fresno, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/fresno-california), he has appeared in more than 100 television series, 90 commercials, and 50 films, and has provided voice and motion-capture performance for 12 video games.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / birth | Jean-Paul Christophe Manoux, born 1969 in Fresno, California; grew up in Santa Barbara, the oldest of seven children[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262/bio/) |
| Education | Thacher School and Northwestern University; Outstanding Student Award from NU's School of Speech, 1991[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) |
| Signature roles | Mr. Hackett and Curtis the Caveman on *Phil of the Future* (2004–2006, 30 episodes); S.T.A.N. the android on *Aaron Stone* (2009)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) |
| Voice work | Kuzco in *The Emperor's New School* (2006–2008), a role originated on film by David Spade; Randall Boggs in *Kingdom Hearts III* (2019)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) • [9](https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/J.P._Manoux) |
| Live-action recurring roles | Dr. Dustin Crenshaw on *ER* (from 2006); Congressman Clark on *Veep* (2016–2019, 8 episodes)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) |
| Directing | Episodes of *Phil of the Future* (2006), *Aaron Stone* (2009), *Mudpit* (2012), and *Spun Out* (2015)[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) |
| Current work | Recurring as the Arena Announcer in the Netflix basketball comedy *Running Point* (2025–2026, 12 episodes)[5](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/31624/jp-manoux) |
## Early life and education
Manoux grew up in [Santa Barbara, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/santa-barbara-california), the oldest of seven children, and was involved in children's theater and tap dance lessons before attending the Thacher School in Ojai and [Northwestern University](https://www.edgepedia.org/northwestern-university).[2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262/bio/) At Northwestern in Evanston, he improvised, wrote, and directed The Mee-Ow Show, described by his own biography as the nation's longest-running college comedy, following performers including [Julia Louis-Dreyfus](https://www.edgepedia.org/julia-louis-dreyfus), Brad Hall, and his then roommate Ana Gasteyer.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) In a 2012 interview he said he did not take an active interest in acting until his freshman year at Northwestern, when he discovered the Mee-Ow Show, a student-run sketch and improv group modeled on what Second City was doing in downtown Chicago.[4](https://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/celebrity_interviews/article/453900/Actor-Jp-Manoux) He received the Outstanding Student Award from Northwestern's School of Speech in 1991.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262)
## Stage and comedy training
After moving to Hollywood, Manoux trained and performed at L.A. Theatresports, ACME Comedy Theater, the Groundlings School, and I.O. West.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) His stage work culminated in 1999 with a Los Angeles Ovation Award and a Backstage West Garland Award for his performance in the world premiere stage musical *Reefer Madness*, where he played a stoned cannibal at the Hudson Backstage Theatre.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) • [3](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/manoux-j-p-1969)
## Television career
**Early work.** Manoux appeared in dozens of sitcoms and commercials through the late 1990s and early 2000s, including campaigns for [Got Milk?](https://www.edgepedia.org/got-milk) and [Fruit of the Loom](https://www.edgepedia.org/fruit-of-the-loom), where he played the [Green Grapes](https://www.edgepedia.org/green-grapes) character from 2002 to 2009.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262/bio/) He was a series regular on ABC's 2001 prime-time variety program *The Wayne Brady Show* and contributed writing to it from 2001 to 2002.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) His early film credits include *Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings* (1994), *Galaxy Quest* (1999), *Ocean's Eleven* (2001), and *EuroTrip* (2004), in which he played the Robot Man.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jp_manoux)
**Disney era.** Manoux became a familiar figure in children's television through his dual role as Vice Principal Hackett and Curtis the Caveman on the Disney Channel series *Phil of the Future*, which ran from 2004 to 2006.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) In the same period he voiced the lead role of Kuzco in Disney's animated *The Emperor's New School* (2006–2008), the character originated on film by [David Spade](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-spade).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) • [9](https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/J.P._Manoux) In his 2012 interview he described the hardest part of playing two characters on *Phil of the Future* as scenes in which Hackett and Curtis appeared simultaneously, requiring constant trips to the makeup chair, and said Mr. Hackett is the character he is recognized for most.[4](https://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/celebrity_interviews/article/453900/Actor-Jp-Manoux)
In 2006 he joined the ensemble of *ER*, recurring as the sardonic surgical resident Dr. Dustin Crenshaw through the series' later seasons.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262)
**Canada and return to Hollywood.** Opportunities to act and direct in Canada took Manoux to Toronto, where he played S.T.A.N., an android, in the [Disney XD](https://www.edgepedia.org/disney-xd) series *Aaron Stone* (2009) and Bryce in CTV's sitcom *Spun Out* (2014).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) • [10](https://thetvdb.com/people/268744-jp-manoux?sort=popularity&types=series) He described *Aaron Stone* as darker and more suspenseful than *Phil of the Future*, with parkour and stunt fighting, and said S.T.A.N. combined qualities of both Curtis and Hackett.[4](https://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/celebrity_interviews/article/453900/Actor-Jp-Manoux) He returned to Hollywood in 2016 with a recurring role in the Amazon series *Good Girls Revolt*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262)
**Later work.** Since then he has appeared in *Veep* as Congressman Clark (2016–2019), *The Librarians*, *The Magicians*, *Charmed*, *Shameless*, *Grey's Anatomy*, *9-1-1: Lone Star*, *CSI: Vegas*, and *White House Plumbers*, as well as the feature films *Nobody* (2021, as Pentagon Darren) and *Babylon* (2022).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) He currently recurs as the Arena Announcer in the Netflix basketball comedy *Running Point*.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262)
## Directing and writing
Manoux has four directing credits: one episode each of *Phil of the Future* (2006), *Aaron Stone* (2009), and *Spun Out* (2015), and three episodes of *Mudpit* (2012).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) His writing credits include contributing writer on *The Wayne Brady Show* and the video games *Microshaft Winblows 98* (1998) and *The X-Fools* (1997).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) In interviews he has said acting in a multi-camera sitcom in front of a live audience is his favorite kind of work, while pre- and post-production suits his short attention span less well.[4](https://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/celebrity_interviews/article/453900/Actor-Jp-Manoux)
## Voice and game work
Beyond *The Emperor's New School*, Manoux's voice credits include Tom in *Bolt* (2008), Scrappy Rex in *Scooby-Doo* (2002), and Randall Boggs in *Kingdom Hearts III* (2019).[7](https://fmdb.mov/en/people/88702-j-p-manoux) • [9](https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/J.P._Manoux) MobyGames credits him on 12 games, including motion-capture work on *Redneck Rampage* (1997) and *Redneck Rampage Rides Again* (1998).[8](https://www.mobygames.com/person/18336/jean-paul-manoux/) He has also competed on six TV game shows, including *Jeopardy!*, *Family Feud*, and *Wheel of Fortune* Teen Week, and is a 2018 Moth StorySLAM winner in Los Angeles.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262) • [2](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262/bio/)
## References
1. [J.P. Manoux, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262)
2. [J.P. Manoux – Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002262/bio/)
3. [Manoux, J. P. 1969–, Encyclopedia.com](https://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/manoux-j-p-1969)
4. [Actor J.P Manoux, Teen Ink interview (April 15, 2012)](https://www.teenink.com/nonfiction/celebrity_interviews/article/453900/Actor-Jp-Manoux)
5. [J.P. Manoux, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/31624/jp-manoux)
6. [J.P. Manoux Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/jp_manoux)
7. [J.P. Manoux, FMDb](https://fmdb.mov/en/people/88702-j-p-manoux)
8. [Jean-Paul Manoux, MobyGames](https://www.mobygames.com/person/18336/jean-paul-manoux/)
9. [J.P. Manoux, Disney Wiki](https://disney.fandom.com/wiki/J.P._Manoux)
10. [J.P. Manoux, TheTVDB.com](https://thetvdb.com/people/268744-jp-manoux?sort=popularity&types=series)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 2000s onward › Surnames M to Ma*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license