# Jonathan Silverman
**Jonathan Silverman** (full name Jonathan Elihu Silverman) is an American actor, producer, and director born in 1966 in Los Angeles, best known for the comedy *Weekend at Bernie's* (1989), his work in [Neil Simon](https://www.edgepedia.org/neil-simon)'s Eugene Trilogy on Broadway, and the NBC sitcom *The Single Guy* (1995–97).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) • [2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/bio/3030418439/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1966, Los Angeles, California, to Devora and Rabbi Hillel Silverman[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) |
| Broadway breakthrough | Replaced Matthew Broderick as Eugene Jerome in *Brighton Beach Memoirs* (1983) and again in *Biloxi Blues*; created the role in *Broadway Bound* (1986)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) • [3](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/jonathan-silverman) |
| Signature film | *Weekend at Bernie's* (1989) with Andrew McCarthy; sequel *Weekend at Bernie's II* (1993)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) |
| Series lead | *The Single Guy* (NBC, 1995–97), created for him by Castle Rock Entertainment and Brad Hall[4](https://tribecafilm-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/release/press_kit/30/TF_Conception_Press_Notes-_Final_2.3.12.pdf) |
| Other series | *Gimme a Break!* (NBC, 1981–87) and *In Case of Emergency* (ABC, 2006–07)[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) |
| Directing credits | *Significant Mother*, *The Opposite Sex*, and *Another Dirty Movie*[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/credits/3030418439/) |
| Spouse | Actress Jennifer Finnigan; married in 2007, one child[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001738) • [2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/bio/3030418439/) |
## Early life
Silverman was born in Los Angeles to Devora and Rabbi Hillel Silverman, and his grandfather was the well-known Rabbi Morris Silverman, who compiled and edited a prayer book used in many Conservative synagogues.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) • [2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/bio/3030418439/) He developed an interest in acting while attending [Beverly Hills High School](https://www.edgepedia.org/beverly-hills-high-school), appearing in school musicals and plays, and there became a lifelong friend of the future television star [David Schwimmer](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-schwimmer).[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/bio/3030418439/) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) After graduating he expected to wait tables, but was offered small acting roles at local theaters.[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/bio/3030418439/)
## Neil Simon and the stage
**The Eugene Trilogy.** Shortly after high school, Silverman replaced [Matthew Broderick](https://www.edgepedia.org/matthew-broderick) as Eugene Jerome, the emotional centerpiece of a Jewish family in New York during the [Depression](https://www.edgepedia.org/depression), in the 1983 Broadway production of Neil Simon's autobiographical *Brighton Beach Memoirs*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) Two years later he took over the same role from Broderick again in the trilogy's second part, *Biloxi Blues*, and in 1986 Simon chose him to create the role on Broadway in the final installment, *Broadway Bound*, at the Broadhurst Theatre.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) • [3](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/jonathan-silverman) His later stage work includes Warren Leight's *Glimmer, Glimmer and Shine* with John Spencer at the Mark Taper Forum, Tony Kushner's *The Illusion* at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, and Roger Kumble's *Pay or Play* at the Hudson Theatre.[4](https://tribecafilm-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/release/press_kit/30/TF_Conception_Press_Notes-_Final_2.3.12.pdf)
## Film career
Silverman made his feature film debut in the teen comedy *Girls Just Want to Have Fun* (1985), starring [Sarah Jessica Parker](https://www.edgepedia.org/sarah-jessica-parker), and landed his first starring film role as Eugene in the 1986 screen adaptation of *Brighton Beach Memoirs*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) After a supporting turn in *Caddyshack II* (1988), he found mainstream success as Richard Parker, the more conservative of two low-level corporate employees who comically attempt to cover up their boss's death, in the surprise hit *Weekend at Bernie's* (1989), directed by [Ted Kotcheff](https://www.edgepedia.org/ted-kotcheff) and co-starring [Andrew McCarthy](https://www.edgepedia.org/andrew-mccarthy).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) • [7](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58349-WEEKEND-AT-BERNIES?cxt=filmography) He and McCarthy reteamed for the far less successful *Weekend at Bernie's II* (1993).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/)
Subsequent credits include the road movie *Traveling Man* (HBO, 1989), the courtroom drama *Class Action* (1991) opposite [Gene Hackman](https://www.edgepedia.org/gene-hackman), Robert Zemeckis's *Death Becomes Her*, *Little Big League* (1994), *The Odd Couple II* (1998) with [Jack Lemmon](https://www.edgepedia.org/jack-lemmon) and [Walter Matthau](https://www.edgepedia.org/walter-matthau), *The Cookout* with Queen Latifah, Jon Favreau's *Made*, and *Beethoven's Big Break* (2008) with Jennifer Finnigan.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) • [4](https://tribecafilm-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/release/press_kit/30/TF_Conception_Press_Notes-_Final_2.3.12.pdf) A 2012 press kit put his total at more than 40 motion pictures.[4](https://tribecafilm-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/release/press_kit/30/TF_Conception_Press_Notes-_Final_2.3.12.pdf) *Weekend at Bernie's* has retained a cultural afterlife; in a 2015 Larry King interview Silverman discussed the film while promoting his sitcom *Significant Mother*, and in 2014 its writer and director filed a lawsuit against MGM and Twentieth Century Fox claiming profits from the film.[8](https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/a-salute-to-weekend-at-bernies-the-stupidest-comedy-you-secretly-love)
## Television
Silverman broke into television with appearances on the NBC sitcom *Gimme a Break!* (1981–87), playing Jonathan Maxwell.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) • [3](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/jonathan-silverman) His best-known series role was the title character of *The Single Guy* (NBC, 1995–97), a sitcom about an unmarried writer whose married friends try to help him find a mate; the show aired in the time slot between *Friends* and *Seinfeld* and ran for two years.[9](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-24-tv-49279-story.html) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) Between seasons he appeared in the NBC all-star production *Neil Simon's 'London Suite'* (1996) with [Kelsey Grammer](https://www.edgepedia.org/kelsey-grammer), Patricia Clarkson, and [Madeline Kahn](https://www.edgepedia.org/madeline-kahn).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/)
He later co-starred with Louis Gossett, Jr. in the Showtime thrillers *The Inspectors* (1998) and *The Inspectors 2: A Shred of Evidence* (2000), playing Inspector Alex Urbina in stories drawn from actual U.S. Postal Inspection case files, and made his executive producing debut on the first film.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/) • [4](https://tribecafilm-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/release/press_kit/30/TF_Conception_Press_Notes-_Final_2.3.12.pdf) He returned to series television in the ensemble comedy *In Case of Emergency* (ABC, 2006–07) opposite [David Arquette](https://www.edgepedia.org/david-arquette), and has since made frequent guest appearances on shows including *White Collar*, *Psych*, *Greek*, *NUMB3RS*, *CSI: Miami*, *Medium*, *Friends*, *Scandal*, *Good Girls*, *Station 19*, and *9-1-1*.[4](https://tribecafilm-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/release/press_kit/30/TF_Conception_Press_Notes-_Final_2.3.12.pdf) • [5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/credits/3030418439/)
## Directing and producing
Silverman has moved behind the camera on several projects. His directing credits include episodes of *Significant Mother* and the films *The Opposite Sex* and *Another Dirty Movie*, and he has also produced *Andover*, *The Opposite Sex*, and *Self Storage*, with executive producer credits on *A Christmas Eve Miracle* and *Another Dirty Movie*.[5](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/credits/3030418439/) He has described directing as "definitely the most challenging aspect of the industry I've been involved with."[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/bio/3030418439/) His awards listed by [TV Guide](https://www.edgepedia.org/tv-guide) include a 2013 Best Direction win for *Kickass Features*, a 2014 Jury Award for Best Supporting Actor, and a 2017 Audience Choice win.[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/bio/3030418439/)
## Personal life
Silverman met the actress Jennifer Finnigan at a barbecue in 2004, and the two married in 2007; the wedding took place on the Greek island of Mykonos.[2](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/bio/3030418439/) • [10](https://media.charlotteobserver.com/static/images/pdf/yourlink621.pdf) The couple has one child and lives in Los Angeles.[6](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001738) • [10](https://media.charlotteobserver.com/static/images/pdf/yourlink621.pdf)
## References
1. [Jonathan Silverman – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/jonathan-silverman/)
2. [Jonathan Silverman Biography, Celebrity Facts and Awards, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/bio/3030418439/)
3. [Jonathan Silverman, LA Theatre Works artist profile](https://latw.org/artist-public-profile/jonathan-silverman)
4. [Jonathan Silverman (Brad), Conception press notes, Tribeca Film](https://tribecafilm-production.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/release/press_kit/30/TF_Conception_Press_Notes-_Final_2.3.12.pdf)
5. [Jonathan Silverman List of Movies and TV Shows, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/jonathan-silverman/credits/3030418439/)
6. [Jonathan Silverman (I), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001738)
7. [Weekend at Bernie's (1989), AFI Catalog](https://catalog.afi.com/Film/58349-WEEKEND-AT-BERNIES?cxt=filmography)
8. ['Weekend at Bernie's' Cast on the Untold Story of the Classic Movie, Mel Magazine](https://melmagazine.com/en-us/story/a-salute-to-weekend-at-bernies-the-stupidest-comedy-you-secretly-love)
9. [Profile: The Most Eligible Guy, Los Angeles Times (September 24, 1995)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-09-24-tv-49279-story.html)
10. [Jennifer Finnigan profile, Charlotte Observer](https://media.charlotteobserver.com/static/images/pdf/yourlink621.pdf)
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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: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Sc to Sl*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 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