# Justin Long
**Justin Long** is an American actor, writer, director, and producer known for comic everyman roles, a long-running series of Apple computer commercials, and a substantial second career in horror films. Born in 1978 in [Fairfield, Connecticut](https://www.edgepedia.org/fairfield-connecticut), he made his film debut in *Galaxy Quest* (1999), was a regular on the NBC comedy *Ed* (2000–04), and became widely recognizable as the easygoing "Mac" opposite [John Hodgman](https://www.edgepedia.org/john-hodgman)'s PC in Apple's "Get a Mac" advertising campaign (2006–09).[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) In the 2020s he drew some of his strongest reviews as a haunted actor in the horror film *Barbarian* (2022).[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/justin_long)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1978, Fairfield, Connecticut, USA[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/justin_long) |
| Education | Vassar College, class of 2000; two-year member of the sketch comedy group Laughingstock[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/justin-long/6920/) |
| Breakthrough roles | Brandon in *Galaxy Quest* (1999); Darry Jenner in *Jeepers Creepers* (2001); Warren Cheswick on *Ed* (NBC, 2000–04)[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) • [3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/justin-long/6920/) |
| Signature advertising role | The Mac in Apple's "Get a Mac" commercials opposite John Hodgman, 2006–09[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) |
| Voice work | Alvin in the *Alvin and the Chipmunks* films (2007, 2009, 2011, 2015)[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) |
| Horror career | *Jeepers Creepers*, *Drag Me to Hell*, *Tusk*, *House of Darkness*, *Barbarian*[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/justin_long) |
| Directing | *Lady of the Manor* (2021), co-directed with his brother Christian; the "Fur Babies" segment of *V/H/S/Beyond* (2024)[4](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/justin_long_bio_sept_2023_3956d987.pdf) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/justin_long) |
| Podcast | "Life Is Short with Justin Long", launched in 2019 with his brother Christian[5](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/justin-long-net-worth/) |
## Early life and education
Long was born in Fairfield, Connecticut, the second of three sons of R. James Long, a philosophy professor at [Fairfield University](https://www.edgepedia.org/fairfield-university), and Wendy Lesniak, a former Broadway actress.[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) He attended Fairfield College Preparatory School and then [Vassar College](https://www.edgepedia.org/vassar-college).[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) Before graduating in 2000 he had accumulated stage experience in school plays and in outside productions with New York Stage & Film, the Westport Theatre Artists Group, and Fairfield Summer Theatre.[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/justin-long/6920/) Although he broke into film before finishing his degree, he postponed full-time acting work to complete it.[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long)
## Early career
**First screen roles.** Long's first film appearance came in the science-fiction comedy *Galaxy Quest* (1999), in a small but memorable part as Brandon, an obsessive fan of the fictional television series whose fandom helps the crew save the universe.[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) • [3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/justin-long/6920/) Soon after he was cast as Warren Cheswick on the NBC comedy *Ed*, staying with the series for its four-year run (2000–04) while working in films during hiatus.[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/justin-long/6920/) He took the lead in the horror film *Jeepers Creepers* (2001) as Darry Jenner, briefly revisiting the character in *Jeepers Creepers 2* (2003), and played the prom date of [Britney Spears](https://www.edgepedia.org/britney-spears)'s character in the critically panned *Crossroads* (2002).[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long)
**Comedy mainstream.** After *Ed* ended, Long appeared opposite [Ben Stiller](https://www.edgepedia.org/ben-stiller) and [Vince Vaughn](https://www.edgepedia.org/vince-vaughn) in *DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story* (2004) and was the romantic lead opposite [Lindsay Lohan](https://www.edgepedia.org/lindsay-lohan) in *Herbie: Fully Loaded* (2005).[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/justin-long/6920/) In 2006 he starred in *Accepted* for Universal Pictures and appeared in *The Break-Up*; he then costarred in the action film *Live Free or Die Hard* (2007) and in Kevin Smith's *Zack and Miri Make a Porno* (2008).[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/justin-long/6920/) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/justin_long) Critics of the period described his appeal in similar terms: an ingratiating comic performer whose droll timing elevated stereotypical "geek" roles, in the mold of Jack Lemmon's nervous but capable young men.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/justin_long)
## The Mac commercials and voice work
Much of Long's public recognition came from Apple's "Get a Mac" television campaign, in which he played the personification of a Mac computer opposite John Hodgman's PC from 2006 to 2009; the role earned him the media nickname "Mac Guy" and substantially boosted his profile.[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) In a 2010 interview with *The A.V. Club*, Long noted he naturally played the straight man opposite Hodgman.[6](https://www.avclub.com/justin-long-1798219561)
[Voice acting](https://www.edgepedia.org/voice-acting) became a parallel specialty. He voiced Alvin, one of the lead characters, in *Alvin and the Chipmunks* (2007) and its sequels of 2009, 2011, and 2015, and also did animated work including *Planet 51* (2009) and the series *F Is for Family* (beginning 2015) and *Skylanders Academy* (beginning 2016).[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/justin-long/)
## Diversification and directing
Through the 2010s Long mixed romantic comedy with darker material. He dated his *He's Just Not That Into You* co-star [Drew Barrymore](https://www.edgepedia.org/drew-barrymore), and the two then played a couple in the long-distance romance *Going the Distance* (2010).[3](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/justin-long/6920/) With his brother Christian, an actor who appeared in *Accepted* and *Hop*, he cowrote the screenplay for *A Case of You* (2013), in which he starred as a writer living up to a fabricated online dating profile.[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) He led [Kevin Smith](https://www.edgepedia.org/kevin-smith)'s horror-comedy *Tusk* (2014) as Wallace Bryton, a podcaster abducted in Canada by a man intent on surgically turning him into a walrus.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tusk_2014) In 2021 he made his directorial debut with the comedy *Lady of the Manor*, writing, directing, and producing it with his brother, and he also starred in and produced the film as Max.[4](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/justin_long_bio_sept_2023_3956d987.pdf) • [7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/justin-long/) In 2024 he directed and wrote a segment of the horror anthology *V/H/S/Beyond*.[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/justin_long)
## Horror career and Barbarian
Horror has become the genre with which Long is now closely associated. After *Jeepers Creepers*, he played a doomed boyfriend in [Sam Raimi](https://www.edgepedia.org/sam-raimi)'s *Drag Me to Hell* (2009), led *Tusk*, and in 2022 appeared in two horror releases, *House of Darkness* and *Barbarian*.[6](https://www.avclub.com/justin-long-1798219561) • [9](https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3732336/the-asshole-dies-screaming-the-underrated-horror-career-of-justin-long/) In Zach Cregger's *Barbarian* he played AJ, a Hollywood actor whose arrival mid-film reroutes the story; the film was a commercial and critical success, and *Vanity Fair* argued Long deserved consideration as an awards contender for the role.[10](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/12/awards-insider-justin-long-barbarian) The film's structure deliberately keeps the audience guessing, introducing AJ as a character with no apparent relationship to the central storyline before his past and the house's history converge.[11](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/barbarian-review/5174176.article)
The genre thread has continued with his family life on screen as well: Long has been married to actor [Kate Bosworth](https://www.edgepedia.org/kate-bosworth) since 2023, and the two have costarred in *House of Darkness*, *Barbarian* (in which Bosworth made a vocal cameo), and the horror-comedy *Coyotes* (2025), in which Long also served as executive producer.[12](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/move-over-dave-franco-and-alison-brie-justin-long-kate-bosworth-starring-in-horror-movie) • [2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/justin_long)
## Podcast and other work
Since 2019 Long has hosted the interview podcast "Life Is Short with Justin Long" alongside his brother Christian.[5](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/justin-long-net-worth/) His television credits include *New Girl* (beginning 2011) and the 2020 Disney+ series *Shop Class*, which he hosted.[1](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long) • [5](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/justin-long-net-worth/)
## Reception overview
Across more than 100 film and television credits, Long's projects span nearly every genre.[5](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/justin-long-net-worth/) On Rotten Tomatoes his best-reviewed credits include *In Memoriam* (100 percent), *And Then I Go* (92 percent), *Drag Me to Hell* (92 percent), *Barbarian* (92 percent), and *Galaxy Quest* (90 percent), while his lowest-rated film is *Strange Wilderness* (2 percent).[2](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/justin_long) Metacritic computes an average career Metascore of 49 across his films, with *Drag Me to Hell* (83) his highest and *Strange Wilderness* (12) his lowest.[7](https://www.metacritic.com/person/justin-long/)
## Note on namesakes
A different Justin Long is a right-handed pitcher in the [Atlanta Braves](https://www.edgepedia.org/atlanta-braves) organization, signed in July 2023 after pitching for Rice; he was assigned to [Augusta GreenJackets](https://www.edgepedia.org/augusta-greenjackets) and Rome Emperors in 2025 and to the Braves in March 2026.[13](https://www.mlb.com/player/justin-long-700043)
## References
1. [Justin Long, EBSCO Research Starters biography](https://www.ebsco.com/research-starters/biography/justin-long)
2. [Justin Long Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/justin_long)
3. [Justin Long biography and filmography, Tribute.ca](https://www.tribute.ca/people/biography/justin-long/6920/)
4. [Justin Long biography PDF, September 2023](https://lumiere-a.akamaihd.net/v1/documents/justin_long_bio_sept_2023_3956d987.pdf)
5. [Justin Long Net Worth, Celebrity Net Worth](https://www.celebritynetworth.com/richest-celebrities/actors/justin-long-net-worth/)
6. [Justin Long interview, The A.V. Club (2010)](https://www.avclub.com/justin-long-1798219561)
7. [Justin Long, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/person/justin-long/)
8. [Tusk (2014), Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/tusk_2014)
9. [The Underrated Horror Career of Justin Long, Bloody Disgusting](https://bloody-disgusting.com/editorials/3732336/the-asshole-dies-screaming-the-underrated-horror-career-of-justin-long/)
10. [Barbarian Is 2022's Surprise Success, and Justin Long Should Be a Surprise Oscar Contender, Vanity Fair](https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/12/awards-insider-justin-long-barbarian)
11. ['Barbarian': Review, Screen Daily](https://www.screendaily.com/reviews/barbarian-review/5174176.article)
12. [Justin Long and Kate Bosworth horror movie coverage, CinemaBlend](https://www.cinemablend.com/movies/move-over-dave-franco-and-alison-brie-justin-long-kate-bosworth-starring-in-horror-movie)
13. [Justin Long Stats, MLB.com](https://www.mlb.com/player/justin-long-700043)
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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 Le to L*
*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