Jason Schwartzman is one of the most reliable character actors working together. A dynamic, accessible talent, Schwartzman is an actor who has dabbled in so many different projects that it’s practically a guarantee that whatever project he chooses will be, at the very least, interesting to watch. Fortunately for Schwartzman (and audiences), IMDb ratings have proven that most of his projects are actually of a high quality.
Schwartzman is always popping up in ensemble movies, Wes Anderson comedies, niche television series, and underrated programs that fly completely under the radar. He’s as likely to spend some time at Camp Firewood as he is to dabble in indie projects from directors like Maya Forbes and Sofia Coppola. A treasured muse, Schwartzman is represented on this list with films and series he had, at least, a recurring role on.
Saving Mr. Banks: 7.5
In 2013, Disney wanted to accentuate the legacy of one of their most acclaimed live-action films. To do so, they enlisted a number of likable actors to bring to life the story of how Mary Poppins was made – with the begrudging consent of P.L. Travers.
In Saving Mr. Banks, songwriters Richard and Robert Sherman were portrayed by Schwartzman and B.J. Novak, respectively. Schwartzman shines in the role, especially during one scene where he plays “Feed the Birds” for Tom Hanks as Walt Disney.
Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World: 7.5
In 2010, Edgar Wright and Michael Cera collaborated to bring a cult comic series to the big screen with Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. In the league of evil exes, the main foe in the mix is Gideon Graves.
Gideon is a charming, but deeply sinister character. Schwartzman brought him to life with all the pleasantness that comes with his demeanor. Yet, he still managed to thrive in his most prominent villain role to date.
Rushmore: 7.7
So far, Jason Schwartzman is the closest collaborator of Wes Anderson in the auteur’s career. Owen Wilson has a claim, but Schwartzman has rooted himself firmly in the creative process of late, too.
Their first joint venture also proved to be the breakout role for Schwartzman. As Max Fischer in 1998’s Rushmore, Schwartzman firmly made a name for himself in the industry. He later proved he had a wide range of abilities, but it was Rushmore that put him on the map.
Moonrise Kingdom: 7.8
Schwartzman is also no stranger to cameos (just look to Walk Hard, where he played Ringo Starr). He has a bit more than that in a later Wes Anderson film, Moonrise Kingdom, in which he plays glorified (but funny) plot device, Cousin Ben.
He’s just a reassuring presence when he turns up roughly two-thirds of the way through the film. Not to mention, in 2012, Schwartzman also reprised the role of Cousin Ben in a short film released to Funny or Die as a promotional tool for the film.
Bored To Death: 7.9
One of Schwartzman’s most prominent television roles to date came in the form of Bored to Death, a pseudo-procedural mystery-comedy from HBO that featured Schwartzman in the lead role as real-world author Jonathan Ames.
The offbeat series ran from 2009 to 2011 and also starred Zach Galifianakis and Ted Danson. It was never a major hit from HBO, but those who have discovered it since it went off the air a decade ago have clearly seen the merit in it.
Fantastic Mr. Fox: 7.9
Back to the Wes Anderson side of things, Schwartzman famously lent his voice to the role of Ash Fox in the 2009 animated gem, Fantastic Mr. Fox. Ash, the petulant fox child, serves as the heart of the film and relies quite a bit on Schwartzman’s empathetic performance.
Always a master of delivering Anderson’s pin-point dialogue, Schwartzman gets a number of moments to shine. It’s doubly impressive, considering the cast also consists of George Clooney and Meryl Streep. But Schwartzman never gets the shaft in an Anderson picture.
The Grand Budapest Hotel: 8.1
The film many consider to be Anderson’s opus (so far), 2014’s The Grand Budapest Hotel (which was nominated for Best Picture), also made sure to find room for Schwartzman in a cast that was largely dominated by Ralph Fiennes, Tony Revolori, and Saoirse Ronan.
In Budapest, Schwartzman portrays M. Jean, the man in charge of the concierge desk at the titular resort. It’s not a major role, but Schwartzman still crushes a mustache and a purple jacket all the same.
Mozart In The Jungle: 8.2
Back on the television side of things, Schwartzman had a recurring role as Bradford Sharp on the award-winning Amazon series, Mozart in the Jungle. The series never generated much buzz, but it did run from 2014 to 2016 on the streamer.
In addition to acting on the series, though, it also had much more of a Schwartzman influence due to his role as a writer and a producer on the show.
Klaus: 8.2
In 2019, Netflix strove to release a film that would one day be considered in the pantheon of classic Christmas cinema. Klaus, from director Sergio Pablos, was an animated whirlwind that managed to garner a Best Animated Feature nomination at the Oscars.
J.K. Simmons was praised for his turn as Klaus, but it was Schwartzman in the lead role who helped the film sing. As Jesper Johansson, Schwartzman continued his impeccable streak of vocal prowess, anchoring the film in a genuine pathos and emotional character arc.
Fargo: 8.9
Lastly, Schwartzman’s most recent television role comes in as his highest rated on IMDb. How much of the 8.9 rating stems from the fourth season of Fargo? Either way, there’s no denying that Schwartzman was a ton of fun in the main role of Josto Fadda.
There is one scene in particular from Fargo‘s fourth season, in which Josto takes a bite out of a snow clump in frustration and then throws the rest on the ground. It will be a part of Schwartzman’s career highlights forever.
