For many, Jason Lee will forever be remembered as Earl Hickey, the lovable ex-con with a karma list in My Name Is Earl. But the 55-year-old has shown that he has many strings to his bow.
Fans of the comedy series were stunned when it abruptly ended – cancelled in May 2009 after four seasons and 96 episodes. The final episode ended ‘To Be Continued’, leaving viewers hanging with no closure. It’s unlike that a reboot of Earl will ever see the light of day now.
In the 16 years since its demise, Lee’s career has taken many twists and turns.
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From skate parks to Hollywood sets
Born in April 1970, Jason Michael Lee grew up in Southern California with a skateboard practically glued to his feet. By the late ’80s and early ’90s, he was a professional, a rising star in the skateboarding world, winning competitions and co-founding the now-iconic Stereo Sound Agency with fellow skater Chris Pastras.
He first found himself in front of the cameras in Blind Skateboards’ Video Days (1991) – considered one of the defining skateboarding videos of the era. The following year, he appeared in the promo video for Sonic Youth’s single 100%. Exposure which sparked a shift—Lee left professional skating behind and took a leap into acting.
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Kevin Smith Connection
Despite having little acting experience, Lee landed a lead role in Kevin Smith’s cult classic Mallrats (1995), kicking off a long creative partnership. Over the years, Lee appeared in nine Smith films, often alongside Ben Affleck.
- Chasing Amy (1997) – earned Lee an Independent Spirit Award
- Dogma (1999) – with Matt Damon
- Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
- Jersey Girl (2004)
- Clerks II (2006) – with Rosario Dawson
- Cop Out (2010) – starring Bruce Willis
- Jay and Silent Bob Reboot (2019)
- The 4:30 Movie (2024)
Lee also made his mark outside the Smith universe, with standout roles in Enemy of the State (1998) opposite Will Smith and Gene Hackman, Almost Famous (2000), and as the voice of Syndrome in Pixar’s The Incredibles (2004).
In 2005, Lee landed his most iconic role, playing Earl Hickey in My Name Is Earl, created by Greg Garcia. The NBC sitcom became a staple of early-2000s TV but after a drop in ratings, NBC pulled the plug—leaving the series on a cliffhanger.
Lee, other cast members and writer Garcia have all expressed an interest in returning to complete the series, but so far, it hasn’t happened.
Post-Earl, Lee starred in the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise, led the TNT drama Memphis Beat, and appeared in Raising Hope and Netflix’s The Residence (2025). But acting isn’t his only passion.
Join us at Leica Gallery London for Jason Lee’s Selected American Photographs 2008 – 2020 exhibition on now until 11th June.
The ice-cool tones of the printing and the often-deserted frames aim to deliver just the right amount of uncertainty.
🔗 https://t.co/agIZ3lbSYH pic.twitter.com/Spvk3cMN5i
— Leica Camera UK (@Leica_UK) May 13, 2023
Large format photography
Since the early 2000s, Lee has pursued documentary photography with serious dedication. He started out documenting the American landscape in a road trip series – abandoned gasoline stations, churches, shooting on large format 10×8 and 5×4 view cameras, initially using discontinued Polaroid instant film.
His work is very much in the same vein as American masters William Eggleston, Stephen Shore, Joel Sternfeld…
Lee continues with his passion for photography, always shooting with analog film and has published several limited edition coffee table books, held exhibitions and opened a photography shop: Eagle Rock Camera & Goods in Los Angeles in 2023. His work can be viewed on his official website.
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