Jonathan Francis "Jon" Gries (born June 17, 1957) is an American actor, writer and director. He is also credited under the names Jon Francis and Jonathan Gries.
With 11 Years he played his first Role as the Boy Horace in the Charlton Heston Film Will Penny.
He is known for playing Uncle Rico in the movie Napoleon Dynamite and is also known for his role as Laslo Hollyfeld in the 1985 comedy film Real Genius, and as King Vidiot in the 1983 comedy film "Joysticks". Gries played the role of a terrorist in season two of the hit show 24. Gries also played a werewolf henchman in the horror/comedy sequel Fright Night Part II (he also played a werewolf in The Monster Squad). His most notable television roles are Broots on the NBC series The Pretender and Shawn on the FOX sitcom Martin during the first two seasons.
Gries has made several television appearances in small roles. He appeared in the Seinfeld episode "The Beard" as a bum to whom Kramer gives Chinese leftovers, but who later refuses to return Kramer's Tupperware container. Gries also played the role of Roger Linus, the father of Ben Linus in the 2007 Lost episode "The Man Behind the Curtain". In 2007 he played the menacing dad to Samaire Armstrong in Around June.
In the historical Western film September Dawn, released August 24, 2007, he played executed Mormon murderer John D. Lee, in a performance singled out by critics who otherwise panned the film.
Gries was born in Glendale, California, the son of Tom Gries, a writer, director, and producer. A persistent rumor that Gries is a vegetarian is contradicted by radio interviews and other Q&As that discussed his Napoleon Dynamite role. According to the urban legend, Gries was such a committed vegetarian that he spat out bites of bloody-rare steak that he chewed during a scene in the movie, keeping the steak in his mouth just long enough for camera effect. But Gries has repeatedly said that he spit the bites out because the undercooked meat tasted "disgusting."
