Letters from Hollywood: J.K. Simmons

J.K. Simmons played J. Jonah Jameson in the blockbuster SPIDERMAN movies and Mac MacGuff in the hit indie film JUNO. On television he appeared for several seasons on LAW AND ORDER and OZ. He currently stars as Assistant Chief Will Pope on THE CLOSER and keeps America laughing with the popular Farmer’s Insurance commercials.

Troops,

I never served in the military. Closest I ever came was appearing in A Few Good Men on Broadway in 1990. I played a couple of different grunts in the show and understudied the Lt. Col. Nathan Jessep character. I’m pretty sure they only hired me because I was a kickass shortstop in the Broadway Show Softball League.

Anyway, I did get a chance to play Lt. Col. Jessep a few times, and I gotta say it was one of my greatest acting jobs ever, because the character was pretty much the ultimate hard-ass Marine and in real life I’m a total pussy.

I have no concept of what you guys are going through over there. No matter how many stories I hear or how many vets I talk to, it just makes me realize more completely that I don’t really get it and I definitely don’t have what it takes to be doing what you’re doing. I think most people I know don’t have what it takes.

I am glad you do have what it takes. I appreciate your sacrifice, your training, your courage, your dedication, your patience, your balls.

Hang in there. Take care of each other and come home safe.

Thank you,
J K Simmons