Jay Johnston was born on October 22, 1968 and was educated at Columbia College Chicago where he studied acting and comedy. He is best known as a writer and performer in the HBO sketch comedy show Mr. Show. On that show, he contributed universal themes as opposed to the more politically and socially satirical material that his fellow writers and performers contributed to the series. He is also the only performer who regularly incorporates physical comedy in his performance. Johnston's other appearances include that in Arrested Development, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy and The Sarah Silverman Program.

Officer Jay McPherson is portrayed by Jay Johnston in The Sarah Silverman Program. Jay McPherson is a police officer who pulled over Sarah at a playground after she had too much cough syrup. Later, he begins dating Laura even if he dislikes Sarah. However, he still goes out of his way to be nice to her, even if she declares him her mortal enemy. Jay McPherson also won a Humanitarian of the Year award for reading to blind people. He does not celebrate his birthday because his mother died on the same day.


(Photo courtesy of ComedyCentral.com)