Who Did Jay Johnston Play in ‘Bob’s Burgers’? Arrested Development and Other Acting Roles Explored
- Jay Johnston sentenced to a year and a day by the U.S. District Judge because of his involvement in Capitol Riots in January 2021.
- Johnston pleaded guilty to the charges.
- The actor was arrested in June 2023 and was fired from Bob's Burgers after his involvement was made public.
Actor-comedian Jay Johnston is popularly known for his voiceover work on Bob’s Burgers, Moral Orel, Mr. Pickles, Rick & Morty, and more. Johnston was a cast member and writer on Mr. Show with Bob and David and was highly appreciated for his work. He has also appeared in movies including Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Dirty Love, The Wayside, and more.
The actor was arrested back on June 7, 2023, after he attacked the police and others during the MAGAL mob siege in January 2021. More than 1500 people were charged in connection to the events that are described as one of the darkest days in American history. The verdict for the riots and the actor’s fate has been announced.
Bob’s Burgers actor Jay Johnston sentenced to a year and a day
According to reports by CBS News , actor and comedian Jay Johnston, who is widely known for voicing the character of Jimmy Pesto Sr., owner of the pizzeria in Bob’s Burger, is going to prison for a year and a day. The actor back in 2021 had joined the mob of supporters of Republican President Donald Trump and stormed the U.S. Capitol.
The Britannica reports that the attack had disrupted the joint session of Congress convened to certify the results of the presidential election of 2020. Trump lost the election to Democratic opponent Joe Biden. Because the attack’s objective was to prevent a legitimate president-elect from assuming office, it is considered an act of domestic terrorism.
In June 2023, the actor was arrested with a felony count of interfering with law enforcement officers during civil disorder and several misdemeanors. He was released with $25,000 bail and was set to appear for a hearing. Johnston had pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Carl Nichols and was sentenced to a year and a day. The government attorney shared earlier this month (via Deadline).
An 18-month sentence reflects the gravity of Johnston’s conduct, including his spread of disinformation about January 6th and his lack of remorse for participating in the riot.
Jay Johnston was fired from Bob’s Burgers after his participation in the riots was made public. However, his lawyer claimed that the actor was being targeted by the feds because he is an acclaimed Hollywood actor. The U.S. District Judge did not buy the claim. According to reports by The Hill, the actor told the judge that it was a humiliation and a horrible oversight.
The judge had called the actor’s actions problematic and reprehensible. Johnston’s father, brother, and fiancé attended the hearing and spoke in his support. The actor has reportedly worked as a handyman for the last two years in order to support his family after he was fired from the show.
Eric Bauza replaces Jay Johnston on Bob’s Burgers
Johnston was appreciated for his work on Bob’s Burger, but Eric Bauza replaced Jimmy Pesto after the former actor was fired from the show. He started his career by improving at The Second City and Annoyance Theater in Chicago before moving to Los Angeles.
Jimmy Pesto had become one of the favorite characters on the show since his debut in the first season. Pesto is the owner of Jimmy Pesto’s Pizzeria and is a proud Italian sporting Italian flag underwear. Johnston voiced the character for a total of 43 episodes over the course of 11 seasons.
Jay Johnston has also been a part of series including Mr. Show with Bob & David, Better Call Saul, Arrested Development, The Sarah Silverman Program, and more. The actor has been lauded for his work on the projects he’s been a part of, but things have been challenging for him since his involvement was made public.
However, the actor’s unique sense of comedy and iconic roles has earned him a devoted fan base. He is known for blending quirky humor and sharp improvisational skills. The actor has been reported to have a natural talent for sketch comedy which eventually led him to move to Los Angeles and try out professional comedy.
Bob’s Burgers actor may have been heading for prison, but no one can deny the impact he has had in the comedic circle. The series is available to stream on Hulu.
