Jay Duplass

Biography

Lawrence Jay Duplass Jr. (born March 7, 1973) is a multifaceted American talent known for his work as a filmmaker, actor, and author. He frequently collaborates with his younger brother, Mark Duplass, under their production company, Duplass Brothers Productions.   

Born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, in a Catholic family, Duplass attended Jesuit High School and later graduated from the University of Texas at Austin. He briefly pursued a Master of Fine Arts degree in film at UT but left to dedicate himself to independent film projects.   

Jay Duplass, along with his brother Mark, gained initial recognition for their award-winning short films. Their first feature film, The Puffy Chair (2005), achieved significant success at the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW, earning them Independent Spirit Award nominations. This marked the beginning of their distinctive style, often characterized by naturalistic dialogue and relatable characters in everyday situations, a style sometimes associated with the "mumblecore" movement.   

Together, the Duplass brothers have written and directed several other notable films, including Baghead (2008), Cyrus (2010) starring John C. Reilly, Jonah Hill, and Marisa Tomei, and Jeff, Who Lives at Home (2011) featuring Jason Segel and Ed Helms. They also co-directed The Do-Deca-Pentathlon (2012).   

Beyond film, Jay Duplass has made significant contributions to television. He co-created the critically acclaimed HBO comedy-drama series Togetherness (2015-2016), where he also served as a writer, director, and executive producer. He also co-created the HBO anthology series Room 104 (2017-2020) and executive-produced shows like Somebody Somewhere and The Lady and the Dale.   

As an actor, Duplass has garnered praise for his roles in various television series. He notably starred in the Amazon Video comedy-drama Transparent (2014-2019) as Josh Pfefferman, a performance that earned him a Critics' Choice Award nomination. He also appeared in The Mindy Project, Search Party, The Chair, and Industry. In 2024, he portrayed Hades in the Disney+ series Percy Jackson and the Olympians, and he is set to appear in the upcoming miniseries Dying for Sex (2025).   

In recent years, Duplass has returned to directing feature films with The Baltimorons, scheduled for release in 2025, for which he also serves as a writer and executive producer.   

Jay Duplass's career showcases his diverse talents and his significant impact on independent cinema and television, marked by his unique storytelling approach and compelling performances.