Jonathan Kite: The Impressionist Extraordinaire Bringing Laughter from Skokie to the Silver Screen
Jonathan Kite has one of the most varied resumes in Hollywood comedy, which is a very busy place. Kite was born on September 2, 1979, in Skokie, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago. He has turned his Midwestern roots into a springboard for a wide range of careers, including sitcom stardom, voice acting, stand-up comedy, and even podcasting. Kite is still a big name in entertainment at 46 years old, as of his last birthday party in 2025. He combines sharp impressions with heartfelt stories. His rise from Illinois theater stages to national TV screens shows the determination and happiness needed to succeed in show business.
Early Life: A Background in Theater and Improv
From a young age, it was clear that Kite loved to perform. He grew up in a Jewish home with parents Lynn and David Kite. He went to Old Orchard Junior High and Niles North High School, where drama classes sparked his love of acting. Kite has joked in interviews that he was “that kid who loved making people laugh, even if it meant getting sent to the principal’s office.” This shows the mischievous spark that would define his career.
Kite went to the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign to get formal training and earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Theater. He improved his skills with the improv group Spicy Clamato, which has been around for a long time on campus. They did sketches that mixed absurdity with sharp wit. After he graduated, Kite dove into Chicago’s famous comedy scene, where he trained at The Second City, where people like Tina Fey and Steve Carell got their start. These early years weren’t just about having fun; they helped Kite learn how to improvise, which lets him switch easily between scripted parts and unscripted chaos.
Kite moved to Los Angeles in 2003 with a theater degree and a suitcase full of impressions. He quickly joined The Groundlings, another improv group, and helped start L. Ron Jeremy. The group made history at the Improv Olympic West Theater by winning 52 Cage Match Competitions in a row and retiring undefeated in 2010. This record shows Kite’s ability to work with others and his competitive edge.
Oleg and the 2 Broke Girls Phenomenon: Rise to Fame
Kite’s big break came in 2011 when he was cast as Oleg Golishevsky on CBS’s 2 Broke Girls, which was made by Michael Patrick King and Whitney Cummings. Kite stole scenes as the always-horny but strangely lovable Ukrainian cook at the Williamsburg Diner, where he worked with Kat Dennings and Beth Behrs. Oleg’s over-the-top behavior, which he delivered with a thick accent and no shame, became a fan favorite. The show got 12 Emmy nominations and four People’s Choice nominations over its six-season run, which ended in 2017.
The role made Kite famous, but what really stood out was how he was able to make Oleg seem vulnerable even though he was being rude. Kite said in a 2025 podcast episode of Manifesting Your Mission that “Oleg is every guy who’s ever bombed a pickup line but kept trying.” His chemistry with co-star Matthew Moy even spilled over into real life. The two of them guest-starred on Hell’s Kitchen Season 17, where they had to deal with a crazy dinner service while still being funny.
Kite’s TV guest spots show how versatile he is, not just in 2 Broke Girls. Some of their early work includes Raising Hope (2010), Wizards of Waverly Place (2010), and Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003). American Dad! (2014), NCIS (2017), Family Guy (2017), and a recurring role as Johnny on Netflix’s Dad Stop Embarrassing Me! (2021) with Jamie Foxx are some of the best things that have happened since then. In 2024, he appeared on Blue Bloods as Thomas Reims, showing that he can act in more than just comedies.
A Voice for Animation and More Than Just TV
Because of his great voice, Kite is a popular choice for animation, where his impressionist style really shines. He voiced the bad guy Octavian and the strange Trumpet Guy in Peacock’s Cleopatra in Space (2020–2021), and people praised him for how commanding he was. In addition to the roles listed above, they also voiced extra characters in Warner Bros.’ Smallfoot (2018), DreamWorks’ The Addams Family 2 (2021), Netflix’s The Boss Baby: Back in Business (2018), Adult Swim’s Black Dynamite (2012–2014), and Hulu’s M.O.D.O.K. (2021) as Tatterdemalion.
Kite has steadily built a filmography on the big screen that mixes humor and heart. He had an uncredited role in Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest (2006), and then he played an Uber driver in Supercool (2021), Mr. Skinner in The Curse of Bridge Hollow (2022), and the indie horror-comedy All the Creatures Were Stirring (2018) with Constance Wu. Kite made a big step forward by directing Needle Little Christmas (2024), a holiday-themed comedy in which she wrote, produced, and starred with Sara Waisglass and Thomas Lennon.
In 2025, Kite will voice the character Whiz in Sneaks and work on the sci-fi movie A.I. Heart U., which fans are looking forward to. These roles show how he has changed from a supporting actor to a versatile creator.
Stand-Up Stardom: Impressions That Hold Your Attention
Kite’s stand-up skills are what really set him apart. He can do more than 120 celebrity impressions, including Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Liam Neeson, and Anthony Bourdain. On stage, he’s like a chameleon. His shows, which often include personal stories about the ups and downs of Hollywood, have sold out venues all over the US and abroad. His “Anthony Bourdain at Costco” bit went viral on TikTok in 2025, getting millions of views and mixing respect with disrespect: One fan tweeted, “Tony would be proud and mad.”
What does Kite think about comedy? Accept the fight. He said on the Manifesting Your Mission podcast in May 2025, “The win isn’t the destination—it’s learning to laugh through the long nights and rejections.” He has performed at The Upstairs in DTLA (August 2025) and St. Charles Funny Bone (April 2025). In September 2024, he won the PSICF Best Male Stand-up Comedian Award at the Palm Springs International Comedy Festival.
Kite has also done commercials, with more than 30 national spots, including two Super Bowl ads for AT&T and Muscle Milk. His everyman charm comes across easily on screen.
Podcasting and Personal Thoughts Off-Screen
Kite hosts Kite Club, a podcast about pop culture and celebrity gossip that is available on all major platforms. It’s a natural extension of the way he talks, with guests who can keep up with his quick wit. Kite lives in Los Angeles and doesn’t like to draw attention to himself. Instead, he focuses on his work. His X (formerly Twitter) account (@JonathanKite) has almost 23,000 followers and is full of self-deprecating jokes like “Erewhon Market membership recipient | Elbow Model | Original member of The Jonas Brothers.”
Fans wrote touching messages on his 46th birthday in September 2025, showing how much they still love him.
Legacy: The Happy Work of a Comedian
Jonathan Kite’s career is a great example of how to be persistent and have fun. From Skokie’s stages to sold-out comedy clubs, he has shown us that laughter is the best way to stay alive. As Hollywood changes, you can expect to see more impressions, hear more voices, and see more proof that this talented person from Illinois is just getting started. Whether he’s playing a villain or a famous chef at Costco, Kite’s message is clear: Enjoy the struggle, and the laughs will come.