photo:
http://iconsoffright.com/news/Jay_Mewes.jpg
Biography
Drug abuse
Mewes, like his character Jay, was a drug user. During the production of Clerks and Mallrats, Jason was a marijuana and alcohol user. During Chasing Amy, he began his heroin use. During Dogma's production, he was a heroin and Oxycodone addict, something close friend Kevin Smith claims that he did not know about until weeks later. During most of Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back's production, he drank, but started using Oxycontin during its last week.
The role of Arthur Brickman in Smith's Jersey Girl was written for Mewes, but he was unable to shoot the film because he was wanted by authorities after violating his probation stemming from drug possession charges. The role went instead to Jason Biggs. During the production of Jersey Girl, Mewes underwent drug tests, rehabilitation and criminal trials.
Now sober, Jason has just finished reprising his Jay role for Clerks II. In the movie, Jay and Silent Bob are both clean, alluding to Jason Mewes' real-life situation.
Television appearances
While he is mostly known for acting in films, Jason also has worked in television. He voiced the role of Jay in the short lived Clerks: The Animated Series. He, along with Kevin Smith, have made appearances on Degrassi: The Next Generation. Jason appeared in two episodes of a three-part story arc in which Smith and Mewes film a new addition to Smith's New Jersey films entitled Jay and Silent Bob Go Canadian, Eh? at Degrassi Junior High. Kevin and Jay appear again on Degrassi, in which the two appear at the premiere of Jay and Silent Bob go Canadian, Eh? in Canada. Mewes, Smith and Degrassi star Stacie Mistysyn made the cover of Canadian TV Guide. In 1998 he starred as "Gary Lamb - Ground Activist" in a series of Nike commercials directed by Smith.
Filmography
Clerks. (1994)
Mallrats (1995)
Drawing Flies (1996)
Chasing Amy (1997)
Dogma (1999)
Tail Lights Fade (1999)
The Blair Clown Project (1999)
Spilt Milk (1999)
Scream 3 (2000)
Vulgar (2000)
Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001)
R.S.V.P. (2002)
High Times Potluck (2002)
Hot Rush (2002)
Powder: Up Here (2004)
My Big Fat Independent Movie (2005)
Clerks II (2006)
Bottom's Up (2006)
Feast (2006)
