Jackson Douglas

Actor Jackson Douglas' training in sketch and improvisational comedy led to steady work as a guest performer on series like "Gilmore Girls" (WB/CW, 2000-07) and a second career as a television director and producer. Born Jackson Frederick Douglas in 1969, he attended Kentridge High School in Kent, Washington and Washington State University before heading to Los Angeles. He landed bit roles in series, including "Providence" (NBC, 1999-2002), while also studying sketch and improvisational comedy at the ACME Comedy Theatre. There, he met his future spouse, Alex Borstein, with whom he worked as a voice actor on several animated series, including "Pinky and the Brain" (The WB, 1995-1998). The couple made frequent appearances on each other's series projects: Douglas acted in several episodes of the sketch comedy series "MADtv" (Fox, 1995-2009) and Seth McFarlane's "Family Guy" (Fox, 2001-2014), both of which employed Borstein as a regular cast member. Borstein was cast in the pilot for "Gilmore Girls" as high-spirited chef Sookie St. James, though her "MADtv" contract prevented her from taking the role. Melissa McCarthy was subsequently cast as the character, which became romantically involved with Douglas' character, Jackson the eccentric farmer and produce supplier. During this period, Douglas also directed several short comedy projects, which led to helming episodes of "Gilmore Girls" and producer Amy Sherman-Palladino's follow-up series, the short-lived "Bunheads" (ABC Family, 2012-13). In 2013, Douglas served as consulting producer for the comedy/game show "Deal With It" (TBS, 2013- ), produced by comedian Howie Mandel.