Today we’d like to introduce you to John Lehr
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Kansas City and was accepted to Northwestern University where I discovered improvisational comedy. I stayed in Chicago after I graduated and performed in theaters and bars accross the city. I joined an improvisational theater company called ED that focussed on scenes rather than sketches looking to present improv in a theatrical setting. While doing a show at the Organic Theater in Chicago I was discovered by a talent scout from Fox who flew us to LA for a showcase. The showcase went well, I signed with a big agent and manager and landed a deal with NBC. While writing and acting in TV and film, I was able to sign a pilot presentation deal with Fox. This lead to a TV pitch to Sony/TBS called “10 Items or Less” which ran for 3 seasons. I starred, create and wrote the episodes. After doing pilots for Comedy Central, NBC, BBC and Sony I sold a comedy western called “Quickdraw” to Hulu which ran for 2 season and is currently on their platform.
I have been sober since 1996 and speak/perform for recovery charities across the country. I also tour an improv show with Susan Messing and have performed in Norway, UK, Berlin, Bremen, Vienna and multiple US cities. We just performed in NYC and Chicago and will be on tour in Europe in the fall — Bulgaria, Bratislava, Birmingham and Vienna.
Along with my emmy award winning partners Linda Morel and Mark Bracero, I have formed Triple Threat Media, a tv/film/brand production company. Creative partners include, Apple, Village Roadshow, ACE Hardware, Butcher Bird studios and more.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
In 1996 I was arrested in Ventura County for possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics with intent to sell and DUI. This was the end of a long struggle with drugs in alcohol. After that I was able to get into recovery and have been drug and alcohol free since then. I’m very involved in the recovery community and speak at funraisers, etc. With all of the charges against me, the thing I was most worried about was if I could still write and perform comedy. To my surproise and no one else’s my career took off. I booked a series regular role on a show on NBC, I hosted a reality show on ABS and was one of the original Geico caveman. More importantly, I married and have two unbelievably amazing kids ages 16 & 18. My daughter Jules is attending her first year at Bard this fall.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I have had to wear many hats in order to create the kind of work I’m interested in producing. As an improvisor I had to split into a writer and an actor and was lucky enough to get jobs doing both. After I sold 10 Items or Less to TBS I became a creator and Executive Producer/Showrunner. For Quickdraw I was even the Post Production Supervisor for season 2! It all sounds insane but making a show is collaborative event and the more I know about each aspect of production, the better the product will be in my opinion.
What are your plans for the future?
I have formed Triple Threat Media wiwth my partners Linda Morel and Mark Bracero. We have worked together in different combinations for years but I am so excited to make it official. We have already produced Drag Latina with won a GLAAD award and have 3 shows in full development. We each have our areas of expertise: I write/create/client facing stuff, Linda handels all physical production and Mark is post BUT we crossover all the time. It’s an excellent working relationship and I can’t wait to see what we create next.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://triplethreat-media.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/johnclehr/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JohnLehrFanpage
- Twitter: https://x.com/johnclehr
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCyhBmEMJ0q4OQ43vDcFNhUg
- Other: https://johnlehr.com
Image Credits
n/a
