Jon Gries (pronounced with a long i, as in fries) is currently a regular on NBC's The Pretender, which airs in the U.S. on Saturday nights. As Broots, the Centre's computer genius on the show, Jon says his character "is forced to dance a little quicker than everyone else because he's trying to function in a dysfunctional family."

Jon first began his acting career with a small role as the caretaker of the Tate house in the movie Helter Skelter. This made-for-TV movie about Charles Manson from 1976 was directed by Jon's father, Emmy Award winner Tom Gries, the noted director, writer and producer. Sadly, Tom died from a heart attack shortly after that (in 1977). A native of Glendale, California, Jon moved to New York to study acting with Stella Adler shortly after appearing in Helter Skelter.

His next role was in the sequel to the film American Graffiti, and Jon has been working steadily in film and television ever since. Among his film credits are Real Genius, Running Scared, Fright Night Part 2, Ed and His Dead Mother, Get Shorty and Men In Black.

Jon now lives in Los Angeles, and recently co-starred as evil attorney Jay Harrison in the

lly acclaimed independent film Twin Falls, Idaho - for which he was also credited as an Associate Producer. Twin Falls, Idaho also featured his The Pretender co-star, Patrick Bauchau.

Jon was a regular on the FOX series Martin from 1992-1994, where he played radio engineer Sean McDermott. He has also made numerous guest appearances on other television series, such as Seinfeld, The X-Files, Quantum Leap, L.A. Law, Chicago Hope and Beverly Hills 90210. Theater credits include work at the South Coast Repertory Theater and the Mark Taper Forum.

Jon is a talented songwriter and musician, who is currently working on a CD, in which he plays guitar and sings. He sang and played harmonica for several years with the Los Angeles band Carnival Dogs. He also co-wrote one of the songs from the "Twin Falls, Idaho" soundtrack.

Personal information: Jon has three brothers. His birthday is June