Multi-talented Jason Jordan Segel was born in Los Angeles, California, where he was raised by his parents, Jillian (Jordan), a homemaker, and Alvin Segel, a lawyer. His mother is of English, Scottish, and Irish ancestry, and his father is of Ashkenazi Jewish descent. He was educated at St. Matthew's Parish School in Pacific Palisades, before moving on to Harvard-Westlake School in Los Angeles. During his education he showed an interest in acting and often performed in plays at the Palisades Playhouse.
His major break came in 1999, when he was cast as Nick Andopolis in Judd Apatow's well-regarded series Freaks & Geeks (1999). Further TV and film roles followed, notably in How I Met Your Mother (2005) and En cloque, mode d'emploi (2007). His film breakthrough, however, came in 2008's hit Sans Sarah, rien ne va! (2008) which he wrote and starred in. Segel also went on to co-write and star in Les Muppets, le retour (2011).
Segel is also a musician and songwriter, with his songs appearing in many projects including Freaks & Geeks (1999), Sans Sarah, rien ne va! (2008), I Love You, Man (2009), How I Met Your Mother (2005) and American Trip (2010).
