John Ellis Bush

     

John Bush OHK
Bush at the 2019 San Diego Comic-Con International
Birth name	John Ellis Bush
Born	(1953-02-11) February 11, 1953 San Diego, Laguna, Kingdom of Sierra
Medium	Stand-up, television, film, and podcast
Alma mater	University of Sierra, Bernheim (JD)
Years active	1983–present
Genres	Improvisational comedy, sketch comedy, physical comedy, surreal humor, self-deprecation, black comedy, musical comedy, blue comedy, satire
Subject(s)	Sierran culture, Sierran politics, everyday life, pop culture, current events, human behavior, social awkwardness
Spouse	Columba Bush (m. 1974)
Children	3
Relative(s)	Bush family
Notable works and roles	The Jeb! Show Adventures of Jeb! The Clintons and the Bushes

John Ellis Bush OHK (Born Feburary 11, 1953), or better known by his stage name Jeb Bush, is a Sierran comedian, television host, actor, writer, and producer. Active in comedy since 1983, Bush has been credited with the re-popularization of the term Jeb through his portrayal of multiple Jebbish characters throughout his career. Since 2010, Bush has been the host of his own comedy show, The Jeb! Show, on Comedy Town.

Born and raised in San Diego, Laguna, Bush is the child of Brazorian émigrés. Attending the University of Sierra, Bernheim, Bush received a degree in law. Initially pursuing a career in law, Bush made the switch to comedy in 1983, performing a number of shows across the Southwest Corridor. Bush made a comedic breakthrough in 1990, starring in Allen Sanberg's Why Bother, playing Jeb Marshes, a streotypically Jebbish character and neighbor to the film's protagonist. Following critical acclaim for his performance, Bush began assuming the mantle of other Jebbish characters in other comedic media, starring in the Adventures of Jeb! in 2000 and Jeb!: The Ultimate Motion Picture in 2004.

In 2010, Bush began hosting his own comedy show, The Jeb! Show, and in 2012 starred in Eagle Broadcasting Network's The Clintons and The Bushes alongside other members of his family. According to the Porciúncula Times and the San Diego Union Tribune, Bush is one of the most well-received and impactful comedians in Sierran history. His portrayal of Jebbish characters has lead the re-popularization of the term Jeb, both in Sierra and the rest of Anglo-America. Along with that, Bush's performances in other comedic ventures has seen a rise in the popularity of surreal humor and improvisational comedy, with some of the most famous comedians in those respective fields crediting Bush for their success.

For his comedic performances, Bush has been awarded with a number of awards and honors. In 2000, he was inducted into the Sierran Comedy Hall of Fame, in 2008 he became a member of the Sierran Academy of Motion Picture Artists, and in 2018 he was inducted into the Order of the Harmonious Kingdom for his contributes to Sierran society and the comedic industry. Along with that, Bush has won a number of film and television awards, including the 1990 Best Comedic Performance award for his portrayal of Jeb Marshes and the Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series award in 2013 for his portrayal of Jeb Bush in The Clintons and The Bushes.

Early life, education, and legal career

Bush (front right) with his family in the 1960s.

John Ellis Bush was born on February 11, 1953 in San Diego, Laguna to George and Barbara Bush. His father was a largely successful businessman while his mother was a stay-at-home mother, though was very active in local school districts. Both of his parents were Brazorian exiles, with Bush's father serving in the White Army during Brazorian Civil War and Great War II as apart of the Sierran organized Brazorian Expeditionary Legion. Bush grew up alongside his six siblings, his two older siblings, George and Robin and his three younger siblings, Neil, Marvin, and Dorothy. The Bush family lived in Del Mar Heights, one of San Diego's more wealthier districts.

Bush attended the private Francis Jay Elementary and Warner Middle School before attending the prestigious Balboa Park Academy. While in high school, Bush battled an addiction to nicotine and marijuana, which he eventually overcame with the help of his friends and family. During his final years of high school, Bush received honor roll and served as the captain of the varsity tennis team. Bush graduated from Balboa Park Academy in 1971 and began attending the University of Sierra, Bernheim, working to obtain a degree in law.

While attending USB, Bush was a member of the Phi Alpha Delta fraternity and continued his tennis career, eventually becoming a co-captain during his final year. In 1972, Bush began attending comedy shows organize by local comedy clubs, eventually developing an interest in stand up comedy and improvisational comedy. Although he enjoyed comedy, he initially viewed it more as a past-time hobby, believing that a career in comedy would not be financially secure. Bush graduated from the University of Sierra, Bernheim with a juris doctorate in law.

In 1977, Bush joined the Bernheim-based Harris, Shelby, Grape, and Richards. However, before he could participate in his first court case, the firm was disbanded after three of the four partners were indicted on federal drug charges. Following that, Bush became a public attorney, defending individuals accused of minor crimes from late 1977 to early 1980. In July of 1980, Bush joined Meyer Family Firm though left a year later following what he described as a "hostile environment". His experience at Meyer Family discouraged him from continuing his legal career, moving back to San Diego and becoming a legal advisor for his father's company.

Career

Bush as Guaca Bowle during a segment on The Jeb! Show.

Bush as Conservative Jeb! during a public prank in 2017.

By 1983, Bush had reached a self-described "low-point" in his career, no longer enjoying the processes of law as before. During this time, Bush reignited his passion for comedy, attending a number of shows in San Diego with his wife. In July of 1983, after going through what Bush described as a "tough" preparation process, Bush participated is his first stand up comedy show at the Looney House Comedy Club. His jokes, largely revolving around self-deprecation, was received extremely well by the audience, rating his performance as the best part of the night in a after show survey. With that success, Bush became a notable comedian in the San Diego comedy scene, doing shows at a number of other comedy clubs. In 1985, Bush officially ended his legal career, resigning from his father's company to pursue a career in comedy.

After a number of successful shows, reportedly drawing large crowds regularly, Bush went on his first comedy tour in 1986, traveling across the Southwest Corridor. In 1988, Bush was one of thirteen comedians to perform at the National Comedy Exhibition in Porciúncula. His performance attracted the attention of comedian, actor, and producer Allen Sandberg, who offered Bush a role in his upcoming comedy film Why Bother?. Bush accepted, taking the role of Sandberg's neighbor, Jeb Marshes. Given creative freedom over his character, Bush assumed a Jebbish persona for Marshes, who's first name was at first not associated with the term Jeb. Why Bother? released in 1990, and despite receiving mildly critical reviews the film was a commercial success. Bush's portrayal of Jeb Marshes was widely praised be critics and propelled Bush into nationwide fame. Critics and modern historians have cited Bush's performance for the "reviving" of the term Jeb in Sierra and use of Jebbish characters, with many modern interpretations of "Jebs" being based on Bush's performance.

Following the film's success, Bush began performing comedy shows and appearing other media as Jebbish characters, with the stereotype becoming the staple of his comedic brand. Fromm 1991 to 2000, Bush introduced a number of Jebbish characters, including Jeb Davidson, Conservative Jeb!, Hippie Jeb!, and Oh God What Have I Done Jeb!, three of which were introduced during his second comedy tour in 1994. In 1998. Bush began production on a comedy film centered around his Jebbish persona. Titled Adventures of Jeb!, the film followed Jeb Marshes as he attempts to take his family on the summer vacation of a lifetime. Released in 2000, the film received mixed critic reviews, though was well received by audiences, developing a cult following. Bush has created four sequels to the Adventures of Jeb!.

Beginning in 2005, Bush took a less active role in the comedy show scene, instead becoming more focused in the film industry. However, he held a comedy tour in 2008 which was his last comedy tour until 2018. In 2010, Bush began hosting his own comedy show, The Jeb! Show, on Comedy Town. In 2012, Bush and his members of his family was casted in mockumentary family sticom The Clintons and The Bushes, starring alongside Hillary Clinton, Bill Clinton, and their immediate family. The Clintons and The Bushes was the first time Bush played himself rather than a Jeb character, though created a fictionalized version of himself who was more Jebbish and "idiotic". The show ran for five seasons before ultimately concluding in 2019. Also in 2012, Bush starred in Allen Sandberg's Party Rocking? as Jeb Marshes.

In 2013, Bush appeared in the Excelsior Cinematic Universe, starring as a hot dog vendor in the streets of San Diego in Captain Sierra: The Crimson Soldier. When asked about his role in in the film, Bush said that he originally was slated to play a minor villian in the film, but asked for a brief cameo appearance as he did not want to commit to a multi-movie deal. In later interviews, Bush stated that only having a cameo role in the ECU was the "worst mistake of [his] life". In 2018, Bush held his first comedy tour in nearly ten years, travelling across the Styxie area. During this tour, Bush was attacked on stage while performing in Oakalona, which in response he jokingly "declared war" on the people of the city as Conservative Jeb!.

Bush was forced to cancel his Mr. Worldwide Tour because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He resumed the tour, which he renamed Mr. Worldwide???, in April of 2021. In 2022, Bush released Jeb!: In the Wild, a hidden camera comedy film that followed the various characters he had created over the years engaging in public pranks. Jeb!: In the Wild was the highest grossing comedy film of 2022 and received mixed reviews.

Personal life

Marriage, family, and interests

Bush speaking at the 2017 TED conference.

In 1970, during a trip to North Mexico, Bush met and befriend Columba Garnica Gallo. The two eventually formed a romantic relationship. They married in 1974 in a ceremony in Bernheim. As of 2017, the two reside in San Diego and also own a home in Santa Barbara. The couple has three children: George Prescott Bush (born 1976), Noella Bush (born 1977), and John Ellis Bush Jr. (born 1983). Bush is fluent in Spanish and German. Both Bush and his wife reside in San Diego, while owning additional homes in Bernheim and Grand Llano in Brazoria. Bush identifies as a Avignon Catholic, having converted to the faith in 1995. Since becoming a Avignon Catholic, Bush has been supportive of reconciliation between the Roman and Avignon churches.

Bush is a fan of baseball, being a supporter of the San Diego Padres. Bush has starred in a number of promotional videos for the team, usually as one of his many characters. He is also a fan of Anglo-American football, being a supporter of the San Diego Trojans. Despite many of his characters expressing political views, Bush himself has dedicated himself to remaining "politically neutral", declining to endorse any politician or party publicly. However, Bush has been adamant in his opposition to the de-criminalization of marijuana, owing to he past struggle with the drug, and for an increase in attention to increasing mental health issues among the Sierran youth.

Beginning in 1992, Bush was stalked by a former neighbor, David Leigh. Despite multiple warnings, Leigh continued to passively stalk Bush and members of his family from 1992 to 1998. In 2000, Leigh attempted to forcefully enter a tapping of Tokki's New Years Extravaganza, which Bush was hosting. Leigh was arrest on the charges of criminal trespassing, which he pleaded guilty to. Since the stalking, Bush has since had a fictionalized version of Leigh appear in every one of his contemporary works, especially in The Clintons and The Bushes.

Controversies

"War on Styxie" act

Since 2018, Bush has pretended to be in a "constant state of war" with the Styxie, a cultural region in northern Sierra. The "conflict" began in 2018, when during a show in Bernheim, after poking fun at the Sierran republican movement in the mantle of Conversative Jeb!, a group of young men (who were self-proclaimed members of the PSRA) attempted to assault Bush while leaving the show. Following the attempted attack, Bush went on Bubbler, declaring "war" on the Styxie in the mantle of Conservative Jeb!. Since the "declaration of war", Bush has gone out of his way to make disparaging comments and remarks about the Styxie in the mantle of his characters (predominantly Conservative Jeb!), some of which has led some commentators to question whether Bush is joking or not.

Since the start of his feud with the Styxie, a number of Styxie cultural organizations and politicians have condemned Bush for his "inflammatory comments", with some calling for a ban on his shows in the Styxie. In 2020, Bush was officially condemned by the San Joaquin Provincial Legislature for jokes made against the province's traditions. He was similarly be condemned by the Bernheim Board of Alderman in 2021, with Chief Alderman Carson Davis alleging that Bush was "inciting violence" and trying to damage Styxie traditions and institutions with his "global influence".

Filmography

Main article: Filmography of John Ellis Bush

See also

• Jeb