Andrew Herr
Andrew Herr (born May 25, 1991) is a Canadian actor best known for his role as Jonesy, a dim-witted hockey player, in the Crave and Hulu comedy series Letterkenny (2016–2023).[1][2] Born in London, Ontario, and raised in St. George, Ontario, Herr developed an interest in acting during high school. He studied creative writing at the University of British Columbia and trained in acting at the Vancouver Film School and Studio 58.[3] Herr made his screen debut in 2013 as Mark Howe in the TV movie Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story. He has appeared in films and television including Goon: Last of the Enforcers (2017) and Status Update (2018). In addition to acting, Herr is trained in martial arts including Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu, and he was college roommates with fellow Letterkenny actor Dylan Playfair.[3][2][1] For his ensemble work on Letterkenny, Herr shared in a Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance Ensemble in a Comedy in 2023.[4]Early Life and Education
Childhood and Upbringing
Andrew Herr was born on May 25, 1991, in London, Ontario, Canada.[5] He lived there only briefly, as his family relocated to the small town of St. George, Ontario, when he was two years old, where he spent the majority of his childhood.[5][6] Growing up in rural southwestern Ontario, Herr experienced a quintessential small-town Canadian upbringing centered around community and outdoor activities.[6] His family life in St. George emphasized close-knit rural living, which later informed his authentic depictions of small-town dynamics in roles like Jonesy on Letterkenny.[6] A key part of his early years involved ice hockey, a popular youth sport in the region; Herr played it regularly as a child and continued into junior levels.[6][7] This formative period in St. George provided Herr with firsthand insight into the rhythms of rural Canada, including the social bonds and humor of small communities, elements that resonated in his portrayals of hockey players and townsfolk.[6] As a teenager, he transitioned to Kingston, Ontario, for high school.[7]High School and Acting Discovery
Prior to entering grade 12, Andrew Herr's family relocated from their previous home to Kingston, Ontario, in 2008, following his father's new job opportunity.[8] He enrolled at Regiopolis-Notre Dame Catholic Secondary School, where he completed his high school education.[8] During his time at Regiopolis-Notre Dame, Herr continued his childhood interest in ice hockey by playing in junior leagues, including stints with the Gananoque Islanders in the Eastern Ontario Junior Hockey League (2009–2010) and the Napanee Raiders in the Empire Junior C Hockey League the following season.[9] These experiences kept him active in the sport he had enjoyed since childhood, balancing athletics with his emerging academic and extracurricular pursuits.[9] Herr's passion for acting ignited in his senior year when he auditioned for and secured a role in the school's production of Daniel MacIvor's play Never Swim Alone, entered in the Sears Drama Festival.[10] Encouraged by friends to participate in the theatre program, he found the experience transformative, particularly after his first live performance in front of an audience, which left him "hooked" on the stage.[9] This initial foray into theatre marked a pivotal shift, sparking a deep interest in the performing arts and setting the foundation for his future career.[9]University Attendance
Following high school, where he had developed an interest in acting through theater productions, Andrew Herr was accepted into the theater program at Toronto Metropolitan University (then known as Ryerson University). However, seeking a change of environment and opportunities in Vancouver's film and television scene, he opted instead to attend the University of British Columbia (UBC), where he studied creative writing.[11][3] At UBC, Herr immersed himself in campus life, balancing studies with extracurricular activities that honed his social and performance skills. He became roommates with aspiring actor Dylan Playfair, whom he met through a mutual friend, fostering a close friendship that later extended to professional collaborations. This period allowed Herr to explore his passion for acting beyond the stage, gradually shifting his focus toward screen work amid Vancouver's burgeoning entertainment industry. He also trained in acting at the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts (VanArts), graduating in 2012.[11][8][12] Herr also participated in UBC's men's league hockey, a recreational outlet that connected him to like-minded individuals in the local community. It was during these games that he first met Jared Keeso, the future creator and star of Letterkenny, through their shared teammates on the ice. These university experiences, blending academics, friendships, and informal networking, provided Herr with the foundational confidence and connections essential for his eventual pivot to professional acting after graduation.[6][7]Acting Career
Early Roles and Beginnings
After graduating from the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts in 2012, Andrew Herr began his professional acting career in 2013, initially focusing on roles that leveraged his background in hockey.[12] His debut came in the television movie Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story, where he portrayed Mark Howe, the youngest son of hockey legend Gordie Howe, alongside co-star Dylan Playfair as his brother Marty. This role marked Herr's entry into the industry, drawing on his real-life experience as a former junior hockey player with teams like the Gananoque Islanders and Napanee Raiders.[11] Herr's early years were characterized by minor supporting parts in film and television, as he navigated the competitive Canadian entertainment landscape, where opportunities for emerging actors often depend on networking and persistence. His hockey background proved instrumental in building connections; while at the University of British Columbia, he played on a men's league team called the Trappers, where he met future Letterkenny creator Jared Keeso, fostering relationships that opened doors to subsequent projects.[11][13] In 2015, he appeared as the Young Kid in the action thriller 12 Rounds 3: Lockdown, a small but credited role in a WWE Studios production filmed in Vancouver.[14] By 2016, Herr continued gaining experience with the role of Aaron Carmichael in the family horror film Mostly Ghostly: One Night in Doom House, part of R.L. Stine's book series adaptation, which highlighted his versatility in genre work. That same year, he made a brief cameo as an unnamed hockey player in the YouTube short "Hockey Players" from the Letterkenny Problems web series, a precursor to the hit TV show, further utilizing his athletic skills in a low-budget sketch format.[15] These initial gigs, though modest, helped Herr accumulate on-set experience amid the challenges of sporadic auditions and the limited production volume in Canada's film and TV sector.[11]Breakthrough Role in Letterkenny
Andrew Herr was cast as Josh "Jonesy" Jones in the Canadian sitcom Letterkenny, created by Jared Keeso and airing from 2016 to 2023 across 12 seasons and 81 episodes.[16] His involvement began through a hockey connection with Keeso, a teammate in a Vancouver men's league, who recruited him for the original Letterkenny Problems YouTube shorts that evolved into the full series.[6] Both actors had studied under the same acting coach, Mel Tuck, which further facilitated Herr's audition and securing of the role.[7] As one of the core "Hockey Players," Jonesy serves as the inseparable best friend and sidekick to Reilly (played by Dylan Playfair), embodying a comedic, dim-witted yet loyal persona centered on small-town Ontario life, junior B hockey antics, and exaggerated bro culture.[6] Herr's portrayal contributed to the group's dynamic humor, highlighting the rivalries and absurdities among Letterkenny's hicks, skids, and athletes in a rural setting inspired by Southwestern Ontario. His early hockey background as a junior player informed the character's authentic athletic traits and on-ice presence.[17] Herr's role helped propel Letterkenny to Crave's most-watched original series, surpassing viewership of staples like Seinfeld and The Big Bang Theory, while its Hulu availability broadened its international cult following and earned 15 Canadian Screen Awards, including multiple for Best Comedy Series.[16] The show's witty vernacular and catchphrases, such as "Pitter patter, let's get at 'er," have permeated Canadian culture, cementing its status as a landmark in modern Canadian comedy with strong Indigenous representation shaped by cast input. Filming fostered deep camaraderie among the ensemble, particularly Herr and Playfair, who shared a history as roommates and prior collaborators on Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story, allowing their genuine bromance to infuse Reilly and Jonesy's scenes with effortless chemistry.[2]Post-Letterkenny Projects
Following the conclusion of Letterkenny with its twelfth and final season in December 2023, Andrew Herr transitioned from his long-running role as Jonesy, with no major new starring roles announced as of November 2025.[5] The series' enduring popularity on platforms like Hulu has continued to elevate his profile, providing opportunities for fan engagement through conventions and media appearances rather than immediate on-screen commitments. Herr has not appeared in the Shoresy spin-off series, which premiered in 2022 and continued through 2024, despite noted connections to the hockey-centric universe of Letterkenny and fan interest in crossovers involving his character alongside co-star Dylan Playfair's Reilly.[18] In post-finale interviews, Herr expressed openness to potential spin-offs, reflecting on the show's impact in paving the way for Canadian talent while highlighting the lifelong friendships formed on set.[19] No confirmed voice work, guest spots, or other projects in Canadian entertainment have materialized post-2023, allowing focus on reflective discussions about his career trajectory. In a 2022 Talkhouse essay, Herr shared insights into his path to success, crediting early failures—such as rejection from theater programs and pivoting from hockey aspirations—as pivotal in leading to Letterkenny.[11] These reflections underscore a resilient approach that has defined his professional growth, emphasizing mentorship and serendipitous connections in the industry over rapid post-show advancements.[11]Filmography
Film Roles
Herr debuted in feature films with the role of a Young Kid in the 2015 action thriller 12 Rounds 3: Lockdown, a minor character in a high-stakes hostage scenario.[20] He appeared as Wendy's Male Lover in the 2017 sci-fi drama Rememory, a brief romantic interest in a story exploring memory and loss.[21] In the 2017 hockey comedy Goon: Last of the Enforcers, Herr took on the role of Finch, a team enforcer; this part drew on his personal background playing hockey from a young age.[22] Herr's role as BDC, a student in a high school setting, featured in the 2017 coming-of-age comedy Adventures in Public School.[23] He played Gunner Highcroft, an antagonistic figure in a tale of revenge and creativity, in the 2017 direct-to-video sequel Bigger Fatter Liar.[24] In the 2018 teen comedy Status Update, Herr portrayed Oliver, a key friend navigating social media fame and high school dynamics.[25] As of November 2025, Herr starred as Cooper Stanley in the recently released short film The Truth Fairy, a comedic exploration of pre-wedding anxieties.[26]Television Roles
Andrew Herr's television roles primarily consist of supporting parts in TV movies and a prominent recurring role in a long-running series. His early work featured him in dramatic and thriller TV films, often portraying young characters in family-oriented or suspenseful narratives. He gained wider recognition through his involvement in comedic web content that evolved into a major series.| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | Mr. Hockey: The Gordie Howe Story | Mark Howe | TV movie; supporting role as the son of hockey legend Gordie Howe.[27][28] |
| 2013 | A Sister's Nightmare | Josh | TV movie; supporting role in a Lifetime thriller about family secrets and sibling rivalry.[29][30] |
| 2013–2016 | Letterkenny Problems | Hockey Player (later Jonesy) | Web series shorts; early comedic appearances as a hockey player, serving as the precursor to the full series with multiple episodes on YouTube.[31][32] |
| 2014 | Zapped | Ogre Boy | TV movie.[33] |
| 2014 | The Unauthorized Saved by the Bell Story | Brian Austin Green | TV movie.[34] |
| 2015 | Seeds of Yesterday | Lance Spalding | TV movie; supporting role in the Lifetime adaptation of V.C. Andrews' Dollanganger saga, depicting family drama and inheritance conflicts.[35] |
| 2016 | R.L. Stine's Mostly Ghostly: One Night in Doom House | Aaron Carmichael | TV movie; supporting role in a family fantasy horror film based on the book series.[36] |
| 2016–2023 | Letterkenny | Jonesy | TV series; recurring supporting role as one of the hockey players in the Crave/Hulu comedy, appearing in all 81 episodes across 12 seasons.[37][38] |
| 2017 | Story of a Girl | Jason | TV movie; supporting role as a friend in the Lifetime drama about a teenager dealing with a viral scandal.[39] |