The more you know.
I am always mind blown when you make connections of certain actors being musicians or realizing other major roles they had. Whether those previous roles were soon before they embarked on the next project or years down the line, it always impresses me how they can transform into an unrecognizable character.
Of course, there are actors like Rami Malek, who starred as Freddie Mercury in Bohemian Rhapsody. I will always see him as Freddie Mercury, regardless of what role he’s in or how many years it has been since the premiere of that movie.
But when you put the dots together realizing that an actor in a prominent role today starred in a movie that significantly shaped your childhood…it’s a little bit of a mind f**k.
Today’s “holy sh*t that’s the same person?” moment goes to Jon Gries. Many know Gries for his legendary role as Uncle Rico from Napoleon Dynamite. I know that growing up, I had a big fat crush on Uncle Rio despite his exaggerated, inaccurate claims about being a football star. But take away his plotline in the movie, Uncle Rico is suave.
Gries considers this role to be his most iconic, noting that outside of Uncle Rico’s looks, most people related to him always recalled his glory days. Even though his character has become a meme, he once told the Hollywood Reporter that everyone understands where Uncle Rico is coming from.
“I think there is something very universal about that character; people sit around and talk about their glory days, which were mostly in high school.”
Even a former NFL wide receiver was on the Uncle Rico fan train.
Gries has starred in many other films and TV shows, including Men in Black, Taken, Psych, and The Pretender. But did you know Jon Gries has also been a character in all three seasons of White Lotus?
Here's your reminder Jon Gries from "The White Lotus" has driven a van in three iconic roles: as Lazlo in "Real Genius," as Nick the Van Driver in "Men in Black," and as Uncle Rico in "Napoleon Dynamite. pic.twitter.com/pNKXGTWH4k
— Richard Roeper (@RichardERoeper) March 27, 2025
He might have a few less hairs on his head, but instead of talking about his glory days, he was pining for Jennifer Coolidge’s love. Greg is the ex-husband of Tanya McQuoid, Coolidge’s character in seasons 1 and 2 of the show, but when he returned for seasons 3, fans quickly began to realize that he is the only cast member to have appeared in all three seasons of White Lotus.
After season 2, fans thought the key to keeping the plotlines all connected was to keep one character from the previous season into the next. That character being Coolidge and her husband. But when Gries returned to our screens under a new name, first introduced as the much-older boyfriend of Chloe, played by Charlotte Le Bon, a woman living near the Thai resort.
As the season has unfolded, it appears that Gries’ character might be here to stir up some murder drama, or hide from it, as it was revealed at the end of season 2 that he was also trying to murder Coolidge. There is also some speculation that Greg’s character will later be revealed as a professional con man who preys on rich women at fancy resorts.
Whether you made the connection before reading this blog or not, I am sure this scene will repeat in your head for the foreseeable future.
