Jeff Ragsdale

Jeffrey Charles "Jeff" Ragsdale (/ræɡsˈdeɪl/) is an American author, documentary filmmaker, actor, stand-up comedian, and national game show champion. He is best known for his starring role in the 2014 award-winning documentary, Hotline (2014 film), and his 2012 book Jeff, One Lonely Guy, which was selected by Dave Eggers for inclusion in The Best American Nonrequired Reading 2012, and it was a GQ 2012 "Book of the Year".

Early life

Ragsdale was born in Bellingham, Washington. He is the second of two children born to a Roman Catholic mother, Dolores, and father, Milton. His father was of Czechoslovakian (paternal) and German (maternal) descent, while his mother was of Irish and German descent. His parents operated a real estate developing business in Whatcom County. As a child he won the Presidential Physical Fitness Award, signed by Ronald Reagan. Ragsdale attended Sehome High School and starred on the school's basketball team. During high school he lived with the actor Jim Caviezel and family for a period. Ragsdale was friends with the actress Hilary Swank at Sehome High School. In 2000 Ragsdale received a Bachelor's degree in English from the University of Washington. He studied in the Columbia University MFA Writing Program in 2000. In 2001 and 2002 Ragsdale lived in Guadalajara, Mexico City, and San José del Cabo. In 2009 Ragsdale competed on Whoopi Goldberg's Head Games, winning the competition.