Biography

From 1986 to 1989, Jesse Peretz was the original bass player and co-founder with seminal American alternative 'punk' guitar band The Lemonheads. Drummer David Ryan, who joined the band after Peretz left, co-wrote the scenario for Peretz's first feature film First Love, Last Rites (1997).

Directed music videos for the Foo Fighters: "Big Me" and "Learn to Fly.".

Brother of writer Evgenia Peretz, and brother-in-law of her husband, documentary-filmmaker David Schisgall.

[on 'Our Idiot Brother'] I love humor when it's used effectively in something dramatic. And it was fun watching Paul [Rudd] handle the challenge of not using irony as a tool. The character doesn't go there. I mean, I can't really contextualize it, but what we were trying to do in the larger parameters of the film is to make you look at this guy - and to move you as well as make you laugh.