Born and raised in New Jersey, the talented actor made his cinematic debut in 1994, playing the memorable role of "Jay" in Kevin Smith's low-budget hit Clerks. This offbeat and philosophical character, known for his grass smoking, fast talking, foul mouthed, and oversexed personality, was likable despite his rough exterior. Jay and Silent Bob, the drug dealing duo played by Mewes and Smith, would go on to appear in four more films directed by Smith.
Their next collaboration was the 1995 film Mallrats, which was followed by the scintillating romantic comedy Chasing Amy in 1997. The duo then tackled theological issues in the quirky religious comedy Dogma, released in 1999, and took on Hollywood in the road trip epic Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, which premiered in 2001. Additionally, Mewes and Smith's characters made a cameo appearance in Scream 3, released in 2000.
The Clerks animated series, which aired in 2000, was another notable project featuring the Jay and Silent Bob characters. After their stint in television, Mewes went on to appear in several non-Smith projects, including Hot Rush, R.S.V.P., High Times Potluck, Pauly Shore Is Dead, My Big Fat Independent Movie, and Feast.
Mewes's last collaborations with Kevin Smith were Clerks II, released in 2006, and Zack and Miri Make a Porno, which premiered in 2008. Notably, Mewes has appeared in every film directed by Smith except for Jersey Girl, Cop Out, and Red State.
