J. K. Simmons Has Way More In Common With His Whiplash Character Than You Think

J.K. Simmons' Oscar-winning performance in Damien Chazelle's "Whiplash" remains one of the greatest of the 21st century, with the actor disappearing into the role of irascible jazz instructor Terence Fletcher. As it turns out, Simmons did, in fact, share quite a lot in common with his character, though thankfully none of those shared attributes had anything to do with his unbridled rage. Instead, Simmons actually holds a music degree with a minor in composing and conducting.

As electrifying a performance as Simmons gives in 2014's "Whiplash," you'd hope the actor didn't share too much in common with his relentlessly cruel conductor character. As Terence Fletcher, Simmons enters that realm of being almost too good at his job, like watching Jack Nicholson swing an axe in "The Shining." His