Paul Giamatti

Paul Giamatti

Birth name: Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti
Born: June 6, 1967
Age: 57
Birthplace: New Haven, Connecticut, United States
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Biography

Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti (/dʒiəˈmɑːti/; born June 6, 1967) is an American actor. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for the film Cinderella Man and is also known for his roles in the films Private Parts, Sideways, American Splendor, The Illusionist, Cold Souls, Barney's Version, Big Fat Liar, Love & Mercy, Straight Outta Compton, and Win Win, as well as the miniseries John Adams and Downton Abbey. He has won two Golden Globe Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award and four Screen Actors Guild Awards.

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Early life

Giamatti was born June 6, 1967, in New Haven, Connecticut, the youngest of three children. His father, A. Bartlett Giamatti (Angelo Bartlett Giamatti), was a Yale University professor who later became president of the university and commissioner of Major League Baseball. His mother, Toni Marilyn Giamatti (née Smith), was a homemaker and English teacher who taught at Hopkins School and had also previously acted. His paternal grandfather's family were Italian immigrants from Telese Terme; the family surname was originally spelled "Giammattei" . The rest of Giamatti's ancestry is German, Dutch, English, French, Irish, and Scottish. His paternal grandmother had deep roots in New England, dating back to the colonial era. His brother, Marcus, is also an actor, and his sister, Elena, is a jewelry designer.

Giamatti was first educated at The Foote School and later graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in 1985. He attended Yale University, where he was elected to the Skull and Bones secret society. He was active in the undergraduate theater scene, working alongside fellow actors and Yale students Ron Livingston and Edward Norton. He graduated in 1989 with a bachelor's degree in English, and went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama, where he studied with Earle R. Gister. He performed in numerous theatrical productions, including Broadway and a stint from 1989 to 1992 with Seattle's Annex Theater, before appearing in some small television and film roles in the early 1990s.

Career

In 1997, Giamatti landed in his first high-profile role as Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton in the film adaptation of Howard Stern's Private Parts. Stern praised Giamatti's performance often on his radio program, calling for him to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. In 1998, Giamatti appeared in a number of supporting roles in the big-budget films, The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan and The Negotiator. In 1999, he played Bob Zmuda and Tony Clifton in Miloš Forman's Andy Kaufman biopic, Man on the Moon. Giamatti later continued steadily during the early 2000s by appearing in major studio releases including Big Momma's House, Planet of the Apes and Big Fat Liar.

In 2003, Giamatti began to earn critical acclaim after his lead role in the film American Splendor. In 2004, Giamatti gained mainstream recognition and fame with the 2004 independent romantic comedy Sideways. His portrayal of a depressed writer vacationing in the Santa Barbara wine country garnered him a Golden Globe nomination and an Independent Spirit Award. Following the commercial success of Sideways, Giamatti appeared in Cinderella Man, for which he earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He was nominated for a Golden Globe and won the Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture. In 2006, Giamatti was the lead in M. Night Shyamalan's Lady in the Water, a supernatural thriller, followed by the animated film The Ant Bully, and Neil Burger's drama The Illusionist co-starring Edward Norton.

Giamatti had his first major role in an action movie in the 2007 film Shoot 'Em Up, while also starring in The Nanny Diaries and Fred Claus. In 2008, Giamatti received his first Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for his title performance in the HBO miniseries John Adams, a role that led to a Screen Actors Guild award. That same year, he starred in the independent film Pretty Bird, which is a fictionalized retelling about the drama behind the invention of a rocketbelt.

Giamatti received his second Golden Globe win for his role in the 2010 film, Barney's Version. Giamatti starred as the lead in the comedy-drama film Win Win, which earned positive reviews from critics. The same year he had small roles in Ironclad, The Hangover Part II and The Ides of March.

In 2012, Giamatti became the voiceover actor for Liberty Mutual insurance commercials. He was the narrator for the PBS Nature episode An Original DUCKumentary. Giamatti produced and starred in John Dies at the End, which is based on the book of the same name. He also had roles in the film Rock of Ages and Cosmopolis.

In 2013, Giamatti returned to his alma mater, Yale University, to perform the title role in Shakespeare's Hamlet, for which he won rave reviews in a sold-out, modern dress stage production of the play at the Yale Repertory Theatre, in New Haven. He also had supporting roles in several movies, including the animated film Turbo, The Congress, Parkland, Saving Mr. Banks, and the critically acclaimed 12 Years a Slave. And, Giamatti played the role of New Yorker Harold Levinson, the brother of Cora, the Countess of Grantham (Elizabeth McGovern), in the 2013 Christmas special of the period drama, ITV Studios/Carnival Films television series, Downton Abbey.

In 2014, Giamatti played villain The Rhino in The Amazing Spider-Man 2. In 2015, he played a scientist in the disaster film San Andreas. Also in 2014, Giamatti portrayed psychologist Eugene Landy in the Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy.

He portrayed manager Jerry Heller in the biographical drama Straight Outta Compton, released in August 2015. In the spring of 2016, Giamatti began appearing in commercials for Prism TV, the IPTV service owned by CenturyLink; the spots are the first-ever on-camera TV commercial appearances for Giamatti.

Giamatti plays a lead role as a New York City prosecutor in the Showtime series "Billions", portraying the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. The show, debuting in 2016, is loosely based on a real event.

Personal life

Giamatti resides in the Brooklyn Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn, New York and has been married to Elizabeth Cohen since 1997. They have a son, Samuel Giamatti, known as "Sam" (born 2001), who is raised in Elizabeth's religion of Judaism. Giamatti identifies as atheist.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Past Midnight Larry Canipe
1992 Singles Kissing Man
1995 Mighty Aphrodite Extras Guild Researcher
Sabrina Scott
1996 Breathing Room George
Before and After Member of the Jury Uncredited
1997 Arresting Gena Detective Wilson
Donnie Brasco FBI Technician
Private Parts Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton
My Best Friend's Wedding Richard the Bellman
Deconstructing Harry Professor Abbot
Further Gesture, AA Further Gesture Hotel Clerk
1998 Truman Show, TheThe Truman Show Control Room Director
Dr. Dolittle Blaine
Saving Private Ryan Sgt. Hill
The Negotiator Rudy Timmons
Safe Men Veal Chop
1999 Cradle Will Rock Carlo
Man on the Moon Bob Zmuda/Tony Clifton
2000 Big Momma's House John Maxwell Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy
2001 Duets Todd Woods
Storytelling Toby Oxman Segment: "Non-Fiction"
Planet of the Apes Limbo
2002 Big Fat Liar Marty Wolf
Thunderpants Johnson J. Johnson
2003 American Splendor Harvey Pekar
  • National Board of Review Award for Best Breakthrough Performance - Actor
  • Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
  • Nominated—Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
  • Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead
  • Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
  • Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
Paycheck Shorty
Confidence Gordo
2004 Sideways Miles Raymond
  • Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast
  • Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast
  • Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
  • Comedy Film Honor for Best Actor
  • Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
  • Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead
  • New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
  • Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
  • San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
  • Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  • Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
  • Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
  • Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
  • Nominated—London Film Critics' Circle Award for Actor of the Year
  • Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
  • Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role
2005 Robots Tim the Gate Guard Voice
The Fan and the Flower Narrator Short film
Cinderella Man Joe Gould
  • Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor
  • Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
  • Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
  • Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
  • Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
  • Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
  • Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
  • Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
  • Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture
2006 Asterix and the Vikings Asterix Voice
English dub
Hawk Is Dying, TheThe Hawk Is Dying George Gattling
Illusionist, TheThe Illusionist Chief Inspector Uhl
Lady in the Water Cleveland Heep
Ant Bully, TheThe Ant Bully Stan Beals Voice
2007 Nanny Diaries, TheThe Nanny Diaries Mr. X
Shoot 'Em Up Karl Hertz
Too Loud a Solitude Hanta Voice
Fred Claus Nicholas "Nick" Claus
2008 Pretty Bird Rick Also producer
2009 Duplicity Richard "Dick" Garsik
Cold Souls Paul
  • Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Award for Best Actor
  • Nominated—Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast
Haunted World of El Superbeasto, TheThe Haunted World of El Superbeasto Dr. Satan/Steve Wachowski Voice
Last Station, TheThe Last Station Vladimir Chertkov
2010 Barney's Version Barney Panofsky
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy
  • Genie Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role
2011 Win Win Mike Flaherty
Ironclad King John
Hangover Part II, TheThe Hangover Part II Kingsley
Ides of March, TheThe Ides of March Tom Duffy Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Acting Ensemble
2012 Rock of Ages Paul Gill
Cosmopolis Benno Levin
John Dies at the End Arnie Blondestone Also producer
2013 Turbo Chet Voice
Nominated—Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production
Congress, TheThe Congress Dr. Baker
Romeo & Juliet Friar Laurence
Parkland Abraham Zapruder
12 Years a Slave Theophilus Freeman
  • Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble
  • Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
  • Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble
  • Nominated—Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble
  • Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble
All Is Bright Dennis Also producer
Saving Mr. Banks Ralph
2014 Ernest & Celestine Rat Judge Voice
English dub
River of Fundament Ptah-Nem-Hotep
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Aleksei Sytsevich/Rhino
Madame Bovary Monsieur Homais
2015 Giant Sloth Gordon Boonewell Voice
Short film
Love & Mercy Dr. Eugene Landy
The Little Prince The Teacher Voice
San Andreas Lawrence
Straight Outta Compton Jerry Heller Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
Nominated—Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Acting Ensemble
2016 Ratchet & Clank Chairman Drek Voice
April and the Extraordinary World Pizoni Voice
English dub
Morgan

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990 She'll Take Romance Heckler #2 Television film
1994 NYPD Blue Man in Sleeping Bag Episode: "You Bet Your Life"
1995 New York News Dr. Wargner Episode: "Past Imperfect"
1996 Show, TheThe Show Jeffrey Roffman Episode: "Pilot"
1998 Homicide: Life on the Street Harry Tjarks Episode: "Pit Bull Sessions"
Tourist Trap Jeremiah Piper Television film
Winchell Herman Kurfeld Television film
1999 American Experience Narrator Episode: "New York: Part V - Cosmopolis"
2000 If These Walls Could Talk 2 Ted Hedley Television film
2001 King of the Hill Mr. McKay Voice
Episode: "It's Not Easy Being Green"
2003 Pentagon Papers, TheThe Pentagon Papers Anthony Russo Television film
2005 Saturday Night Live Host Episode: "Paul Giamatti/Ludacris featuring Sum-41"
2006 Amazing Screw-On Head, TheThe Amazing Screw-On Head Screw-On Head Voice
Pilot
2008 John Adams John Adams 7 episodes
  • Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
  • Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film
  • Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor - Mini Series
  • Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
  • Satellite Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film
  • TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama
2010 30 Rock Ritchie Episode: "When It Rains, It Pours"
2011 Prohibition Himself Documentary
Too Big to Fail Ben Bernanke Television film
  • Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie
  • Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries, or Television Film
  • Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie
2013 Downton Abbey Harold Levinson Episode: "The London Season"
  • Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2014 The Roosevelts: An Intimate History Theodore Roosevelt Voice
Documentary
Hoke Hoke Mosely Pilot; also executive producer
2015 Breakthrough Himself Documentary; also director
Episode: "More Than Human"
2014-2015 Inside Amy Schumer God / Juror #10 2 episodes
  • Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
2016-present Billions Chuck Rhoades

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Ripper Doctor Bud Cable Voice
2016 Ratchet & Clank Chairman Drek Voice

Audio books

Year Title
2006 A Scanner Darkly

[ Source: Wikipedia ]


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