Paul Giamatti
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Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti (born June 6, 1967) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor.
Biography
Early life
Giamatti was born in New Haven, Connecticut to A. Bartlett Giamatti, a Yale University professor who later became president of the university and commissioner of Major League Baseball. His mother, Toni Smith, was a teacher at Hopkins School. Giamatti's paternal grandfather was the child of Italian immigrants; his other grandparents were American.Giamatti has a brother, Marcus, who is also an actor. Giamatti attended the elite boarding school Choate Rosemary Hall, was an English major at Yale, and has a Master's degree in Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. Following his graduation, he performed in numerous theatrical productions (including Broadway) before appearing in some small television and film roles in the early 1990s.
Career
Giamatti's first high profile role was in the film adaptation of Howard Stern's Private Parts. He played Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton, Stern's antagonistic program director at WNBC. Stern praised Giamatti's performance often on his radio program, calling for him to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. That didn't happen, but Giamatti's career received a boost. He appeared in a number of supporting roles in big-budget movies such as The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan, and The Negotiator (all 1998). In 1999 he played Bob Zmuda (and Tony Clifton) in the Andy Kaufman biopic, Man on the Moon. Giamatti continued to appear in major studio releases such as Big Momma's House (2000) and the Planet of the Apes remake (2001), and co-starred in Big Fat Liar (2002). He will next appear as a building superintendent who discovers a water nymph in M. Night Shyamalan's supernatural thriller Lady in the Water.He is most often confused in public as Rob Schneider. When he guest hosted for Saturday Night Live, he had a sketch reflecting this.
Awards
Giamatti's most acclaimed performances were in lead roles in American Splendor (2003) and Sideways (2004). He was nominated for a Golden Globe for the latter (but did not win) and was not nominated for an Oscar, which baffled many in the industry. Giamatti finally received his first Academy Award-nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2005 for his role in Cinderella Man. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe and won the SAG award for Best Supporting Actor for the film.Personal life
Giamatti has been married to Elizabeth Cohen since 1997 and they have a son, Samuel, born in 2001.Filmography
- Shoot 'em Up (2007)
- Lady in the Water (2006)... Cleveland Heep
- Paper Man (2006)
- The Ant Bully (2006)
- The Illusionist (2006)... Chief Inspector Uhl
- The Hawk Is Dying (2005)... George Gattling
- Cinderella Man (2005)... Joe Gould
- Robots (2005)... Tim the Gate Guard (voice)
- Sideways (2004)... Miles Raymond
- Paycheck (2003)... Shorty
- The Pentagon Papers (2003) (TV)... Anthony Russo
- American Splendor (2003)... Harvey Pekar
- Confidence (2003)... Gordo
- Thunderpants (2002)... Johnson J. Johnson
- Big Fat Liar (2002)... Marty Wolf
- Planet of the Apes (2001)... Limbo
- Storytelling (2001)... Toby Oxman
- Duets (2000)... Todd Woods
- Big Momma's House (2000)... John
- If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000) (TV)... Ted Hedley
- Man on the Moon (1999)... Bob Zmuda/Tony Clifton
- Cradle Will Rock (1999)... Carlo
- Winchell (1998) (TV)... Herman Klurfeld
- Safe Men (1998)... Veal Chop
- The Negotiator (1998)... Rudy Timmons
- Saving Private Ryan (1998)... Sergeant Hill
- Dr. Dolittle (1998)... Blaine (uncredited)
- The Truman Show (1998)... Control Room Director
- Tourist Trap (1998) (TV)... Jeremiah Piper
- A Further Gesture (1997)... Hotel Clerk
- Deconstructing Harry (1997)... Professor Abbot
- My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)... Richard the Bellman
- Private Parts (1997)... Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton
- Donnie Brasco (1997)... FBI Technician
- Arresting Gena (1997)... Detective Wilson
- Breathing Room (1996)... George
- Before and After (1996)... Courtroom Audience (uncredited)
- Sabrina (1995)... Scott
- Mighty Aphrodite (1995)... Extras Guild Researcher
- Singles (1992)... Kissing Man
- Past Midnight (1992)... Larry Canipe
- She'll Take Romance (1990) (TV)... Heckler #2
External link
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