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Paul Giamatti Biography

Birth Name:Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti

Birth Place:New Haven, Connecticut, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Director

Fast Facts

  • Won a best actor award from both the New York Film Critics Circle and the Chicago Film Critics Association for his role in "Sideways․"
  • Won the Boston Society of Film Critics Award for best supporting actor in 2005 for "Cinderella Man․"
  • Won the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures Award for best breakthrough performance for his role in "American Splendor․"
  • Was active in the undergraduate theater scene at Yale, and went on to receive his Master of Fine Arts degree from the Yale School of Drama
  • Made his screen acting debut in the TV movie "She'll Take Romance" in 1990
  • Quote: "I think I'm typecast․ But that is fine with me ․․․ Within the type I play, it's interesting to play, ambivalent, spiky, weird, unpleasant people․"
  • Quote: "I'd rather be in something interesting that doesn't work than something that's a sure-fire thing but it's just kind of ․․․ whatever․"
  • Best known for his role as Miles in "Sideways" and as Inspector Uhl in "The Illusionist․"
  • Is a character actor who has played such real-life eccentrics as Bob Zmuda in "Man on the Moon" and Harvey Pekar in "American Splendor," as well as the historical figure "John Adams" in the HBO mini-series of the same name
  • Has appeared on Broadway in productions of "The Three Sisters," "Racing Demon" and "The Iceman Cometh," for which he received a Drama Desk nomination
  • Is an avid fan of the Boston Red Sox and science fiction

Awards

  • 2001Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Supporting Actor - Comedy: nominated
  • 2003NBR Award-Breakthrough Performance by an Actor: winner
  • 2003Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2003VVFP Award-Best Performance: nominated
  • 2004ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
  • 2004ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2004BSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004BSFC Award-Best Ensemble Cast: winner
  • 2004CFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2004CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: nominated
  • 2004LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004NYFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2004OFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004PFCS Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2004PFCS Award-Best Ensemble Acting: winner
  • 2004SFFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2004Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2004SEFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2004TFCA Award-Best Performance, Male: winner
  • 2004VVFP Award-Best Performance: nominated
  • 2004WFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: winner
  • 2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2005ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2005BSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2005COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2005Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2005Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: winner
  • 2005Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2005DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2005DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2005Directors' Week Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2005Independent Spirit Award-Best Male Lead: winner
  • 2005FFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2005Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: winner
  • 2005Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2005Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2005Golden Schmoes-Best Supporting Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2005INOCA-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2005IFC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2005KCFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2005ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2005NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2005OFTA Film Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2005OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2005OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2005Golden Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: nominated
  • 2005SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2005SLFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2005TFCA Award-Best Supporting Performance, Male: winner
  • 2005Comedy Film Honor-Best Actor: winner
  • 2005UFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2005VFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2005WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2006Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
  • 2006Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
  • 2006CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2006Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2006Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2006Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2006INOCA-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2006IFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
  • 2006IOMA-Best Supporting Actor (Miglior attore non protagonista): nominated
  • 2006OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2006OFCS Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2006Sant Jordi-Best Foreign Actor (Mejor Actor Extranjero): winner
  • 2006VFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2008Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actor: winner
  • 2008Golden Nymph-Outstanding Actor - Mini Series: winner
  • 2008OFTA Television Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie: winner
  • 2008Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2008TCA Award-Individual Achievement in Drama: winner
  • 2009Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: winner
  • 2009Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television: winner
  • 2009Gotham Independent Film Award-Best Ensemble Performance: nominated
  • 2009Best Actor-: winner
  • 2010Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Actor of the Decade: nominated
  • 2011EDA Special Mention Award-Most Egregious Age Difference Between the Leading Man and the Love Interest: nominated
  • 2011Genie-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: winner
  • 2011Gold Derby TV Award-TV Movie/Mini Supporting Actor: nominated
  • 2011Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2011IFJA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2011OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011OFTA Television Award-Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture or Miniseries: winner
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: nominated
  • 2011VFCC Award-Best Actor in a Canadian Film: winner
  • 2012Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Television Movie or Miniseries: winner
  • 2012COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: nominated
  • 2012Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2012IOMA-Best Supporting Actor (Miglior attore non protagonista): nominated
  • 2013BFCC Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2013PFCS Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2013PFCS Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
  • 2014Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2014Annie-Outstanding Achievement in Voice Acting in an Animated Feature Production: nominated
  • 2014Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2014Seattle Film Critics Award-Best Ensemble Cast: nominated
  • 2015BFCC Award-Best Ensemble: winner
  • 2015INOCA TV-Best Guest Actor in a Drama or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2016Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
  • 2018Critics Choice Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2020Critics Choice Award-Best Actor in a Drama Series: nominated
  • 2020Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble of the Decade: nominated
  • 2023BSFC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2023CFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2023DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2023FFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2023GWNYFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2023IFJA Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
  • 2023ICP Award-Best Performance: nominated
  • 2023MMCG Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2023NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2023NTFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2023OAFFC Award-Best Male Lead: winner
  • 2023PCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2023SDFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2023SLFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2023TFCA Award-Outstanding Lead Performance: nominated
  • 2023FCA Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2023VHS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2023WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2024Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2024EDA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024Astra Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2024Astra TV Award-Best Actor in a Broadcast Network or Cable Drama Series: nominated
  • 2024AFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024BAFTA Film Award-Best Leading Actor: nominated
  • 2024BOFA-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024Windie-Best Actor: winner
  • 2024COFCA Award-Best Lead Performance: nominated
  • 2024Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2024DFCS Award-Best Lead Performance by an Actor, Male: nominated
  • 2024Dorian Award-Film Performance of the Year: nominated
  • 2024GAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024Gold Derby Film Award-Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2024Golden Globe-Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy: winner
  • 2024Golden Schmoes-Best Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2024HFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024HFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2024ICFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024ICS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024IFC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2024IFTA Award-Best International Actor: winner
  • 2024KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2024ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: nominated
  • 2024MNFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024MCFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2024NCFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024NDFS Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024OFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2024OFTA Film Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2024OFCS Award-Best Actor: winner
  • 2024PCA Award-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
  • 2024SFBAFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
  • 2024Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical: winner
  • 2024SFCS Award-Best Lead Actor: nominated
  • 2024UFCA Award-Best Lead Performance, Male: nominated
  • 2024VFCC Award-Best Male Actor: winner
  • 2025Días de Cine Award-Best International Actor: winner
  • 2025Gold Derby TV Award-Limited/Movie Actor: nominated
  • 2026Golden Globe-Best Performance by a Male Actor in a Limited Series, Anthology Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated
  • 2026Satellite Award-Best Actor in a Miniseries, Limited Series or Motion Picture Made for Television: nominated