Greg Kinnear
| Greg Kinnear | |
|---|---|
 Kinnear at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival | |
| Born |
Gregory Buck Kinnear[1] June 17, 1963 Logansport, Indiana, United States |
| Alma mater | University of Arizona (B.A., 1985) |
| Occupation | Actor, TV personality |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Spouse(s) | Helen Labdon (m. 1999) |
| Children | 3 |
Gregory Buck "Greg" Kinnear (born June 17, 1963) is an American actor and television personality who first rose to stardom in 1991. He has appeared in over 40 films and was nominated for an Academy Award for his role in As Good as It Gets.
He has appeared in other notable films, such as Sabrina, You've Got Mail, Nurse Betty, We Were Soldiers, Little Miss Sunshine, Invincible and Green Zone. Notable TV roles include Friends and his Emmy nominated roles for Talk Soup, The Kennedys and Modern Family, as well as starring as Keegan Deane in the 2014 series Rake.
Early life and education
Kinnear was born in Logansport, Indiana to Suzanne (née Buck), a homemaker, and Edward Kinnear, a career diplomat who worked for the US State Department.[2][3][4] He has two brothers, James and Steven. He grew up a "Foreign Service brat", having moved around frequently, from Beirut to Athens.
While a student at the American Community Schools in Athens, Kinnear first ventured into the role of talk show host with his radio show "School Daze With Greg Kinnear". Returning to the United States for a college education, he attended the University of Arizona, where he graduated in 1985 with a degree in broadcast journalism. Kinnear was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity at the university.[5]
Career
Talk shows
Kinnear hosted a short-lived game show, College Mad House, which was spun off from the kids' show, Fun House. Later he would become the creator, co-executive producer, and host of Best of the Worst which aired from 1990 to 1991. Unfortunately, due to a series of events caused by Rooster Teeth founder Burnie Burns, the show was canceled; Burns recounts the tale of impersonating his college friend Dal as a candidate for Best of the Worst Jobs, where it escalated to the point that Dal had actually won the competition. The truth of his entry was later revealed, and the issue is believed to have caused the end of the series.[6] In 1991, Kinnear became the first host of Talk Soup, which he hosted until 1995, when he left the show for the NBC late-night talk show, Later with Greg Kinnear (1994).
Film roles
In 1994 Kinnear made his film debut, as a talk show host in the Damon Wayans comedy Blankman. In 1995, he won the part of David Larrabee in Sydney Pollack's remake of Billy Wilder's 1954 classic Sabrina. He later played the lead role in the 1996 comedy Dear God. In 1997, he was cast in James L. Brooks' comedy-drama, As Good as It Gets, for which he received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His next film, A Smile Like Yours, had him starring opposite Lauren Holly as part of a couple trying to have a baby. His next film was the popular You've Got Mail, in which he played Meg Ryan's character's significant other. His following films were Mystery Men, Nurse Betty, Loser, The Gift, and Someone Like You. Kinnear often alternated roles, often playing good guys like a righteous principal in The Gift or a gay painter in As Good as It Gets, to bad guys such as a sleazy college professor in Loser, a womanizer in Someone Like You as well as 'Sabrina and an egotistical soap opera star in Nurse Betty.
Kinnear starred in the movie Auto Focus about the life and murder of actor Bob Crane in 2002. In 2003 he starred in Stuck On You, a comedy in which he played opposite Matt Damon as a conjoined twin who pursues his dream of becoming a Hollywood actor in spite of his joined brother's desire for a different kind of life. In 2005 he starred in the black comedy The Matador opposite Pierce Brosnan and voiced the main antagonist, Ratchet in the compter-animated film Robots.
Kinnear co-starred with Steve Carell in the Oscar-winning comedy-drama Little Miss Sunshine in 2006, and with Mark Wahlberg in Invincible, based on the true story of a bartender who tries out for the Philadelphia Eagles football team. He also appeared in Fast Food Nation, playing a fast food executive who discovers secrets about his company. In 2008 starred in the movie Flash of Genius, a docudrama about Robert Kearns who invented the intermittent windshield wiper.
His portrayal of then-Major Bruce P. Crandall in 2002's We Were Soldiers brought public attention to Crandall's heroism during the 1965 Battle of Ia Drang. (On February 26, 2007, Crandall was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Bush.)
Greg also appeared in the movie Baby Mama with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler. He played a man working in a local smoothie shop and sparked a romantic interest in Tina Fey's character. In 2010, Kinnear starred as the estranged father of Miley Cyrus' character in The Last Song.
In 2011 Kinnear starred in the miniseries The Kennedys playing the lead role as John F. Kennedy. It was originally planned to air on the History Channel; however, it was announced in January 2011 that the miniseries had been pulled from that network.[7] It was subsequently picked up by ReelzChannel and then first aired on April 3, 2011.
Kinnear starred as a famous novelist in the directorial debut of Josh Boone, Stuck in Love. The film followed his relationships with his ex-wife (Jennifer Connelly) and teenage children.[8]
Personal life
Kinnear married British model Helen Labdon on May 1, 1999. Labdon was previously a Page 3 glamour model.[9] They have three daughters, Lily Kathryn (born September 2003), Audrey Mae (born June 2006) and Kate "Katie" Grace (born fall 2009).
Filmography
Film
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | What Price Victory | Assistance | Movie |
| 1989 | Life Goes On | Corey | Episode: "Break a Leg, Mom" |
| 1990 | Murder in Mississippi | News Reporter | Movie |
| 1990 | Mancuso, FBI | Photographer | Episode: "Adamant Eve" |
| 1991 | Dillinger | Arizona Legislator | Movie |
| 1991 | L.A. Law | Reporter | Episode: "Spleen It to Me, Lucy" |
| 1991–1995 | Talk Soup | Host | 2 episodes Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Special Class Program |
| 1993 | Based on an Untrue Story | Orlando Chang Stein | Movie |
| 2000 | Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child |
Prince Gavin | Episode: "The Frog Princess" |
| 2001 | Dinner With Friends | Tom | Movie |
| 2003 | Friends | Benjamin Hobart | Episode: "The One with Ross' Grant" |
| 2011 | The Kennedys | John F. Kennedy | 8 episodes Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie |
| 2012 | Modern Family | Tad | Episode: "Me? Jealous?" Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series |
| 2014 | Rake | Keegan Deane | 12 episodes |
Awards and nominations
| Year | Association | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | CableACE Awards | Best Entertainment Host | Talk Soup | Nominated |
| Daytime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Special Class Program | Won | ||
| 1996 | Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Most Promising Actor | Sabrina | Won |
| 1997 | National Board of Review | Best Supporting Actor | As Good as It Gets | Won |
| 1998 | Academy Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | |
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated | ||
| Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
| Satellite Awards | Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role | Nominated | ||
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards | Best Supporting Actor | Won | ||
| 1999 | Blockbuster Entertainment Awards | Favorite Supporting Actor – Comedy or Romance | Nominated | |
| 2002 | New York Film Critics Circle Awards | Best Actor | Auto Focus | Nominated |
| 2006 | Gotham Awards | Best Ensemble Cast | Little Miss Sunshine | Nominated |
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Best Cast | Won | ||
| 2007 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Won | |
| 2008 | Boston Film Festival | Best Actor | Flash of Genius | Won |
| 2011 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie | The Kennedys | Nominated |
| 2012 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Modern Family | Nominated |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie | The Kennedys | Nominated |
References
- ↑ 20 Other Stuff You Might Want to Know (Greg Kinnear). Stason.org. Retrieved on 2014-06-05.
- ↑ "Greg Kinnear profile at". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ↑ "Greg Kinnear Biography". Movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2008-10-28.
- ↑ Logansport Pharos Tribune, July 2, 1955, Logansport, Indiana; engagement announcement of Edward Kinnear and Suzanne Buck
- ↑ Alpha Tau Omega website; accessed February 14, 2014.
- ↑ Rooster Teeth · RT Podcast #192. Roosterteeth.com (2014-02-13). Retrieved on 2014-06-05.
- ↑ Hollywood Reporter.aspx
- ↑ Kilday, Gregg (January 26, 2012). "Greg Kinnear and Jennifer Connelly to Star in 'Writers'". Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 4, 2012. Retrieved February 4, 2012.
- ↑ Pringle, Gill (13 March 2009). "Greg Kinnear – 'We all lead double lives'". The Independent (Independent Print Limited). Retrieved 24 January 2015.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Greg Kinnear. |
- Greg Kinnear at the Internet Movie Database
- "Greg Kinnear interview". Archived from the original on 2008-02-11.
- Greg interview on WHO.com
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