Amanda Laura Bynes (born April 3, 1986) is an American former actress. Bynes began her career as a child actress, appearing on the Nickelodeon sketch comedy series All That (1996–2000) and its spin-off series The Amanda Show (1999–2002). During her mid-teens, Bynes played Holly Tyler in WB Television Network sitcom What I Like About You (2002–2006) and made her film debut in the comedy Big Fat Liar (2002). She went on to star in a number of successful films, including What a Girl Wants (2003), Robots (2005), She's the Man (2006), Hairspray (2007), and Easy A (2010).[1]
Bynes is heralded for her work in the 1990s and 2000s. In her highly publicized personal life, she has struggled with mental health and other issues, and was in a conservatorship from August 2013 to March 2022.[2][3][4] She retired from acting in 2010, and in 2024, she announced her new career as a manicurist.[5][6]
Early life
Bynes was born and grew up in Thousand Oaks, California,[7] a suburb of Los Angeles. She is the youngest of three children born to Lynn (née Organ), a dental assistant and office manager, and Rick Bynes, a dentist.[8] Her father is Catholic and is of Irish, Lithuanian, and Polish descent.[9] Her mother is Jewish, born to a Canadian couple whose families were from Poland, Russia, and Romania.[10][11]
Career
1993–2005: Child acting and breakthrough
Bynes began professionally acting at age seven, appearing in a television advertisement for Buncha Crunch candies.[12] During her childhood, she also appeared on stage in versions of Annie, The Secret Garden, The Music Man, and The Sound of Music.[13] Later she attended a comedy camp at the Los Angeles Laugh Factory and was spotted by a Nickelodeon producer before being cast by the network on the sketch comedy series All That, where she played various roles from season two to season six.[14] The show brought Bynes much recognition, and she won a Kids' Choice Award in 2000.[15] Bynes was also a regular member of the series Figure It Out from 1997 to 1999.[16]
At the age of 13, Bynes starred in the All That spin-off comedy The Amanda Show from 1999 to 2002.[17] She had her breakthrough on the shows earning praise and acclaim. She won four Kids' Choice Awards and received two Young Artist Award nominations.[2] In 2002, Bynes made her feature film debut in Big Fat Liar starring as Kaylee, best friend of co-star Frankie Muniz's character. Although the film had a mixed reception, it was a commercial success;[18] she won a Kids' Choice Award for her performance. Also in 2002, she landed a starring role in the WB sitcom What I Like About You from 2002 to 2006 co-starring with Jennie Garth. The series garnered positive reviews and Bynes received a number of nominations from the Teen Choice Awards and the Young Artist Awards.
In 2003, Bynes appeared on the cover of Vanity Fair's July 2003 edition.[19][20] She had a voice role in the direct-to-video film Charlotte's Web 2: Wilbur's Great Adventure, which was panned by critics.[21][22] She also had a voice role as Piper Pinwheeler in the 2005 animated film Robots, which was a commercial success.[23][24] Also in 2005, she starred in the romantic comedy Love Wrecked.[25]
2006–2010: Mainstream stardom and hiatus
Bynes was named one of Teen People's "25 Hottest Stars Under 25" in 2006.[26] In 2006, Bynes starred in the teen sports romantic comedy film She's the Man, based on William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night.[27][28] She portrays Viola Hastings, a girl who pretends to be her twin brother to play with the boys' soccer team at an elite boarding school after the girls soccer team at her school gets cut. Critic Roger Ebert wrote "Of Amanda Bynes let us say that she is sunny and plucky and somehow finds a way to play her impossible role without clearing her throat more than six or eight times. More importantly, we like her."[29] Magazine Bustle wrote in 2018: "She's The Man was hot and hilarious and anxiety-inducing. It was perfect, and Bynes was a revelation in it."
In 2007, Bynes starred as Penny Pingleton, a sheltered young girl, in the musical comedy film Hairspray.[30] The film was a critical and commercial success[31] premiering in over 3,000 theaters,[32] the largest debut for any musical film. It went on to become Bynes's most successful film at the time, and she and the rest of the cast were acclaimed for their performances. She won the Critics' Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble and received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination in 2008, among others.[33][34] She was also featured on the Hairspray soundtrack, which went on to get a Grammy nomination.[35] It was announced Bynes would reprise her role in Hairspray 2, but the project was canceled.[36] In August 2007, Bynes teamed up with Steve & Barry's to create her own fashion line called Dear, consisting of apparel and accessories.[37] The line was cut short when Steve & Barry's filed Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 2008.[38]
Bynes' next role was in another comedy, Sydney White, released in 2007.[39][40] The film was a flop although Bynes's performance was praised. Review aggregator site Rotten Tomatoes wrote "Amanda Bynes is charming, but Sydney White is a poorly adapted take on Snow White, relying on tired ethnic stereotypes laughs."[41] In 2008, she appeared in the Lifetime Television movie Living Proof as the student assistant of Harry Connick, Jr.'s character.[42] The film and the cast were praised.[43] Also in 2008, Bynes voiced Anna in the Family Guy episode "Long John Peter".[44][45]
In 2009, she was set to star in the comedy Post Grad, but dropped out with no reason revealed and was replaced by Alexis Bledel amid rumors that she was having difficulties.[46] In 2010, Bynes co-starred alongside the then-relatively unknown Emma Stone in the comedy Easy A. She starred as Marianne Bryant, playing a popular and judgmental high-school student. The film was a critical and commercial success,[47] with Stone and Bynes receiving critical praise for their performances. In the same year, Bynes started shooting the comedy film Hall Pass but dropped out of the film and was replaced by Alexandra Daddario.[46][48] In July 2010, Bynes announced an indefinite hiatus from acting.[49][50][51]
In 2018, Bynes considered returning to acting, but nothing happened at that time.[49][52][53] She was going to reunite with former All That cast members at '90s Con in March 2023, her first public appearance since the end of her conservatorship, but she did not attend.[54][55] In December 2023, Bynes debuted as the co-host of a interview-style podcast, Amanda Bynes & Paul Sieminski: The Podcast, but she left after one episode.[56][57]
Personal life
In 2007, Bynes described herself as Jewish[58] and said: "As far as religion, I was raised both. I learned about both [Judaism and Catholicism]. My parents said it was up to me to decide [which faith to adhere to] when I grew up. I'm sort of a spiritual person anyway. I haven't decided yet [on a religion]. I don't know yet exactly what I believe."[10]
In 2008, Bynes briefly dated Seth MacFarlane after voicing a character in an episode of MacFarlane's show Family Guy.[45]
Since childhood, Bynes has been interested in illustration and fashion design.[19] In December 2013, Bynes enrolled at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising (FIDM) in Irvine, California for 2014.[59][60] In 2018, she received her associate's of art degree in merchandise product development and announced her intentions to start a bachelor's degree program.[14] In 2019, Bynes graduated from FIDM.[61]
Mental health and substance abuse problems
In 2012, Bynes was charged with driving under the influence (DUI) in West Hollywood.[62] Two years later, the charge was dropped, and she received a three-year probation.[63] In May 2013, Bynes was charged with reckless endangerment and marijuana possession after she was found smoking in the lobby of her Manhattan apartment building.[64] When officers entered her 36th-floor apartment, she allegedly threw a bong out the window.[64] A New York County judge dismissed the case against her in June 2014.[64]
In July 2013, Ventura County, California sheriff's deputies detained her after she allegedly started a small fire in the driveway of a stranger in Thousand Oaks. She was hospitalized under a 72-hour mental-health evaluation hold.[65] Bynes's parents filed for conservatorship of their daughter shortly after her hospitalization began.[66] In August, Bynes' mother was granted a temporary conservatorship over Bynes's affairs.[67]
In October 2014, Bynes accused her father of emotional and sexual abuse in a series of tweets; after her parents protested and claimed innocence, Bynes tweeted that her father had never abused her, adding: "The microchip in my brain made me say those things but he's the one that ordered them to microchip me".[68][69] Days later, Bynes' mother again received conservatorship of her.[70] Soon afterward Bynes announced that she had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder.[71] In August 2018, paperwork was filed to continue the conservatorship until August 2020.[72][73]
In 2018, Bynes stated she had been sober for four years with the help of her parents.[14] She also apologized for what she said on Twitter during her years of substance abuse: "I'm really ashamed and embarrassed with the things I said. I can't turn back time but if I could, I would. And I'm so sorry to whoever I hurt and whoever I lied about because it truly eats away at me."[14] In an interview, Bynes stated that during her days of substance abuse she experimented with cocaine and MDMA, but the drug she "abused the most" was the ADHD prescription medication Adderall.[74]
In February 2022, Bynes filed to end her conservatorship.[75] Her attorney stated that Bynes believed her condition was improved and protection of the court was no longer necessary.[76] Attorneys for her parents stated that they supported her in ending it.[77] The conservatorship was officially terminated on March 22, 2022.[4]
On March 20, 2023, Bynes was placed on a 72-hour psychiatric hold
after she flagged a bystander for help and called 911 following a psychotic episode in Los Angeles.[78][79][80] The previous weekend she had been scheduled to appear at an All That
panel at '90s Con in Connecticut, her first scheduled public event
since the end of her conservatorship, but she did not appear.[78][80]
On June 17, 2023, after she called the police indicating that she had
thoughts of self-harm, mental health professionals determined that she
needed inpatient treatment. She left the facility on June 30 with plans
for follow-up outpatient treatment.[81]
Francisco Muniz IV (/ˈmjuːnɪz/;[1] born December 5, 1985) is an American actor. He played the title character in the Fox sitcom Malcolm in the Middle (2000–2006), for which he earned an Emmy Award nomination and two Golden Globe Award nominations. His film roles include Deuces Wild (2002), Big Fat Liar (2002), Agent Cody Banks (2003), and Racing Stripes (2005). At the height of his fame, he was considered one of the most popular child actors and "one of Hollywood's most bankable teens" in 2003.[2]
In 2008, he put his acting career on hold to pursue an open-wheel racing career, and competed in the Atlantic Championship. He returned to racing in 2021 in stock cars, joining Rette Jones Racing for a full season in the ARCA Menards Series in 2023, where he would finish 4th in the standings. He currently competes part-time in the NASCAR Xfinity Series, driving the No. 35 Ford Mustang for Joey Gase Motorsports.
From 2012 to 2014, he was the drummer of the indie rock band Kingsfoil.
Early life
Francisco Muniz IV was born in Wood-Ridge, New Jersey,[3] on December 5, 1985,[4] the son of nurse Denise and restaurateur Francisco Muniz III.[5] Muniz's mother is half Irish and half Italian,[6] while his father is Puerto Rican (of Spanish descent from Asturias).[7] He has an elder sister named Cristina.[6] When Muniz was four years old, his family moved to Knightdale, North Carolina, where he grew up.[8] He was discovered at the age of eight at a talent show in Raleigh, North Carolina, playing Tiny Tim in a local production of A Christmas Carol. His parents divorced shortly after, and he subsequently moved with his mother to Burbank, California. Beginning in the sixth grade, he was home-schooled by his mother.[2][9]
Career
Acting
Muniz appeared in commercials and made his film debut in the made-for-television movie To Dance with Olivia (1997), starring Lou Gossett Jr. In that same year, he appeared in the CBS Hallmark Hall of Fame presentation of What the Deaf Man Heard. A small role in the film Lost & Found (1999) led to his breakout role as the title character on Linwood Boomer's sitcom Malcolm in the Middle, which premiered on Fox on January 9, 2000. The show was successful and it was quickly met with accolades. The pilot episode was watched by 23 million people[10] and the second episode, "Red Dress" (premiered on January 16, 2000), by 26 million.[11] He was nominated for an Emmy Award[12] in 2001,[13] and received The Hollywood Reporter "Young Star Award" for his work in the series.
Throughout his television career, Muniz made guest appearances on the shows Lizzie McGuire; Sabrina, the Teenage Witch; and MADtv. His first starring role was as Willie Morris in the 2000 family drama film My Dog Skip,[14] which was released at the same approximate time as the pilot for Malcolm in the Middle. That same year, he provided the character voice of Domino in the 2000 video game 102 Dalmatians: Puppies to the Rescue and was featured on the video game Stargate Worlds.
The following year, he contributed a character voice to the animal cast of the film Dr. Dolittle 2. Muniz was also the voice of Chester McBadBat in the first two seasons of The Fairly OddParents until Jason Marsden took over. He had a hit with the 2002 release Big Fat Liar, in which he co-starred with teen actress Amanda Bynes as a pair of students seeking revenge on a sleazy movie producer (played by Paul Giamatti). Muniz was also part of the ensemble for the gang film Deuces Wild, released that same year. In 2003, he made a cameo appearance as Cher's underage boyfriend in Stuck on You. That same year, he appeared in the series premiere of Ashton Kutcher's MTV practical joke series Punk'd.
Muniz subsequently played the title role in the film Agent Cody Banks as well as its sequel, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London. The first film opened in March 2003, and grossed $47 million; the sequel, which opened a year later, grossed $28 million.[15] He trained in martial arts for the films, and performed most of his own stunts. He also commented that it was the point in his career where he should "make the transition from child actor to an adult actor or a respectable actor."[16] In 2004, he wrote the teleplay of the TV show Granted, on which he was also the executive producer.
Muniz provided the character voice of a zebra named Stripes, who wishes to become a racing equine, in the 2005 film Racing Stripes. That same year, he made a guest appearance as himself in "Mr. F", an episode of the Fox comedy Arrested Development. In April 2006, he began filming My Sexiest Year, an independent film in which Harvey Keitel played his father.[17] He announced, during that same month, that he would be taking a break from acting, in order to pursue a career in race car driving, under a full-time two-year deal with Jensen Motorsport in the Formula BMW competition.[18][19] In 2006, he was executive producer for the movie Choose Your Own Adventure: The Abominable Snowman.
Malcolm in the Middle finished its run on May 14, 2006. Ten days later, on May 24, Muniz appeared in the horror film Stay Alive. He expressed a desire to leave traditional Hollywood film roles behind, saying: "Growing up has never scared me until last year. I started thinking about getting older, being an adult, and it scared me. Hopefully things will work out in my career. If they don't, then it was never meant to be."[20]
Despite his earlier stated intention to take a break from acting, in May 2006, he signed on to star in the R-rated teen-sex comedy Extreme Movie.[21] The film was originally planned to be released in 2007 by Dimension Films,[22] but was ultimately released straight to DVD in February 2009.
In 2007, he became an associate producer of the film Choose Connor. In late 2007, he made a guest appearance in an episode of the CBS crime drama Criminal Minds. In December 2007, he made a cameo appearance in the movie Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, playing Buddy Holly. In 2008, he began work on a film with former Missy Elliott protégée Brianna Perry, but the project was never released.[23]
Muniz made a foray into the superhero genre with the family action film Pizza Man, in 2011. In 2012, he made a cameo appearance as himself in the second season of the comedy Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23. In 2015, he made another cameo appearance in The Mysteries of Laura, in which one of the detectives (Merideth Bose) had a crush on the actor/ racecar driver (Frankie Muniz) who was competing in a drag race. The team was on an NYPD case and suspected evidence would present itself at the drag race.[24]
On September 6, 2017, Muniz was announced as one of the celebrities who would compete on the 25th season of Dancing with the Stars. He was paired with professional dancer, Witney Carson.[25] Muniz and Carson finished the season in third place.
On August 1, 2018, it was announced Muniz would be the co-host of Dancing with the Stars Juniors on ABC, co-hosting with Jordan Fisher who was Season 25's Mirrorball Trophy winner.[26]
On December 21, 2023, he starred with Kelly Elizabeth Lawera and Kyle Fecteau in Santa's Training Camp/Ford Performance.[27]
Racing
| Frankie Muniz | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atlantic Championship | |||||||
| Years active | 2007–2009 | ||||||
| Teams | Jensen MotorSport, Pacific Coast Motorsports, Team Stargate Worlds | ||||||
| Starts | 32 | ||||||
| Wins | 0 | ||||||
| Poles | 0 | ||||||
| Fastest laps | 0 | ||||||
| Best finish | 9th in 2009 | ||||||
| Championship titles | |||||||
| 2005 | Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race Celebrity Winner | ||||||
| Last updated on: January 11, 2023 | |||||||
| NASCAR Xfinity Series career | |||||||
| 2 races run over 1 year | |||||||
| Car no., team | No. 35 (Joey Gase Motorsports) | ||||||
| First race | 2024 United Rentals 300 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last race | 2024 Call811.com Every Dig. Every Time. 200 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| |||||||
| ARCA Menards Series career | |||||||
| 20 races run over 1 year | |||||||
| ARCA no., team | No. 30 (Rette Jones Racing) | ||||||
| Best finish | 4th (2023) | ||||||
| First race | 2023 BRANDT 200 (Daytona) | ||||||
| Last race | 2023 Shore Lunch 200 (Toledo) | ||||||
| |||||||
| ARCA Menards Series East career | |||||||
| 4 races run over 1 year | |||||||
| ARCA East no., team | No. 30 (Rette Jones Racing) | ||||||
| Best finish | 16th (2023) | ||||||
| First race | 2023 Calypso Lemonade 150 (Iowa) | ||||||
| Last race | 2023 Bush's Beans 200 (Bristol) | ||||||
| |||||||
| ARCA Menards Series West career | |||||||
| 1 race run over 1 year | |||||||
| ARCA West no., team | No. 30 (Rette Jones Racing) | ||||||
| Best finish | 41st (2023) | ||||||
| First race | 2023 General Tire 150 (Phoenix) | ||||||
| |||||||
| . | |||||||
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Muniz has had a long-running interest in car racing. On February 18, 2001, Muniz drove the pace car for the Daytona 500 and met Dale Earnhardt shortly before Earnhardt entered his vehicle for the race.[28] Muniz, who was also attending the race to film for MTV's documentary series True Life, witnessed the subsequent crash on the final lap which killed Earnhardt.[29]
Muniz's career in car racing traces back to 2004, when he ran the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race in Long Beach as a celebrity participant, finishing 7th.[30] The following year, he finished third,[31] and was the best-finishing celebrity after capitalizing on Ingo Rademacher and Aaron Peirsol's contact on the final lap.[32] While investigating the possibility of joining a racing team as an owner, he was granted a test in a car, and instead signed a two-year deal with Jensen Motorsport as a driver. Muniz entered fourteen races during the 2006 Formula BMW USA season, and failed to finish in a point-scoring position.[citation needed] He was selected as one of the thirty–six drivers to compete in the annual Formula BMW World Final at Valencia. Muniz finished 29th.[33][34] In April, he again competed in the Toyota Pro/Celebrity, finishing 11th after starting 19th.[35]
In 2007, Muniz moved up to the more competitive Champ Car Atlantic Series,[36] where he competed in the entire season of 12 races. For the season, his best race finish was ninth place, and he officially earned a total of 41 points (for 22nd place) and $17,000 in prize money, logging 351 laps.[37] In January 2007, he placed second at the Sebring Winter National race.[38] He signed with Atlantic Championship-winning team Pacific Coast Motorsports in January 2008, with a goal to consistently compete in the top ten of the points championship. He finished the 2008 season in eleventh place. At the end of the 2008 season, he won the Jovy Marcelo Award, an award for sportsmanship voted on by fellow drivers named in memory of the 1991 Atlantic Championship winner who was killed during practice for the 1992 Indianapolis 500. In 2009, Muniz joined Team Stargate Worlds, and finished in the top ten in every race he contested, with a best finish of fourth at Miller Motorsports Park. However, prior to the penultimate race at Road America, his season was shortened by wrist surgery.[39]
In 2011, Muniz returned to the Toyota Pro/Celebrity Race; after starting 15th, he finished 4th.[40]
On October 23, 2021, Muniz made his stock car racing debut at Kern County Raceway Park in Bakersfield, California, competing in the SRL Pro Late Model series driving for High Point Racing.[41]
In January 2022, Muniz participated in the ARCA Menards Series test at Daytona International Speedway, driving the No. 01 Ford for Fast Track Racing.[42]
On January 11, 2023, it was announced that Muniz would drive full-time for Rette Jones Racing in the ARCA Menards Series in the team's No. 30 Ford Mustang.[43] Muniz finished fourth in the standings with one top-five and 11 top-tens,[44] including a season-best fifth-place finish at Michigan International Speedway.[45]
On February 9, 2024, it was announced that Muniz would attempt to make his NASCAR Xfinity Series debut at the season opening race at Daytona International Speedway, driving the No. 35 Ford for Joey Gase Motorsports. Along with that race, he would compete on a part-time schedule in the car.[46][47][48][49]
Music
Muniz joined the unsigned band You Hang Up as a drummer.[50][51]
In 2012, he joined Kingsfoil, a band based in York, Pennsylvania, and endorsed SJC Drums and Imperial Cymbals.[50] In 2014, he left the band because of scheduling problems.
In 2017, Muniz announced on Facebook that he is the manager for
the York-based band Astro Lasso, which consists of Jordan Davis and
Tristan Martin of his former band Kingsfoil. Muniz travels with the band
doing their monitor systems, lights, as well as being the designated
driver.[52] The band opened for We the Kings, Cute Is What We Aim For, and Plaid Brixx on the 10th anniversary of We the Kings' self titled album tour during spring of 2017.[53]
Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti (/ˌdʒiːəˈmɑːti/ JEE-ə-MAH-tee; born June 6, 1967) is an American actor. His accolades include a Primetime Emmy Award and three Golden Globes, as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and a British Academy Film Award.
After studying acting at the Yale School of Drama he performed in numerous theatrical productions. Giamatti made his Broadway debut portraying Ezra Chater in the Tom Stoppard play Arcadia (1995). Later that year he played the Rev. Donald "Streaky" Bacon in the David Hare play Racing Demon (1995). He returned to theatre in the revivals of Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters (1997) and Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh (1999).
Giamatti's breakout role in film was in Private Parts (1997), which led to supporting roles in My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), Saving Private Ryan (1998), and Man on the Moon (1999). He won acclaim for his leading roles in American Splendor (2003), Sideways (2004), Win Win (2011), and Private Life (2018). He has also acted in The Illusionist (2006), Fred Claus (2007), The Ides of March (2011), 12 Years a Slave (2013), and Saving Mr. Banks (2013). He also portrayed Limbo in Planet of the Apes (2001), Eugene Landy in Love & Mercy (2014) and Jerry Heller in Straight Outta Compton (2015). He earned a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Joe Gould in Cinderella Man (2005) and a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Actor for his role as disgruntled teacher Paul Hunham in The Holdovers (2023).
On television, Giamatti played the title role in the HBO miniseries John Adams (2008), which earned him acclaim and several awards including a Primetime Emmy and Golden Globe. He starred as U.S. Attorney Chuck Rhoades Jr in the Showtime television series Billions (2016–2023), and earned Emmy nominations for his roles as Ben Bernanke in the HBO film Too Big to Fail (2011), and Harold Levinson in the ITV series Downton Abbey (2013).
Early life and education
Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti[1] was born June 6, 1967,[2] in New Haven, Connecticut, the youngest of three children. His father, Angelo Bartlett Giamatti, was a Yale University professor who later became president of the university and later commissioner of Major League Baseball.[3] His mother, Toni Marilyn Giamatti (née Smith), was a homemaker and English teacher who taught at the Hopkins School and had also previously acted.[1][4]
His paternal grandfather's family were Italian emigrants from Telese Terme; the family surname was originally spelled "Giammattei" (Italian pronunciation: [dʒammatˈtɛi]) before immigrating to the United States.[5] His paternal grandmother had deep roots in New England, dating back to the colonial era.[6] Giamatti's brother, Marcus, is also an actor, and his sister, Elena, was a jewelry designer.
Giamatti attended Yale, where he was active in the undergraduate theater scene and worked with 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 on Broadway and a stint from 1989 to 1992 with Seattle's Annex Theater,[7] before appearing in some small television and film roles in the early 1990s.[citation needed]
In 2023, Giamatti was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree from Yale.[8]
Career
1989–2002: Early roles
He made his television debut in the ABC made for television film She'll Take Romance (1990). After minor roles in the neo-noir Past Midnight (1991) and the romantic comedy Singles (1992) he acted in Woody Allen's comedy film Mighty Aphrodite (1995) and Sydney Pollack's romantic comedy remake Sabrina (1995). That same year in March, he made his Broadway debut in Tom Stoppard's Arcadia portraying Ezra Chater. Vincent Canby describe the role as being "a helplessly funny subsidiary" one.[9] In November he portrayed The Rev. Donald Bacon in David Hare's Racing Demon. Both of these productions took place at the Lincoln Center Theater.
In 1997, Giamatti landed 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. Roger Ebert of the Chicago Sun-Times described Giamatti's performance as being "well played".[10] That same year he reunited with Woody Allen, acting in the comedy Deconstructing Harry (1997). He also took a small but memorable role as Richard the Bellman in the Julia Roberts-led romantic comedy My Best Friend's Wedding (1997). That same year he returned to Broadway, playing Andrei Prozorov in the revival of Anton Chekov's Three Sisters. Greg Evans of Variety wrote, "[Giamatti,] as the sisters’ pensive, dispirited brother Andrei, plays urban neurosis like a Richard Lewis stand-up routine, then slides into shaky-voiced melodrama when the going gets tough".[11]
In 1998, Giamatti appeared in a number of supporting roles in the big-budget films including Peter Weir's drama The Truman Show, Steven Spielberg's World War II drama Saving Private Ryan, and the action thriller The Negotiator. In 1999, he played Bob Zmuda and Tony Clifton in Miloš Forman's Andy Kaufman biopic, Man on the Moon. Giamatti continued working steadily during the early 2000s by appearing in major studio releases including Duets (2000), Big Momma's House (2000), Planet of the Apes (2001) and Big Fat Liar (2002).
2003–2015: Established actor
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 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 and he was named Best Actor in a Leading Role by several significant film critics groups (New York, Chicago, Toronto, San Francisco, Online Film Critics).
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 starring in The Nanny Diaries and Fred Claus. In 2008, Giamatti received an Emmy Award[12] for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie for his title performance in the 2008 HBO miniseries John Adams, as well as his first Golden Globe Award[13] for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film, and also earned a Screen Actors Guild award. Barry Garron of The Hollywood Reporter praised his performance, writing "Giamatti is brilliant as Adams. He is fearless in his portrayal, confident that the character’s all-consuming sacrifices for his fledgling nation will more than compensate for his numerous character flaws".[14] William Thomas of Empire agreed, adding "The acting, especially from Giamatti as the irascible Adams and Laura Linney as his wife Abigail, who steered him clear of vanity...has the tang of authenticity, even when burdened with great gulps of politicking".[15] 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.[16]
Giamatti received his second Golden Globe[17] win for Best Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy for his role in the 2010 film, Barney's Version. The Associated Press praised Giamatti, describing it as "pitch perfect", adding, "the picture undoubtedly will draw kudos in its home and native land and likely beyond, buoyed by that virtuouso Giamatti performance".[18] Giamatti starred as the lead in the comedy-drama film Win Win, which earned positive reviews from critics.[19] Scott Tobias of NPR wrote of his performance, "By now, the Giamatti persona has been well-defined — exasperation and despair, tempered by mordant wit—but the actor's every performance is like a snowflake, and here McCarthy provides him a role that's subtly down-to-earth".[20] 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.[21] He was the narrator for the PBS Nature episode An Original DUCKumentary.[22] 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 films 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.[23] He also had supporting roles in several films, including the animated Turbo and The Congress, as well as Parkland, Saving Mr. Banks, and the critically acclaimed 12 Years a Slave.[24][25] In addition, 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.[26] For his performance he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series nomination.
In 2014, Giamatti played villain The Rhino in The Amazing Spider-Man 2.[27] Also in 2014, Giamatti portrayed psychologist Eugene Landy in the Brian Wilson biopic Love & Mercy. In 2015, Giamatti portrayed N.W.A manager Jerry Heller in the biographical drama Straight Outta Compton. He also played a scientist in the disaster film San Andreas.[28]
Since 2016
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From 2016 to 2023, Giamatti played a lead role 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.[29] For the role he received a nomination for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series. In 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.[30] In 2022, Giamatti appeared as Scrooge and Einstein in Verizon commercials.[31] He served as an executive producer of the WGN America series Outsiders (2016-2017). He also lent his voice to BoJack Horseman, Rick and Morty and Big Mouth.
In 2018 he starred in the Tamara Jenkins directed film Private Life, acting alongside Kathryn Hahn. The film, distributed by Netflix, received positive reviews. Alissa Wilkinson of Vox praised the performances of the two leads, writing "Hahn and Giamatti bring their characteristic warmth-with-an-edge to their characters, and as their relationship unpacks itself onscreen, it feels authentic and lived-in".[32] That same year he acted in Reed Morano's post-apocalyptic romance drama I Think We're Alone Now and portrayed Samuel Goudsmit in the war film The Catcher Was a Spy. He returned to film in 2021, acting in the action thriller Gunpowder Milkshake and the family adventure film Jungle Cruise.
He reunited with Alexander Payne in the coming-of-age film The Holdovers (2023), which premiered at the Telluride Film Festival. The film, distributed by Focus Features, received positive reviews, with critics praising Giamatti's performance as a curmudgeonly teacher. Pete Hammond of Deadline Hollywood declared, "Giamatti, who so memorably starred in Payne’s 2004 Sideways, has never been better", adding "this is perfect casting for Giamatti."[33] For his performance in The Holdovers, Giamatti won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy[34] and the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor.[35]