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More John C. Reilly Bios & Profiles

 

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Biography #2 (for Criminal)

John C. Reilly, was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Chicago, in which he co-stars with Catherine Zeta-Jones and Renee Zellweger. As Amos Hart, the husband of Zellweger's Roxie Hart, Reilly with was able to showcase his singing talents when he performed the Mr. Cellophane song and dance number.

In 2002, he starred in three projects that allowed him to exhibit his range as an actor: Chicago, Gangs of New York and The Hours. In addition to his Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor in Chicago, all three films were Academy Award-nominated for Best Picture of the Year, making this the first time that a single actor has been part of three of the five films in this prestigious category.

Reilly also received a Golden Globe nomination in the Best Supporting Actor category for Chicago. The Las Vegas Film Critics named Reilly their Best Supporting Actor on behalf of his work in the film and the Chicago Film Critics nominated him in the same category. The cast received a SAG nomination for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture."

In Martin Scorcese's high-profile period drama, Gangs of New York he co-starred as Happy Jack a gangster turned corrupt cop on the city streets. The film also stars Daniel Day Lewis, Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz.

In addition, Reilly co-starred in the ensemble film The Hours directed by Stephen Daldry. The drama is actually three vignettes in which Reilly portrays Julianne Moore's husband in one of the stories set in 1952. The film also stars Nicole Kidman and Meryl Streep. The cast received a SAG nomination for "Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture."

Also that year, Reilly starred opposite Jennifer Aniston as her husband in The Good Girl. In the dark comedy, Aniston and Reilly must confront the problems with their marriage as she embarks on an affair with a younger man. Reilly received an IFP Spirit Award nomination for his work in the film.

Reilly's ability to disappear into a role has caught the attention of some of the greatest directors of our time, many of whom have worked with him time and time again. Such filmmakers as Brian De Palma, Terrence Malick, Martin Scorcese, Paul Thomas Anderson, Lasse Hallstrom, Wolfgang Peterson and Neil Jordan have utilized his versatility to create their worlds on film.

Recently, Reilly re-teamed with Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio in The Aviator, playing the eccentric billionaire industrialist Howard Hughes' business partner. The film also stars Cate Blanchette, Alan Alda, Kate Beckinsale and Alec Baldwin. Reilly also stars in the upcoming film Dark Water opposite Jennifer Connelly, which will open in the fall.

In 2001, Reilly starred in the critically-acclaimed ensemble satire The Anniversary Party which was co-directed by Alan Cumming and Jennifer Jason Leigh. He also starred as a commercial fisherman in Wolfgang Peterson's blockbuster The Perfect Storm.

Reilly won the hearts of critics and theatergoers alike starring as Officer Jim Kurring in Paul Thomas Anderson's highly acclaimed ensemble drama Magnolia, and gave a scene stealing performance in the baseball drama For Love of the Game starring Kevin Costner and Kelly Preston. He also co-starred with Drew Barrymore and David Arquette in the romantic comedy, Never Been Kissed.

Reilly's versatility has been showcased in a variety of films, including both independent and studio releases. He was featured as porn star and drug buddy Reed Rothchild to Mark Wahlberg's Dirk Diggler in Paul Thomas Anderson's Boogie Nights, while in Anderson's action drama Hard Eight, he stars opposite Gwyneth Paltrow and Samuel L. Jackson as a small time gambler in Reno. He also portrayed World War II Mess Sergeant Storm in Terrence Malick's The Thin Red Line for which he received rave reviews.

Reilly's other film credits include Georgia, What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, Dolores Claiborne, The River Wild, We're No Angels, State of Grace, and Hoffa.

Reilly recently appeared on stage at the Huntington Theatre in Boston, starring in the title role in the musical Marty, based on the movie and Paddy Chayefsky screenplay of the same name. The show was directed by Mark Brokaw and choreographed by Rob Ashford with music and lyrics by Bye Bye Birdie collaborators Charles Strouse and Lee Adams.

Reilly returned to his theater roots in 2000 in Sam Shepard's Tony Award nominated Broadway production True West. Reilly starred opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman in a tale of two brothers engaged in an intense psychological battle. The two talented actors alternated the two central roles, leaving audiences in awe. Both Reilly and Hoffman received Best Actor Tony Award nominations for their portrayals of the brothers.

Raised on Chicago's rough Southwest side, Reilly began performing in local theaters. He was accepted at the prestigious Goodman School of Drama and graduated into the upper echelons of Chicago's thriving theater scene, working with influential Steppenwolf Theatre and Organic Theatre. At the Organic, he wrote and directed his own two-man show, Walking the Boogie. It was during this period that Reilly sent Brain De Palma a video of himself performing and was immediately hired via phone, without ever meeting De Palma in person, for Casualties of War. Though cast in a smaller role, De Palma was so overwhelmed by the harrowing realism of Reilly's work he was recast as Hatcher, one of the pivotal main characters.

Reilly later returned to the stage to star with Gary Sinise in both The Grapes of Wrath and A Streetcar Named Desire at the Steppenwolf Theatre. He also produced and took a starring role as the King in Ionesco's Absurdist classic Exit the King at The Actor's Gang Theatre in Los Angeles.

Bio courtesy Warner Bros. for "Criminal" (16-Sep-2004)


Biography #3 (for The Hours)

John C. Reilly was most recently seen in The Perfect Storm, The Anniversary Party and The Good Girl. This fall, in addition to The Hours, he will be onscreen in Martin Scorsese's long-awaited The Gangs of New York. In addition, he plays the role of Amos Hart in the upcoming film version of the hit Kander and Ebb musical Chicago.

Reilly charmed audiences in Paul Thomas Anderson's Oscar-nominated Boogie Nights, having previously worked with Anderson on his acclaimed debut Hard Eight opposite Gwyneth Paltrow. Among Reilly's other feature film credits are Anderson's Magnolia, For Love of the Game, The Thin Red Line, Never Been Kissed, Georgia, What's Eating Gilbert Grape?, Dolores Claiborne, The River Wild, We're No Angels, State of Grace, Hoffa and Casualties of War.

Reilly is also known for his extensive stage work. On Broadway, he appeared in Steppenwolf's The Grapes of Wrath. He also starred as Mitch in Steppenwolf's A Streetcar Named Desire in Chicago and produced and played the title role in Ionesco's Exit the King at the Actors Gang Theater in Los Angeles. In 2000, he co-starred with Philip Seymour Hoffman, alternating roles in the critically-acclaimed Broadway production of Sam Shepard's True West, for which he won the Outer Critics' Circle Special Achievement Award and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by a Leading Actor.

Born and raised in Chicago, Reilly is a graduate of DePaul University's Goodman School of Drama. He is married to actress Alison Dickey.

Bio courtesy Paramount for "The Hours" (01-Jan-2000)