PAUL GIAMATTI

Birth Name: Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti

Date of Birth: June 6, 1967

American-born Giamatti is the youngest of three children born to Bartlett Giamatti, a former president of Yale University and major league baseball commissioner. His mother, Toni Smith, was an actress before she married his father. Paul majored in English at Yale University before obtaining his Master's Degree in Fine Arts from the Yale University School of Drama.

Continuing his work in theater from his college days, Giamatti ventured out to work on regional productions in Seattle, San Diego, and Massachusetts. He eventually landed gigs on Broadway such as The Three Sisters, Arcadia and playing Jimmy Tomorrow in The Iceman Cometh for which he received a Drama Desk nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

He began his screen career in 1990 with roles on television, such as the telefilms She'll Take Romance and Past Midnight, and guest appearances on NYPD Blue and Homicide: Life on the Street. His roles in feature films remained largely unnoticed by the majority of filmgoers until 1997 when he captured the eyes of America in the hit comedy Private Parts (1997) as the young eager NBC executive derisively nicknamed "Pig Vomit" by Howard Stern. The exposure led him to larger roles in big budget films such as My Best Friend's Wedding (1997), Deconstructing Harry (1997), The Truman Show (1998), Saving Private Ryan (1998), The Negotiator (1998), Cradle Will Rock (1999), and Man On The Moon (1999).

The new millennium provided him with even more starring roles such as John in Big Momma's House (2000), Limbo in Planet Of The Apes (2001), and Gordo in Confidence (2003) with Dustin Hoffman and Andy Garcia.

In 2005, his career reached new heights when he received his first Golden Globe nomination for his lead role in Sideways (2004). The following year, he received not only a second Golden Globe nomination, but his first Academy Award nod for his supporting role in Cinderella Man (2005).

Giamatti has been married to screenwriter Elizabeth Cohen since 1997.

Filmography:

The Owl in Daylight (2009)
Duplicity (2009)
The Last Station (2009)
Cold Souls (2008)
The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2008) (voice)
Pretty Bird (2008)
Fred Claus (2007)
The Nanny Diaries (2007)
Shoot 'Em Up (2007)
Lady in the Water (2006)
Paper Man (2006)
The Ant Bully (2006)
The Illusionist (2006)
The Hawk is Dying (2005)
Cinderella Man (2005)
Robots (2005) (voice)
Sideways (2004)
Paycheck (2003)
American Splendor (2003)
Confidence (2003)
Thunderpants (2003)
Big Fat Liar (2002)
Planet Of The Apes (2001)
Storytelling (2001)
In the Boom Boom Room (2000)
Duets (2000)
Big Momma's House (2000)
Man On The Moon (1999)
Cradle Will Rock (1999)
Safe Men (1998)
The Negotiator (1998)
Saving Private Ryan (1998)
Doctor Dolittle (1998) (uncredited)
The Truman Show (1998)
Deconstructing Harry (1997)
My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
Private Parts (1997)
Donnie Brasco (1997)
A Further Gesture (1996)
Breathing Room (1996)
Sabrina (1995)
Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
Singles (1992)