John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965) is an American film and theatre actor. Debuting in Casualties of War in 1989, he is one of several actors whose careers were launched by Brian De Palma. To date, he has appeared in more than fifty film productions, including three separate films in 2002, each of which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Chicago and a Grammy Award for the song "Walk Hard", which he wrote and performed in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.Contents [hide] 1 Early life 2 Film career 3 Music 4 Television 5 Filmography 6 References 7 External links
[edit] Early life
Reilly was born and raised in Chicago, the fifth of six children of an Irish American father and a Lithuanian American mother.[1][2] He was raised Catholic and attended Brother Rice High School, a Catholic school.[3][4] Reilly graduated from DePaul University in Chicago. While discussing life in Chicago on the set of the film Step Brothers, Reilly and co-star Richard Jenkins realized that when Reilly was four years old, the two had met when Jenkins worked for Reilly's father.[5][6] [edit] Film career
Reilly in February 2007
Reilly made his film debut in the Brian De Palma film Casualties of War (1989) as P.F.C. Herbert Hatcher.[7] Although the role of Hatcher was written as a small one, De Palma liked Reilly's performance so much that the role was significantly expanded. Also notable in his film work throughout the 1990s was his supporting role alongside Mark Wahlberg in Paul Thomas Anderson's 1997 film Boogie Nights, in which he played the pornographic film star Reed Rothchild.
His profile as a film actor was significantly raised in 2002 when he appeared in three of the year's Academy Award for Best Picture nominees – Chicago, Gangs of New York and The Hours. The three movies were nominated for a total of thirty-two Oscars, including one for Best Supporting Actor for Reilly's performance as Renée Zellweger's trusting husband in Chicago. Ultimately, Gangs of New York won none, Chicago won six, and The Hours won one.
Reilly appeared in Martin Scorsese's 2004 Howard Hughes biopic, The Aviator, as Hughes' (played by Leonardo DiCaprio) trusted business partner, Noah Dietrich. Of the role Reilly said, “Noah was almost a father figure to Hughes... Howard would have a scheme, and it was Noah who had to say, ‘We don’t have the money.’ He was one of his few friends.”[8] He appeared in Adam McKay's Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby in 2006, as Cal Naughton, Jr., the title character's best friend, alongside Will Ferrell. He also starred alongside Woody Harrelson, Meryl Streep, and Lindsay Lohan among others in the Robert Altman film A Prairie Home Companion. In 2007, Reilly starred as the title character in parody bio-pic Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, singing various songs parodying Johnny Cash, Ray Charles, and others. The next year, Reilly reunited with Ferrell to star in Step Brothers.
In 2008 he was among the many notable actors to perform in the online political musical, Proposition 8 - The Musical.
Reilly has recently stated that he would be very determined to play the lead role of Nathan Detroit if a revival of the musical Guys and Dolls were to occur.[9] [edit] Music
Reilly performed on two tracks of the 2006 compilation Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys: “Fathom the Bowl” and “My Son John”.[10]
In 2007, Reilly starred in the biopic parody Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. In addition to his acting role, he also performed as a vocalist and songwriter on the movie's soundtrack, for which he was nominated for a Grammy.[11] Reilly went on a concert performance tour in the US, performing as his character Dewey Cox in the Cox Across America 2007 Tour.[12] [edit] Television
Reilly provided the voice of himself in The Simpsons episode “Any Given Sundance”. He also frequently appeared on Tim & Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! as Dr. Steve Brule spawning a spinoff series, Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule Also in 1999 John appeared in an episode of HBO series "Tenacious D"; "Death of a Dream", as Sasquatch, a role which he reprised in the 2006 film "Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny". [edit] FilmographyYear Film Role Notes 1989 Casualties of War PFC. Herbert Hatcher We're No Angels Young Monk 1990 Days of Thunder Buck Bretherton State of Grace Stevie McGuire 1992 Shadows and Fog Cop at Police Station Out on a Limb Jim Jr. Hoffa Pete Connelly 1993 What's Eating Gilbert Grape Tucker Van Dyke 1994 The River Wild Terry 1995 Dolores Claiborne Const. Frank Stamshaw Georgia Herman 1996 Hard Eight John Finnegan Boys Officer Kellogg Curry 1997 Nightwatch Deputy Inspector Bill Davis uncredited Boogie Nights Reed Rothchild Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 1998 Hellcab Steve The Thin Red Line Sergeant Storm 1999 The Settlement Pat Never Been Kissed Augustus Strauss For Love of the Game Gus Sinski Magnolia Jim Kurring Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Cast Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2000 The Perfect Storm Dale 'Murph' Murphy 2001 The Anniversary Party Mac Forsyth Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male 2002 The Good Girl Phil Last Nominated — Chlotrudis Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated — Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male Nominated — Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture Gangs of New York Happy Jack Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor also for The Hours and Chicago Chicago Amos Hart Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Cast Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor also for The Hours and Gangs of New York Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Nominated — Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast The Hours Dan Brown Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor also for Gangs of New York and Chicago Nominated — Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 2003 Anger Management older monk Arnie Shankman Piggie 2004 The Aviator Noah Dietrich Nominated — Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Criminal Richard Gaddis 2005 Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody? Dark Water Mr. Murray 2006 A Prairie Home Companion Lefty Nominated — Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Cast Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby Cal Naughton, Jr. Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny Sasquatch 2007 Year of the Dog Al Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Dewford "Dewey" Cox Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Best Song Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy Nominated — Golden Globe Award for Best Original Song Nominated — Grammy Award for Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media 2007– present Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! Dr. Steven Brule TV series 2008 The Promotion Richard Wehlner Step Brothers Dale Doback 2009 9 5 voice only Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant Larten Crepsley Check It Out!, With Steve Brule Dr. Steve Brule TV series 2010 The Extra Man Gershon Cyrus John 2011 Cedar Rapids Dean Ziegler We Need to Talk About Kevin Franklin
