Nat Faxon
{{Short description|American actor (born 1975)}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nat Faxon
| image = Nat Faxon July 14, 2014 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Faxon at the series premieres of You're the Worst and Married in July 2014
| birth_name = Nathaniel Wales Faxon
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|mf=yes|1975|10|11}}
| birth_place = Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.
| alma_mater = Hamilton College
| occupation = {{comma separated entries|Actor|comedian|screenwriter|director}}
| years_active = 1999–present
| spouse = {{marriage|Meaghan Gadd|2007}}
| children = 3
}}
Nathaniel Wales Faxon (born October 11, 1975){{cite web |title=Today in History |url=https://apnews.com/article/clarence-thomas-judiciary-nobel-prizes-courts-today-in-history-ca6540dd5bc96681a5fbe89d480eb446 |website=Associated Press |date=5 October 2020 |access-date=January 2, 2024 |archive-date=January 3, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240103010436/https://apnews.com/article/clarence-thomas-judiciary-nobel-prizes-courts-today-in-history-ca6540dd5bc96681a5fbe89d480eb446 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Nat Faxon - Biography |url=https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/925363%7C0/Nat-Faxon#overview |website=Turner Classic Movies |access-date=June 30, 2022 |archive-date=April 22, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422081600/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/925363%7C0/Nat-Faxon#overview |url-status=live }} is an American actor and comedian. A frequent presence on comedic films and TV series, he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing The Descendants (2011). He starred in the Fox comedy series Ben and Kate (2012–2013) and the FX comedy series Married (2014–2015), and voices Elfo in the Netflix adult animated television series Disenchantment (2018–2023). He also co-wrote and co-directed The Way, Way Back (2013) and Downhill (2020) with writing partner Jim Rash.{{Cite web |title=Nat Faxon |url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0269542/awards/ |access-date=2023-03-23 |website=IMDb |language=en |archive-date=2023-04-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230422034812/https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0269542/awards/ |url-status=live }}
Early life
Faxon's early years were spent in the seaside community of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, where he attended the Brookwood School. He later graduated from the Holderness School near Plymouth, New Hampshire, and then Hamilton College in 1997.
Career
=Acting=
Faxon is an alumnus of the Los Angeles-based improvisational and sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings, where he began performing in 2001.[http://www.groundlings.com/performers/performer-details.aspx?performerID=125 Faxon] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140517122348/http://www.groundlings.com/performers/performer-details.aspx?performerID=125 |date=2014-05-17 }} at Groundlings.com
He may be best known for his appearances in comedic films such as Orange County (2002), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), Bad Teacher (2011), and several Broken Lizard films including Beerfest (2006). He co-starred in Darren Star's semi-autobiographical satire Grosse Pointe and had recurring roles in several television series, including The Cleveland Show, Joey, Up All Night and Reno 911!. He has also appeared on the Roseanne spin-off The Conners since 2020 as Neville Goldufski.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt8595140/characters/nm0269542 |title=The Conners (TV Series 2018–2025) - IMDb |access-date=2024-12-05 |via=www.imdb.com}}
Faxon has been featured in a series of prominent Holiday Inn commercials featuring Joe Buck, as well as an ad by Blockbuster. In 2012, he was cast as Ben Fox on the Fox sitcom Ben and Kate.{{cite news | url= https://www.avclub.com/nat-faxon-ascends-to-leading-man-on-ben-and-kate-1798233591 | title= Nat Faxon ascends to leading man on Ben And Kate | website= The A.V. Club | first= Erik | last= Adams | date= 25 September 2012 | access-date= 15 April 2015 | archive-date= 4 November 2013 | archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131104043042/http://www.avclub.com/articles/nat-faxon-ascends-to-leading-man-on-ben-and-kate,85318/ | url-status= live }}{{Cite AV media |url=https://m.imdb.com/title/tt2177491/ |title=Ben and Kate (TV Series 2012–2013) ⭐ 6.6 {{!}} Comedy |language=en-US |access-date=2024-12-05 |via=m.imdb.com}} He starred with Judy Greer in the FX comedy series Married, which ran for two seasons.
=Writing and directing=
Faxon and writing partner Jim Rash, whom he met while performing with The Groundlings, co-wrote the screenplay for the film The Descendants, starring George Clooney and directed by Alexander Payne. On February 26, 2012, the screenplay for The Descendants won an Oscar, with Faxon, Rash, and Payne sharing the award.{{cite web|url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/descendants-oscar-winner-fox-pilot-295830|title=Descendents Oscar Winner to Star in Fox Comedy Pilot|first=Lesley|last=Goldberg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|date=28 February 2012|access-date=2012-09-06|archive-date=2012-05-01|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120501214312/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/descendants-oscar-winner-fox-pilot-295830|url-status=live}} The duo made their directorial debut with The Way, Way Back (2013), based on their original screenplay, and starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette and Sam Rockwell.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/movies/the-writers-nat-faxon-and-jim-rash-direct-the-way-way-back.html?pagewanted=all|title=The Writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash Direct The Way, Way Back|first=Dave|last=Itzkoff|work=The New York Times|date=24 August 2012|access-date=2012-09-06|archive-date=2012-09-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120906202205/http://www.nytimes.com/2012/08/26/movies/the-writers-nat-faxon-and-jim-rash-direct-the-way-way-back.html?pagewanted=all|url-status=live}} It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired it for $10 million;{{cite web|url= http://filmguide.sundance.org/film/13111/the_way_way_back |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20121230211222/http://filmguide.sundance.org/film/13111/the_way_way_back| archive-date= 30 December 2012| url-status= dead| title= The Way, Way Back |publisher= Sundance Institute | access-date= 15 April 2015}} it was released domestically to positive reviews that July.
Personal life
Faxon is married to Meaghan Gadd. They have three children.{{cite web|url=http://faxonrash.com/?page_id=840|title=Biography of Nat Faxon|website=FaxonRash.com|url-status=usurped|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131023061216/http://faxonrash.com/?page_id=840|archive-date=2013-10-23}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| rowspan= 2|2002 | Orange County | Kip | |
| Slackers | Karl, the Grad Student | ||
| 2004 | Club Dread | Manny | |
| rowspan=2|2006 | The TV Set | Reporter | |
| Beerfest | Rolf | ||
| 2007 | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Awards Show Stage Manager | |
| rowspan=2|2008 | Hamlet 2 | Glenn from Copy Shop | |
| Lower Learning | Turner Abernathy | ||
| 2009 | The Slammin' Salmon | Carl the Manager | |
| rowspan=4|2011 | Freeloaders | Fritz | |
| Bad Teacher | Mark | ||
| Zookeeper | Dave | ||
| The Descendants | align="center"| None | Co-screenwriter only; Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay | |
| 2012 | The Babymakers | Zig-Zag | |
| 2013 | The Way, Way Back | Roddy | Also co-screenwriter and co-director |
| rowspan=2|2014 | Tammy | Greg | |
| Sex Tape | Max | ||
| 2016 | Operator | Gregg | |
| rowspan=2|2017 | Thoroughbreds | align=" center" | None | Producer |
| A Happening of Monumental Proportions | Paramedic #2 | ||
| rowspan=2|2018 | Life of the Party | Lance | |
| Father of the Year | Mardy | ||
| rowspan=2|2019 | Ready or Not | Justin (voice) | |
| Charlie's Angels | Peter Fleming | ||
| 2020 | Downhill | align=" center" | None | Co-director and co-screenwriter |
| 2021 | Yes Day | Mr. Deacon | |
| 2022 | Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe | Jim Hartson (voice) | |
| 2024 | Orion and the Dark | Worrisome Insomnia (voice) |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Rude Awakening | Slackula | Episode: "Slackula" |
| 2000–2001 | Grosse Pointe | Kevin the P.A. | 17 episodes |
| 2003–2004 | Reno 911! | Milk Shake | 6 episodes |
| 2004 | Significant Others | Breck | Episode: "A Breck, a Brother & a Funeral" |
| |2004–2005 | Joey | Bodie | 3 episodes |
| rowspan=3|2005 | Romy and Michele: In the Beginning | Chad | TV movie |
| NCIS | Carter Finch | Episode: "The Voyeur's Web" | |
| Reba | Elder Care Worker | Episode: "Grannies Gone Wild" | |
| 2005–2014 | American Dad! | Various voices | 4 episodes |
| 2006–2008 | Happy Hour | Brad Cooper | 14 episodes |
| 2008 | Mad Men | Flatty | Episode: "The Benefactor" |
| rowspan=4|2009 | DJ & the Fro | The Fro (voice) | 12 episodes |
| Glenn Martin DDS | Trailer Park Teen (voice) | Episode: "Halloween Hangover" | |
| The Big D | Brady | rowspan=2|Pilot | |
| The Burr Effect | Dale | ||
| 2009–2012 | The Cleveland Show | Raymond the Bear (voice) | 10 episodes |
| 2010 | Party Down | Garlan Greenbush | Episode: "Party Down Company Picnic" |
| rowspan=2|2011 | Allen Gregory | Jeremy (voice) | 7 episodes |
| Happy Endings | Chef Leslie | Episode: "Bo Fight" | |
| rowspan=2|2012 | Are You There, Chelsea? | Tim Kornick | Episode: "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying" |
| Up All Night | Lawrence | Episode: "Couple Friends" | |
| 2012–2013 | Ben and Kate | Ben Fox | Main role |
| rowspan=2|2013 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Earl of Crathmore | Episode: "Jessica Alba Wears a Jacket with Patent Leather Pumps" |
| Spy | Alan | Pilot | |
| 2013–2014 | Trophy Wife | Sad Steve | 3 episodes |
| rowspan=3|2014 | Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja | Sinjin Knightfire (voice) | Episode: "Julian's Birthday Surprise/True Bromance" |
| Marry Me | Scooby | Episode: "Win Me" | |
| Benched | Harold | Episode: "Solitary Refinement" | |
| 2014–2015 | Married | Russ Bowman | Main role |
| 2014–2016 | TripTank | Various voices | 8 episodes |
| 2014–2022 | Robot Chicken | Various voices | 6 episodes |
| 2014–present | Blaze and the Monster Machines | Pickle (voice), Joe (voice) | Main role |
| rowspan=2|2015 | Community | align="center" | None | Director, 2 episodes |
| The Grinder | Lyle | Episode: "Little Mitchard No More" | |
| 2015–2018 | SuperMansion | Ivan Whiff (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2015–2019 | Family Guy | Various voices | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Black-ish | Joseph Everton | Episode: "Super Rich Kids" |
| 2016 & 2020 | Mike Tyson Mysteries | Will / Nat O'Sullivan (voice) | 2 episodes |
| rowspan=3|2017 | Jeff & Some Aliens | Farmer (voice) | Episode: "Jeff & Some Energy Trading |
| Speechless | Undercover Boss | Episode: "J-J'S D-R-- DREAM" | |
| Dogs In A Park | Various Dogs (voice) | 8 episodes | |
| 2017–2018 | Nobodies | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2017–2019 | Friends from College | Nick | Main role |
| rowspan=5|2018 | Great News | Anthony Lyon | Episode: "Early Retirement" |
| Dallas & Robo | Clark (voice) | 3 episodes | |
| Summer Camp Island | Popular Banana Split (voice) | Episode: "Popular Banana Split" | |
| The Guest Book | Derek | Episode: "Finding Reality" | |
| The Kids Are Alright | Tom | Episode: "Christmas 1972" | |
| 2018–2020 | The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants | Captain Underpants/Mr. Krupp (voice) | rowspan=2| Main role |
| 2018-2023 | Disenchantment | Elfo (voice) | |
| rowspan=4|2019 | Harvey Street Kids | Stu (voice) | 3 episodes |
| Catastrophe | Pat | Episode #4.6 | |
| Life in Pieces | Hayes | Episode: "Jungle Push Resort Anniversary" | |
| Euphoria | Rick | Episode: "The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed" | |
| 2019–2020 | Harvey Girls Forever! | Stu (voice) | 5 episodes |
| 2019–2021 | Tacoma FD | Frenchie Willikers | rowspan=2|2 episodes |
| rowspan=3|2020 | Narcos: Mexico | Ted Faye | |
| Solar Opposites | Bryson (voice) | Episode: "The Lavatic Reactor" | |
| It's Pony | Mr. Underwood (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| 2020–2025 | The Conners | Neville Goldufskyi | Recurring role |
| rowspan=3|2021 | The Great North | Calvin Prescott (voice) | Episode: "Avocado Barter Adventure" |
| Archibald's Next Big Thing Is Here! | Randy (voice) | Episode: "A Star is Hatched/Say Cheese" | |
| The Chicken Squad | Endicott (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| 2021–2023 | HouseBroken | Chief (voice) | Main role |
| rowspan=2|2022 | Our Flag Means Death | The Swede | Recurring role |
| Gaslit | Bob Haldeman | 4 episodes | |
| 2022–present | Loot | Arthur | rowspan=3|Main role |
| rowspan=2|2023–present | Frog and Toad | Frog (voice) | |
| Mulligan | Matty Mulligan (voice) | ||
| rowspan=2|2025 | Ghosts | Alexander Hamilton | 1 episode{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2024/12/ghosts-nat-faxon-cast-alexander-hamilton-1236195160/|title='Ghosts': Nat Faxon Joins CBS Sitcom For One Episode As Alexander Hamilton|first=Katie|last=Campione|work=Deadline Hollywood|date=December 5, 2024|access-date=December 5, 2024}} |
| Watson | Hobie McSorley | Episode: "The Man with the Glowing Chest" |
Awards and nominations
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name}}
{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Nat Faxon
|list =
{{AcademyAwardBestAdaptedScreenplay 2001–2020}}
{{Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Houston Film Critics Society Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{Independent Spirit Award for Best Screenplay}}
{{National Board of Review Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Satellite Award Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{St. Louis Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{USC Scripter Awards — Film}}
{{Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
{{Writers Guild of America Award for Best Adapted Screenplay}}
}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Faxon, Nat}}
Category:American male comedians
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male screenwriters
Category:American sketch comedians
Category:American male television actors
Category:American male voice actors
Category:Best Adapted Screenplay Academy Award winners
Category:Hamilton College (New York) alumni
Category:Holderness School alumni
Category:Male actors from Massachusetts
Category:People from Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts
Category:Screenwriters from Massachusetts
Category:Screenwriters from New York (state)
Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners
Category:20th-century American comedians
Category:21st-century American comedians
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male writers