Paul Schneider (actor)
{{Short description|American film actor}}
{{Other people|Paul Schneider}}
{{Infobox person
| image = Paul Schneider (2018) (cropped).jpg
| caption = Schneider in July 2018
| name = Paul Schneider
| birth_name = Paul Andrew Schneider
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1976|3|16}}
| birth_place = Asheville, North Carolina United States
| occupation = Actor
| years active = 1996–present
| education = University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
| spouse = {{marriage|Theresa Avila
|2016}}
| children = 2
}}
Paul Andrew Schneider is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Dick Liddil in the epic western film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) and his lead role as Mark Brendanawicz on the first and second seasons of the NBC political satirical sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–10).{{cite magazine |title='Parks and Recreation' Team Rips Into NRA for Using Amy Poehler GIF |url=https://variety.com/2018/digital/news/nra-parks-and-recreation-amy-poehler-gif-1202707489/ |magazine=Variety |first=Todd |last=Spangler |access-date=September 18, 2018 |date=February 22, 2018 |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.}} He also appeared in lead roles in the romantic drama film All the Real Girls (2003) and the comedy film The Babymakers (2012), the former of which he co-wrote with David Gordon Green and was nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer.
He has since appeared in supporting roles in films such as Elizabethtown (2005), Lars and the Real Girl (2007), Away We Go (2009), Water for Elephants (2011), Hello Carter (2013), Rules Don't Apply (2016), Brothers by Blood (2020), and American Murderer (2022).{{cite web |title=Paul Schneider Rounds Out Broadway's 'Straight White Men' Cast; Joins Josh Charles, Armie Hammer |url=https://deadline.com/2018/05/broadway-paul-schneider-straight-white-men-josh-charles-armie-hammer-1202397312/ |website=Deadline Hollywood |first=Greg |last=Evans |access-date=September 18, 2018 |date=May 24, 2018 |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.}} For his portrayal of Charles Armitage Brown in the biographical romantic drama film Bright Star (2009), Schneider won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was also awarded Best Actor in a Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival for his performance in the romantic comedy drama film Goodbye to All That (2014).{{cite magazine |title=Tribeca Film Review: 'Goodbye to All That' |url=https://variety.com/2014/film/reviews/tribeca-film-review-goodbye-to-all-that-1201169419/ |magazine=Variety |access-date=August 11, 2014 |date=May 3, 2014 |first=Peter |last=Debruge |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.}}{{cite news |last=Indsdorf |first=Annette |title=Paul Schneider, Versatile 'Babymaker' and 'Beloved' Actor |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/annette-insdorf/paul-schneider-versatile-_b_1718930.html |access-date=November 28, 2012 |newspaper=Huffington Post |date=July 30, 2012 }}
Early life
Schneider was born in Asheville, North Carolina,{{cite web|work=Playbill|url=http://www.playbill.com/person/paul-schneider|title=Paul Schneider|archive-url=https://archive.today/20190317094526/http://www.playbill.com/person/paul-schneider|archive-date=March 17, 2019|access-date=March 17, 2019|url-status=live}}{{cite web |work=California Birth Index |publisher=California Vital Statistics |url=https://www.californiabirthindex.org/birth/paul_a_schneider_born_1976_13078395 |access-date=May 7, 2018 |title=The Birth of Paul A. Schneider}} and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.{{cite news |last=Fischer |first=Jonathan |title=The Nifty 50: Paul Schneider, Actor |url=https://tmagazine.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/04/the-nifty-50-paul-schneider-actor/ |access-date=November 28, 2012 |magazine=T Magazine |publisher=New York Times |date=February 4, 2010}}
Career
In 2000, Schneider made his film debut in David Gordon Green's George Washington and starred in All the Real Girls.{{cite news |last=Kehr |first=Dave |author-link=Dave Kehr |title=From the Pride of an Art School, a Sophomore Effort |newspaper=The New York Times |date=February 28, 2003 |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804EED61138F93AA35751C0A9659C8B63 |access-date=December 30, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228105804/http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9804EED61138F93AA35751C0A9659C8B63 |archive-date=February 28, 2009 }}{{cite news |last=Adams |first=Sam |title=Random Roles: Paul Schneider |url=https://www.avclub.com/articles/paul-schneider,33499/ |access-date=November 28, 2012 |newspaper=The A.V. Club |date=September 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121029012711/http://www.avclub.com/articles/paul-schneider%2C33499/ |archive-date=October 29, 2012 |publisher=Onion Inc.}} As research for his role as Jesse Baylor in Elizabethtown, director Cameron Crowe suggested that Schneider tour with the band My Morning Jacket for five days. Schneider accompanied the band to concerts held in such locations as Irving Plaza, the Webster Theater, the Theater of the Living Arts, and Stone Pony Landing.{{citation needed|date=November 2012}}
After Elizabethtown, Schneider had supporting roles in The Family Stone and Live Free or Die. In 2007, he portrayed Gus Lindstrom in Lars and the Real Girl and Dick Liddil in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. He was named one of "Ten Actors to Watch" by Variety.{{cite magazine |last=Idelson |first=Karen |title=Paul Schneider: 'Jesse James' star prefers life over acting school |url=https://variety.com/2007/film/markets-festivals/paul-schneider-1117974415/ |access-date=November 28, 2012 |magazine=Variety |date=October 19, 2007 |publisher=Penske Business Media, LLC.}} In 2008, he made his directorial debut with the independent film Pretty Bird.{{cite news |title=Up, Up and Away: Paul Schneider's "Pretty Bird" |url=https://www.indiewire.com/article/park_city_08_review_up_up_and_away_paul_schneiders_pretty_bird |access-date=November 28, 2012 |work=Indiewire |date=January 25, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109175222/http://www.indiewire.com/article/park_city_08_review_up_up_and_away_paul_schneiders_pretty_bird |archive-date=January 9, 2014}} Also in 2008, Schneider played President William Henry Harrison in an episode of the Comedy Central series Drunk History Vol. 4.{{cite web |last=Johanson |first=MaryAnn |title=AWFJ Women On Film - Paul Schneider on "Bright Star" and more - MaryAnn Johanson interviews |url=http://awfj.org/2009/09/17/3832/ |access-date=November 28, 2012 |work=Alliance of Women Film Journalists |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140109175153/http://awfj.org/2009/09/17/3832/ |archive-date=January 9, 2014}}
In 2009, Schneider appeared as Charles Armitage Brown in Bright Star, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Award from the National Society of Film Critics. The award was shared with Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds.{{cite news |last=Childress |first=Erik |title=National Society of Film Critics 'Hurt' Oscar Chances? |url=http://blog.moviefone.com/2010/01/04/national-society-of-film-critics-hurt-oscar-chances |access-date=November 28, 2012 |work=Moviefone |date=January 4, 2010 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20121209051113/http://blog.moviefone.com/2010/01/04/national-society-of-film-critics-hurt-oscar-chances |archive-date=December 9, 2012 |url-status=dead }} He portrayed Courtney Farlander in Away We Go.
In arguably his most mainstream role, Schneider co-starred as Mark Brendanawicz in the NBC series Parks and Recreation, appearing in the first two seasons from 2009 to 2010 before leaving the series.{{cite web|url=https://www.looper.com/173415/the-reason-paul-schneider-left-parks-and-rec-after-season-2/|title=The Reason Paul Schneider Left Parks And Rec After Season 2|last=Bucholtz|first=Meg|date=May 26, 2020|website=Looper|access-date=August 27, 2023}} In a April 2014 interview with ScreenCrush, Schneider said that he had felt sidelined:{{cite web|url=https://screencrush.com/paul-schneider-interview/|title=Paul Schneider on Why He Left 'Parks And Recreation' and Why He Might Leave Hollywood|last=Ryan|first=Mike|date=April 22, 2014|website=ScreenCrush|access-date=August 27, 2023}} {{Blockquote
|text=That experience was very strange for me. You know, I signed up for a specific character that was changed in mid-season. And it became a character with a lot less to do. And, all of a sudden, I was kind of confused and kind of having a lot less to do.
}}
In 2018, Schneider made his Broadway debut in Young Jean Lee's play Straight White Men as Matt. Schneider's performance earned praise, with The New York Times critic Jesse Green singling him out as one of the highlights of the production.{{cite news |last1=Green |first1=Jesse |title=Review: 'Straight White Men,' Now Checking Their Privilege on Broadway |work=The New York Times |date=July 24, 2018 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/07/23/theater/straight-white-men-review-armie-hammer-josh-charles.html |access-date=February 25, 2019}}
Personal life
On April 16, 2016, Schneider married Theresa Avila, an occupational therapist and co-founder of The World Lens Foundation, of which Schneider is a board member.{{Cite web|url=http://www.worldlensfoundation.org|title=Home|website=The World Lens Foundation|language=en-US|access-date=May 25, 2018}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/theresaavilas/|title=theresa avila tc schneider (@theresaavilas) • Instagram photos and videos|website=www.instagram.com|language=en|access-date=May 25, 2018}} The two have two daughters, Lou and Rae. Schneider is an Innocence Project Ambassador.{{Cite news|url=https://2st.com/shows/current-production/straight-white-men#cast|title=Straight White Men|work=2econd Stage Theatre|access-date=May 25, 2018|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180312144119/https://2st.com/shows/current-production/straight-white-men#cast|archive-date=March 12, 2018|url-status=dead}}
Filmography
=Film=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year || Title || Role || class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 1997
| Pleasant Grove | Bedford | Short film |
| 1998
| Physical Pinball | | Short film |
| 2000
| Rico Rice | |
| 2003
| Security, Colorado | Paul | Filmed in the Dogme 95 style. |
| 2003
| Paul | Also writer |
| 2003
| Crude | Gabe | |
| 2004
| Owen McCabe | |
| 2005
| Jesse Baylor | |
| 2005
| Brad Stevenson | |
| 2006
| Jeff Lagrand | |
| 2007
| The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford | |
| 2007
| Gus | |
| 2008
| Beach Dog Jogger | Also writer, director |
| 2009
| |
| 2009
| Courtney Farlander | |
| 2011
| Charlie O'Brien | |
| 2011
| Beloved | Henderson | |
| 2012
| Terry | |
| 2012
| Tommy Macklin | |
| 2013
| Aaron | |
| 2014
| Otto Wall | |
| 2014
| Black Eyed Dog | | |
| 2014
| Straight Men/Same Bed | |Short film |
| 2015
|Christian | |
| 2016
| Steve | |
| 2016
| Richard Miskin | |
| 2020
| Jimmy | |
| 2021
| John Chambers | |
| 2022
|Dr. Carver | |
| 2022
| David Brown | |
| 2025
| Apostle Frank | |
=Television=
| class="wikitable sortable" |
| Year || Title || Role || class="unsortable"|Notes |
|---|
| 2003
| Thomas Warner | Guest role; 3 episodes |
| 2008
| Drunk History Vol. 4 | 1 episode |
| 2009–2010
| Main role (seasons 1–2); 30 episodes |
| 2012
| Brian Brenner | Guest role; 2 episodes |
| 2014
| Clark Rylance | Main role; 6 episodes |
| 2016
| Artem Baturin | Guest role; 4 episodes |
| 2016
| Mike Painter | Main role; 6 episodes |
| 2017
| Chance | Ryan Winter | Main role (season 2); 9 episodes |
| 2018
| The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story | Paul Beck | Episode: "Ascent" |
| 2020
| George | 6 episodes |
| 2020
| NOS4A2 | Jonathan "The Hourglass" Beckett | 3 episodes |
| 2022
| Marty | Episode: "Revelation" |
| 2023
|Daniel Strawn |Episode: "Bias" |
| 2023
| Officer Andy Boone | Recurring role |
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Work ! Result |
|---|
| 2003
| {{nominated}} |
| 2004
| Best Original Screenplay (shared with David Gordon Green) | All the Real Girls | {{nominated}} |
| 2008
| Dramatic | {{nominated}} |
| rowspan="5"| 2009
| Alliance of Women Film Journalists | Best Supporting Actor | {{nominated}} |
| Hollywood Film Awards
| | | {{won}} |
| Indiewire Critics' Poll
| Best Supporting Performance | Bright Star | {{nominated}} |
| San Diego Film Critics Society Awards
| Dramatic | Pretty Bird | {{nominated}} |
| Village Voice Film Poll
| Best Supporting Actor | Bright Star | {{nominated}} |
| 2010
| National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA | Best Supporting Actor | Bright Star | {{won}} |
| 2012
| RiverRun International Film Festival | | | {{won}} |
| 2014
| Best Actor in a Narrative Feature | {{won}} |
| 2017
| Best TV Actor | {{nom}} |
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|773973|Paul Schneider}}
- [https://movies.yahoo.com/movie/contributor/1800042101/bio Paul Schneider Biography - Yahoo! Movies]
{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Schneider, Paul}}
Category:20th-century American male actors
Category:21st-century American male actors
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male television actors
Category:People from Asheville, North Carolina
Category:Male actors from North Carolina
Category:University of North Carolina School of the Arts alumni