Wednesday 24 April 2013

Alec Baldwin

Birthday: 3 April 1958, Massapequa, Long Island, New York, USA
Height: 6' (1.83 m)

http://www.filmbuff.com/media/Alec_Baldwin_0005.jpgBiography

Raven-haired, suavely handsome and prolific actor Alec Baldwin was born on April 3, 1958 in Massapequa, New York, and is easily the best-known of the four Baldwin brothers in the acting business (the others are Stephen Baldwin, William Baldwin and Daniel Baldwin). Alec burst onto the TV scene in the early 1980s with appearances on several series, including "The Doctors" (1963) and "Knots Landing" (1979), before scoring feature film roles in Forever, Lulu (1987), Beetlejuice (1988), Working Girl (1988), Married to the Mob (1988) and Talk Radio (1988). In 1990, Baldwin appeared in the first on-screen adaptation of the "Jack Ryan" character created by mega-selling espionage author, Tom Clancy. The film, The Hunt for Red October (1990), was a box office and critical success, with Baldwin appearing alongside icy Sean Connery. Unfortunately, Baldwin fell out with Paramount Studios over future scripts for "Jack Ryan", and subsequent Ryan roles went to Harrison Ford.

Baldwin instead went to Broadway to perform "A Streetcar Named Desire", garnering a Tony nomination for his portrayal of "Stanley Kowalski" (he would reprise the role in a 1995 TV adaptation). Baldwin won over critics as a lowlife thief pursued by dogged cop Fred Ward in Miami Blues (1990), met his future wife Kim Basinger while filming the Neil Simon comedy, The Marrying Man (1991), starred in the film adaptation of the play, Prelude to a Kiss (1992) (in which he starred off-Broadway), and made an indelible ten-minute cameo as a hard-nosed real estate executive laying down the law in Glengarry Glen Ross (1992). He also made a similar tour-de-force monologue in the thriller, Malice (1993), as a doctor defending his practices, in which he stated, "Let me tell you something: I am God".

Demand for Baldwin's talents in the 1990s saw more scripts swiftly come his way, and he starred alongside his then-wife, Kim Basinger, in a remake of the Steve McQueen action flick, The Getaway (1994), brought to life the famous comic strip character, The Shadow (1994), and starred as an assistant district attorney in the civil rights drama, Ghosts of Mississippi (1996). Baldwin's distinctive vocal talents then saw him voice US-aired episodes of the highly popular UK children's show, "Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends" (1984), plus later voice-only contributions to other animated/children's shows, including "Clerks" (2000), Cats & Dogs (2001), Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within (2001) and The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie (2004).

In the early 2000s, Baldwin and Basinger endured an acrimonious break-up that quickly became tabloid fodder but, while his divorce was high-profile, Baldwin excelled in a number of lower-profile supporting roles in a variety of films, including State and Main (2000), Pearl Harbor (2001), The Cooler (2003) (for which he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor), The Aviator (2004), Along Came Polly (2004) and The Departed (2006). As he was excelling as a consummate character actor, Baldwin found a second career in television comedy. Already known for his comedic turns hosting "Saturday Night Live" (1975), he essayed an extended guest role on "Will & Grace" (1998) in 2005 before taking on what would arguably become his most famous role, that of network executive "Jack Donaghy", opposite Tina Fey in the highly-acclaimed sitcom, "30 Rock" (2006). The role brought Baldwin two Emmy Awards, three Golden Globes, and an unprecedented six Screen Actors Guild Awards (not including cast wins).

Continuing to appear in films as "30 Rock" (2006) wrapped up its final season, Baldwin remarried in 2012 to Hilaria Thomas (aka Hilaria Lynn Thomas), and is rumored to be considering political office 

Personal life

Baldwin with Kim Basinger at the 1994 César Awards ceremony in Paris.
Baldwin and his family are Catholic.[31]

Marriages

In 1990, Baldwin met his future wife, actress Kim Basinger, when they played lovers in the film The Marrying Man.[32] They married in 1993[33] and had a daughter, Ireland Baldwin, in 1995.[34] On January 12, 2001, Basinger filed for a divorce,[35] which was finalized in 2002.[36]
In summer 2011, Baldwin began dating Hilaria Thomas, an instructor with Yoga Vida in Manhattan.[37][38][39] Baldwin and Thomas moved from the Upper West Side to Greenwich Village that August.[40][41][42] The couple became engaged in April 2012[37] and married on June 30, 2012, at St. Patrick's Old Cathedral in New York City.[43] The couple announced in February 2013 they were expecting their first child.[44]

Runway incident

In December 2011, Baldwin was on an American Airlines flight at Los Angeles airport, and playing Words with Friends on his phone while waiting for takeoff. When instructed to put away the "electronic device" by the flight attendant, he reportedly became belligerent, and was eventually removed from the plane. He later publicly apologized to the passengers who were delayed but not the airline or federal regulators.[45]
A 2012 commercial for Capital One credit cards, for which Baldwin is a spokesperson, makes humorous reference to the event: A Viking character from the ad series asks about the phone Baldwin is using, to which Baldwin facetiously replies that it is not to be used on the runway, ending with a chiding "No!" A commercial for Best Buy also humorously referenced the event: Words With Friends co-creators Paul Bettner and David Bettner are on a plane and are interrupted by a flight attendant looking down at them, clearing her throat and signaling them to put their phones away.
Baldwin also made a guest appearance on Saturday Night Live's Weekend Update segment posing as the captain of the plane from which he was removed.

A Promise to Ourselves

In 2008, Baldwin and Mark Tabb published their book A Promise to Ourselves: A Journey Through Fatherhood and Divorce, which chronicles Baldwin's seven-year battle to remain a part of his daughter's life.[46][47]
Baldwin contends that after their separation in December 2000, his former wife, Kim Basinger, endeavored to deny him access to his daughter by refusing to discuss parenting,[48] blocking visitation,[49] not providing telephone access,[50] not following court orders,[51] not dropping their daughter off for reasons of convenience,[52] and directly lobbying the child.[53] He contends she spent over $1.5 million in the effort.[54]
Baldwin called this parental alienation syndrome.[55] Baldwin has called the attorneys in the case "opportunists" and has characterized Basinger's psychologists as part of the "divorce industry". He has faulted them more than Basinger, and writes, "In fact, I blame my ex-wife least of all for what has transpired. She is a person, like many of us, doing the best she can with what she has. She is a litigant, and therefore, one who walks into a courtroom and is never offered anything other than what is served there. Nothing off the menu, ever."[56]
Baldwin wrote that he has spent over a million dollars,[57] has had to put time aside from his career,[58] has had to travel extensively,[59] and needed to find a house in California (he lived in New York),[60] so he could stay in his daughter's life.[46]
Baldwin contended that after seven years of these issues, he hit a breaking point, and on April 11, 2007, left an angry voicemail message in response to another unanswered arranged call in which Baldwin called his daughter a "rude, thoughtless little pig".[61] He contends that the tape was sold to TMZ, which released the recording despite laws against publishing media related to a minor without the permission of both parents.[62] Baldwin admitted he made a mistake, but asked not to be judged as a parent based on a bad moment.[63] He later admitted to Playboy in June 2009 that he contemplated suicide over the voice mail that leaked to the public. Of the incident, he said "I spoke to a lot of professionals, who helped me. If I committed suicide, [ex-wife Kim Basinger's side] would have considered that a victory. Destroying me was their avowed goal."[64]
During the autumn of 2008, Baldwin toured in support of the book, speaking about his experiences related in it.[65][66][67][68]

Political views

Baldwin serves on the board of People for the American Way. He is an animal rights activist, and a strong supporter of PETA,[69][70] for which he has done work that includes narrating the video entitled Meet Your Meat.[71] His wife has joined the cause, fronting for PETA's Cruelty-Free Shopping Guide.[72] Baldwin also lent his support to the Save the Manatee Club by donating his time to record several public service announcements for the group, which had contacted him following his role in "Bonfire of the Manatees", an episode of The Simpsons in which he was the voice of a biologist working to save the endangered mammals.[73]
During his appearance on the comedy late night show Late Night with Conan O'Brien on December 12, 1998, eight days before President Bill Clinton was to be impeached, Baldwin said, "If we were in another country ... we would stone Henry Hyde to death and we would go to their homes and kill their wives and their children. We would kill their families, for what they're doing to this country."[74] Baldwin later apologized for the remarks, and the network explained it was meant as a joke and promised not to rerun it.[75]
Baldwin said in a 2006 interview with The New York Times that if he did become involved in electoral politics, he would prefer to run for Governor of New York. When asked if he were qualified for the office, Baldwin responded that he considered himself more qualified than California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.[76] In June 2011, The Daily reported that Baldwin was mulling a 2013 run for Mayor of New York City in the wake of a potential early race shakeup after candidate Congressman Anthony Weiner's sexting scandal.[77] However, on December 21, 2011, Baldwin said he was abandoning plans to run for the office and would instead continue in his role on 30 Rock.[78]
In February 2009, Baldwin spoke out to encourage state leaders to renew New York's tax break for the film and television industry, stating that if the "tax breaks are not reinstated into the budget, film production in this town is going to collapse and television production is going to collapse and it's all going to go to California".[79]
During the 2011 Emmy Awards, Baldwin was slated to appear in a taped skit. However, the producers of the show cut a portion of the skit containing a reference to Rupert Murdoch and the News International phone hacking scandal. Baldwin told Access Hollywood Live that he asked them not to air his performance. Producers complied and he was replaced with Leonard Nimoy.[80]

 

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Forever, Lulu Buck
1988 She's Having a Baby Davis McDonald
1988 Beetlejuice Adam Maitland
1988 Married to the Mob Frank de Marco
1988 Working Girl Mick Dugan
1988 Talk Radio Dan
1989 Great Balls of Fire! Jimmy Swaggart
1989 Tong Tana Narrator Documentary film
1990 The Hunt for Red October Jack Ryan
1990 Miami Blues Frederick J. Frenger Jr.
1990 Alice Ed
1991 The Marrying Man Charley Pearl
1992 Prelude to a Kiss Peter Hoskins
1992 Glengarry Glen Ross Blake
1993 Malice Dr. Jed Hill
1994 The Getaway Carter 'Doc' McCoy
1994 The Shadow Lamont Cranston/The Shadow
1995 Two Bits Narrator
1996 Wild Bill: Hollywood Maverick Narrator Documentary film
1996 The Juror Teacher
1996 Heaven's Prisoners Dave Robicheaux Also executive producer
1996 Looking for Richard Clarence Documentary film
1996 Ghosts of Mississippi Bobby DeLaughter
1997 The Edge Robert Green
1998 Thick as Thieves Mackin, The Thief
1998 Mercury Rising Lt. Col. Nicholas Kudrow
1999 The Confession Roy Bleakie Also producer
1999 Notting Hill Jeff King
1999 Outside Providence Old Man Dunphy
1999 Scout's Honor Todd Fitter Short film
2000 The Acting Class Himself
2000 Thomas & the Magic Railroad Mr. Conductor Also narrator
2000 State and Main Bob Barrenger Also executive producer
National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Cast
2001 Pearl Harbor Lt. Col. James Doolittle
2001 Cats & Dogs Butch Voice role
2001 Final Fantasy: The Spirits Within Capt. Gray Edwards Voice role
2001 The Royal Tenenbaums Narrator Voice role
2002 The Adventures of Pluto Nash M.Z.M.
2003 The Cooler Sheldon "Shelly" Kaplow National Board of Review Award for Best Supporting Actor
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role
2003 Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There

2003 The Cat in the Hat Lawrence "Larry" Quinn Nominated—Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Supporting Actor
2003 Walking with Cavemen Narrator Documentary film
2003 Brighter Days Himself Short film
2004 Along Came Polly Stan Indursky
2004 Double Dare
Documentary film
2004 The Last Shot Joe Devine
2004 The Aviator Juan Trippe Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2004 The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie Dennis (Plankton's hired hitman) Voice role
2005 Elizabethtown Phil DeVoss
2005 Fun with Dick and Jane Jack McCallister
2006 Mini's First Time Martin
2006 The Departed Capt. George Ellerby National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture
2006 Running with Scissors Norman Burroughs
2006 The Good Shepherd Sam Murach
2007 Suburban Girl Archie Knox
2007 Brooklyn Rules Caesar Manganaro
2007 Shortcut to Happiness Jabez Stone Also director
2008 My Best Friend's Girl Professor Turner
2008 Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa Makunga Voice role
2008 Lymelife Mickey Bartlett Also producer
2008 Journey to the Edge of the Universe Narrator Voice role
2009 My Sister's Keeper Campbell Alexander
2009 It's Complicated Jacob Adler National Board of Review Award for Best Cast
Nominated—BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
2011 Hick Beau
2012 Rock of Ages Dennis Dupree
2012 To Rome with Love John
2012 Rise of the Guardians Nicholas St. North (Santa Claus) Voice role
2013 Blue Jasmine[81]

2014 Popeye Bluto Voice role

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1980–82 The Doctors Billy Allison Aldrich
1983 Cutter to Houston Dr. Hal Wexler
1984 Sweet Revenge Major Alex Breen
1984–86 Knots Landing Joshua Rush Cast member, seasons 6 & 7: 40 episodes
1985 Hotel Dennis Medford Episode: "Distortions"
1985 Love on the Run Sean Carpenter
1986 Dress Gray Rysam 'Ry' Slaight Miniseries
1987 The Alamo: Thirteen Days to Glory Colonel William B. Travis
1990–2011 Saturday Night Live Host/various roles Has record for most times hosted - 16 times
1995 A Streetcar Named Desire Stanley Kowalski Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
1996 Goosebumps Arnold Pagani Episode: "Bad Hare Day"
1998 The Simpsons Himself Voice Role
Episode: "When You Dish Upon A Star"
1998 Storytime with Thomas Narrator Voice Role
1998–2002 Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends Narrator VoiceRole
Series 5-6
2000 Nuremberg Justice Robert H. Jackson Miniseries
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Miniseries
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
2000–01 Clerks: The Animated Series Leonardo Leonardo Voice Role
6 episodes
2002 Friends Parker Episodes: "The One in Massapequa", "The One with the Tea Leaves"
2002 Path to War Robert McNamara, Secretary of Defense Television film
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor – Miniseries or a Movie
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film
2003 Walking with Cavemen Himself Episodes: "Blood Brothers", "First Ancestors", "Savage Family", "The Survivors"
2003 Second Nature Paul Kane
2003 Dreams & Giants Himself Host
2004 Johnny Bravo Himself Voice role
Episode: "Johnny Bravo Goes to Hollywood"
2004 The Fairly OddParents in: Channel Chasers Adult Timmy Turner Voice role
2004 Nip/Tuck Dr. Barret Moore Episode: "Joan Rivers"
2004 Las Vegas Jack Keller Episodes: "Degas Away with It", "Hellraisers & Heartbreakers"
2005 The Simpsons Dr. Caleb Thorn Voice Role
Episode: "Bonfire of the Manatees"
2005 Will & Grace Malcolm Episodes: "The Hole Truth", "Seems Like Old Times", "The Old Man and the Sea", "Alive and Schticking", "Friends with Benefits", "Kiss and Tell"
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor – Comedy Series (2005–06)
2006 Great Performances Luther Billis Episode: "'South Pacific' in Concert from Carnegie Hall"
2006–2013 30 Rock Jack Donaghy Produced five episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor – Comedy Series (2008–09)
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2006, 2008–09)
Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series (2006–12)
Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series (2007, 2010–12)
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy (2007, 2010, 2011, 2012)
2010 The Marriage Ref Guest Judge Episodes: "Pilot", "Episode 5"
2010 "Barefoot Contessa" Himself Episode: "Sweet Charity"
2011 Frozen Planet Narrator VoiceRole
Series 1-6, Discovery Channel version
2012 Live With Kelly Guest Co-Host March 1, 2012
2012 Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Himself Episode: "Just a Lazy Shiftless Bastard"