Jeff Daniels facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeff Daniels
Daniels at the 2018 Montclair Film Festival
Born	Jeffrey Warren Daniels (1955-02-19) February 19, 1955 (age 70) Athens, Georgia, U.S.
Education	Central Michigan University
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1976–present
Spouse(s)	Kathleen Rosemary Treado ​ (m. 1979)​
Children	3

Jeffrey Warren Daniels (born February 19, 1955) is an American actor. He is famous for acting in many different movies and TV shows. He plays both funny and serious characters.

He has won several important awards. These include two Primetime Emmy Awards. He has also been nominated for many others, like Golden Globe Awards and Tony Awards.

Daniels started acting in movies in 1981 with Ragtime. He then appeared in Terms of Endearment (1983). He was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his role in The Purple Rose of Cairo (1985).

He starred in many popular films. These include Speed (1994) and Dumb and Dumber (1994). He also played Roger Dearly in 101 Dalmatians. Other well-known movies are Pleasantville (1998) and Because of Winn-Dixie (2005).

From 2012 to 2014, Daniels starred in the TV show The Newsroom. He played Will McAvoy, a news anchor. For this role, he won a Primetime Emmy Award in 2013. He won another Emmy in 2018 for the Netflix show Godless. He has also played real people, like FBI director James Comey in The Comey Rule (2020).

Daniels is also a well-known stage actor. He made his Broadway debut in 1977. He has been nominated for three Tony Awards for his theater work. He also started his own theater company, the Purple Rose Theatre Company, in Chelsea, Michigan.

Early Life and Education

Daniels was born in Athens, Georgia. His parents were Marjorie and Robert Daniels. His family moved to Michigan when he was very young. He grew up in Chelsea. His father owned a lumber company and was once the mayor of Chelsea.

Daniels went to Central Michigan University for a short time. He was part of the school's theater program. In 1976, he studied drama at Eastern Michigan University. There, he performed in several plays.

A director named Marshall W. Mason invited Daniels to New York. Daniels then worked at the Circle Repertory Theatre. He performed in plays there, including Fifth of July.

Acting Career Highlights

Early Roles and Breakthrough

Jeff Daniels acted in many plays in New York. He made his Broadway debut in 1977. He also acted in Fifth of July on Broadway. For this, he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.

His first movie role was in Ragtime in 1981. His next film was Terms of Endearment (1983). This movie won an Academy Award for Best Picture. Daniels played a husband in the film, which helped him become more well-known.

In 1985, Daniels starred in The Purple Rose of Cairo. He acted alongside Mia Farrow. Critics really liked this movie. Daniels received a Golden Globe Award nomination for his acting. This film even inspired the name of his theater company.

In 1986, he starred in Something Wild. He played a businessman who gets into an adventure. He earned another Golden Globe nomination for this role. He also appeared in Heartburn with Jack Nicholson and Meryl Streep.

Becoming a Well-Known Actor

Daniels continued to act in many different types of movies. He starred in the action film Speed with Keanu Reeves. This movie was a huge success, earning over $350 million.

In 1994, he co-starred with Jim Carrey in Dumb and Dumber. This was a big change for Daniels, who was known for serious roles. The movie became very popular.

In 1996, Daniels played Roger Dearly in Disney's live-action 101 Dalmatians. He played the owner of the dalmatians stolen by Cruella De Vil. This film also did very well, making $320 million. He also starred in the family film Fly Away Home that year.

In 1998, he appeared in Pleasantville. He played a diner owner who learns to be himself. The movie was nominated for three Academy Awards.

In the early 2000s, Daniels focused more on his theater work. He also wrote, starred in, and directed films like Escanaba in da Moonlight. He appeared in the Oscar-winning film The Hours in 2002.

In 2005, Daniels had a strong year. He starred in The Squid and the Whale, which earned him another Golden Globe nomination. He also appeared in Because of Winn-Dixie. Later that year, he had a role in Good Night, and Good Luck. In 2006, he was in Infamous.

The Newsroom and Beyond

Daniels promoting The Newsroom at the 2013 PaleyFest

In 2009, Daniels returned to Broadway after 16 years. He starred in the play God of Carnage. He received his first Tony Award nomination for this role. The play won the Tony Award for Best Play.

In 2012, Daniels had a big comeback with the HBO show The Newsroom. He played Will McAvoy, a news anchor. His opening speech in the first episode became very famous. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for Best Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work on the show.

In 2014, he played Harry Dunne again in Dumb and Dumber To. He reunited with Jim Carrey for the sequel. In 2015, Daniels worked with Aaron Sorkin again in the movie Steve Jobs. He played John Sculley, a CEO. He also appeared in the science fiction film The Martian that year.

Daniels attending the premiere of The Martian at the 2015 Toronto International Film Festival

In 2016, Daniels returned to Broadway in Blackbird. He was nominated for his second Tony Award for this play.

In 2017, Daniels starred in the Netflix western show Godless. He played the villain, Frank Griffin. He won a Primetime Emmy Award for this performance in 2018. Also in 2018, he starred in the Hulu show The Looming Tower. He played John P. O'Neill, an FBI chief.

From 2018 to 2021, Daniels starred as Atticus Finch in the Broadway play To Kill a Mockingbird. This play was very popular and broke box office records. He received his third Tony Award nomination for this role.

In 2020, Daniels narrated the History Channel show Washington. He also played FBI director James Comey in The Comey Rule. He received a Golden Globe Award nomination for this role. In 2021, he narrated the Apple TV+ documentary 9/11: Inside the President's War Room. He also returned to Broadway in To Kill a Mockingbird in October 2021.

Other Activities

The Purple Rose Theatre

In 1991, Jeff Daniels started the Purple Rose Theatre Company. This is a non-profit theater in Chelsea, Michigan. He has written many plays for this company.

Daniels has also recorded six music albums. The money from these albums helps support the Purple Rose Theater.

Personal Life

In 1979, Jeff Daniels married his college girlfriend, Kathleen Rosemary Treado. They have three children.

In 1986, he moved back to his hometown of Chelsea, Michigan. He still lives there today.

Acting Credits

Film

Television

Key

Denotes television series that have not yet been released

Theatre

Discography

Daniels has written and recorded six full-length albums. The money from these albums helps The Purple Rose Theater.

• Jeff Daniels Live and Unplugged
• Jeff Daniels Live at The Purple Rose Theatre
• Grandfather's Hat
• Keep It Right Here
• Together Again
• Days Like These

Awards and Nominations

Other Recognitions

Jeff Daniels was added to the Michigan Walk of Fame in 2006. This is in Lansing, Michigan.

In 2009, he received an honorary doctorate degree. He also gave a speech at the University of Michigan.

In 2022, a new type of tiny worm was discovered. This worm kills tarantulas. Scientists named it Tarantobelus jeffdanielsi to honor his role in the movie Arachnophobia.

See also

In Spanish: Jeff Daniels para niños