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Paul Schneider (actor) facts for kids

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Paul Schneider
Paul Schneider (2018) (cropped).jpg
Schneider in July 2018
Born
Paul Andrew Schneider

Education University of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
Occupation Actor
Years active 1996–present
Spouse(s)
Theresa Avila
(m. 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). 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). 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).

Early life

Schneider was born in Oakland, California, and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Career

In 2000, Schneider made his film debut in David Gordon Green's George Washington and starred in Green's All the Real Girls. 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.

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. In 2008, he made his directorial debut with the independent film Pretty Bird. Also in 2008, Schneider played President William Henry Harrison in an episode of the Comedy Central series ... History Vol. 4.

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. 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 2 seasons from 2009 to 2010 before leaving the series because he felt sidelined.

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.

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. The two have two daughters, Lou and Rae. Schneider is an Innocence Project Ambassador.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Pleasant Grove Bedford Short film
1998 Physical Pinball Short film
2000 George Washington Rico Rice
2003 Security, Colorado Paul Filmed in the Dogme 95 style.
2003 All the Real Girls Paul Also writer
2003 Crude Gabe
2004 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover Owen McCabe
2005 Elizabethtown Jesse Baylor
2005 The Family Stone Brad Stevenson
2006 Live Free or Die Jeff Lagrand
2007 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Dick Liddil
2007 Lars and the Real Girl Gus
2008 Pretty Bird Beach Dog Jogger Also writer, director
2009 Bright Star Charles Armitage Brown
2009 Away We Go Courtney Farlander
2011 Water for Elephants Charlie O'Brien
2011 Beloved Henderson
2012 The Flowers of War Terry
2012 The Babymakers Tommy Macklin
2013 Hello Carter Aaron
2014 Goodbye to All That Otto Wall
2014 Black Eyed Dog
2014 Straight Men/Same Bed Short film
Writer, director, producer
2015 The Daughter Christian
2016 Café Society Steve
2016 Rules Don't Apply Richard Miskin
2020 Brothers by Blood Jimmy
2021 A House on the Bayou John Chambers
2022 Abandoned Dr. Carver
2022 American Murderer David Brown

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Third Watch Thomas Warner Guest role; 3 episodes
2008 ... History Vol. 4 William Henry Harrison 1 episode
2009–2010 Parks and Recreation Mark Brendanawicz Main role (seasons 1–2); 30 episodes
2012 The Newsroom Brian Brenner Guest role; 2 episodes
2014 The Divide Clark Rylance Main role; 6 episodes
2016 The Tunnel Artem Baturin Guest role; 4 episodes
2016 Channel Zero: Candle Cove 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 Tales from the Loop George 6 episodes
2020 NOS4A2 Jonathan "The Hourglass" Beckett 3 episodes
2022 A Friend of the Family Marty Episode: "Revelation"
2023 Florida Man Officer Andy Boone Recurring role

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2003 Gotham Awards Breakthrough Actor All the Real Girls Nominated
2004 Chlotrudis Awards Best Original Screenplay (shared with David Gordon Green) All the Real Girls Nominated
2008 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Pretty Bird Nominated
2009 Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Supporting Actor Bright Star 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 Tribeca Film Festival Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Goodbye to All That Won
2017 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best TV Actor Channel Zero: Candle Cove Nominated

See also

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