Timothy Olyphant facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Timothy Olyphant
Olyphant in 2014
Born	Timothy David Olyphant (1968-05-20) May 20, 1968 (age 57) Honolulu, Hawaii, U.S.
Alma mater	University of Southern California (BFA)
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1995–present
Spouse(s)	Alexis Knief ​ (m. 1991)​
Children	3
Relatives	Vanderbilt family

Timothy David Olyphant, born on May 20, 1968, is an American actor. He started his acting journey in theater in 1995. He then moved into films, often playing supporting roles, sometimes as the bad guy.

He became widely known for his role as Sheriff Seth Bullock in the TV series Deadwood (2004–2006). He also starred in movies like Hitman (2007) and Live Free or Die Hard (2007). From 2010 to 2015, Olyphant played Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens in the TV show Justified. This role earned him an Emmy nomination. More recently, he has appeared in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019) and the Star Wars series The Mandalorian (2020) and The Book of Boba Fett (2022). He also starred in the Netflix comedy Santa Clarita Diet (2017–2019).

Growing Up

Timothy Olyphant was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. When he was two, his family moved to Modesto, California. His parents are Katherine and John Vernon Bevan Olyphant. His father worked at Gallo Winery. Timothy has two brothers, Andrew and Matthew. His parents divorced when he was a teenager.

He is related to the famous Vanderbilt family from New York. His ancestor, Cornelius Vanderbilt, was a very successful businessman. Another ancestor, Dr. David Olyphant, was a doctor during the American Revolutionary War. The name Olyphant comes from Scotland.

School Days

Timothy went to Fred C. Beyer High School in Modesto. He enjoyed art and drawing. He was also a competitive swimmer. He even made it to the Nationals in 1986.

He was recruited to swim for the University of Southern California. He wanted to study architecture, but his swimming schedule made it hard. So, he decided to study fine arts instead. He left college one class short of his degree. He finished it 30 years later with an online course during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Becoming an Actor

After college, Timothy thought about a career in art. He also worked as a swimming coach. He then decided to try stand-up comedy for a while.

Finally, he chose to become an actor. He had taken an acting class in college and really liked it. He then studied acting in New York. After his training, he started auditioning for roles.

Acting Career

Early Roles

Timothy Olyphant's first acting job was in a TV show pilot in 1995. Later that year, he made his theater debut in The Monogamist. He won an award for his performance. He also starred in The Santaland Diaries in 1996.

He started acting in movies with The First Wives Club (1996). He also appeared in the TV show Mr. & Mrs. Smith. In 1997, he had a role in the horror film Scream 2. This was one of his first big movie roles.

In 1998, he appeared in an episode of Sex and the City. He also had roles in movies like Go (1999) and Gone in 60 Seconds (2000). He often played characters who were a bit wild or tricky.

Timothy was offered a main role in The Fast and the Furious. He turned it down, thinking it might not be a big hit. The role went to Vin Diesel, and the movie became very successful. He later said he passed on many big roles early in his career.

He continued to appear in various films. These included Rock Star (2001) and A Man Apart (2003). He also played a memorable character named Kelly in The Girl Next Door (2004).

Becoming a Star in Deadwood

Timothy Olyphant became much more famous as Sheriff Seth Bullock in the HBO western series Deadwood. The show ran from 2004 to 2006. In Deadwood, he played a serious and sometimes angry lawman. This was different from his earlier roles as funny bad guys.

The show's creator, David Milch, chose Timothy because he could show both a calm side and a fiery side. Many critics praised his strong performance. The cast was nominated for an award for their acting together. Timothy later said that Deadwood helped him become a better actor.

Action and Comedy Roles

After Deadwood, Timothy starred in the romantic comedy Catch and Release (2007). He then took on action roles. He played a villain in Live Free or Die Hard (2007) with Bruce Willis. He also starred as Agent 47 in the video game movie Hitman (2007). Hitman made a lot of money, even though reviews were mixed.

In 2009, he appeared in the TV show Damages. He played a character who was a love interest. The show's president later sent him the script for another show, Lawman, which became Justified. In 2010, he starred in the horror film The Crazies.

Justified and Beyond

From 2010 to 2015, Timothy Olyphant starred as Deputy U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens in Justified. His character was a modern-day cowboy who returned to his home in Kentucky. Many critics called this his most important role.

He was praised for his calm, tough, and sometimes funny portrayal of Raylan. He was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2011. Timothy also helped produce Justified, working on storylines and with other actors.

During Justified's run, he also made guest appearances on comedy shows. He played a paper salesman in The Office (2010). He also voiced a character in the animated film Rango (2011). In 2014, he starred with Tina Fey in the movie This Is Where I Leave You.

Recent Work

From 2015 to 2016, Timothy had a funny recurring role as a version of himself in the TV comedy The Grinder. He won an award for this performance.

In 2017, he began starring in the Netflix comedy Santa Clarita Diet with Drew Barrymore. He also helped produce the show. In 2019, he returned as Sheriff Seth Bullock in Deadwood: The Movie, a follow-up to the original series.

He joined the Star Wars universe in 2020. He played Cobb Vanth in The Mandalorian and later in The Book of Boba Fett. In 2023, he came back as Raylan Givens in the miniseries Justified: City Primeval. He is also set to appear in the upcoming Alien: Earth series.

Personal Life

Timothy Olyphant has been married to his college sweetheart, Alexis Knief, since 1991. They live in Westwood, Los Angeles, and have three children. His daughter, Vivian, even played his character's daughter in Justified: City Primeval.

He used to be a sports reporter for a radio show in Los Angeles. He would call in every weekday with his reports. Timothy also enjoys playing tennis. He is a big fan of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Los Angeles Dodgers sports teams.

Images for kids

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  Olyphant at the 70th Annual Peabody Awards in May 2011