Name: Thomas Haden Church
Birth Name: Thomas Haden Church
Birthdate: June 17, 1961
Birthplace: El Paso, Texas
1-MINUTE RESUME FOR THOMAS HADEN CHURCH
Thomas Haden Church's one-time appearance on
Cheers in 1982 was so well received, the show's producers cast him as dim-bulb pilot Lowell when they created
Wings. Hoping to avoid "dumb guy" typecasting, he did a 180 with his next role, sharp-tongued smartass Ned on Fox's
Ned and Stacey
(1995), which co-starred a then-unknown Debra Messing. But a jump to
the big screen proved less than successful for Church, whose career
limped along with films like
Monkeybone and
George of the Jungle (1
and
2). He had pretty much given up on the acting thing when Alexander
Payne offered him the role of his lifetime, the free-spirited confirmed
bachelor Jack in 2004's sentimental hit,
Sideways, which earned Church an Oscar nomination and reinvigoated his career — including a role as major baddie Sandman in
Spider-Man 3.
5 Things:
1. Alexander Payne personally paid a visit to Church to offer him the part in Sideways (Payne had promised him a role in his next movie after Church didn't get the part that went to Dermot Mulroney in About Schmidt).
2. He wrote, directed and produced a marijuana comedy, Rolling Kansas, which was barely released and aired on Comedy Central.
3. His first job in Los Angeles was on a T.V. pilot about beach cops called To Protect and Surf.
4. His first foray into showbiz was in radio and voice-over work.
5. Church spends most of his time on his ranch in Texas.
Quote:
"I can say no to shitty things because I don't need the money. I made a
comfortable living for several years. I invested, and I protected
myself, so I enjoy that freedom. But at the same time, if the right
thing came along, I would do it in a second."
—
Interview, March 2005
Awards:
2005: Academy Award nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Sideways; Golden Globe nomination: Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture, Sideways
FILMS
Spider-Man 3 - (2007) - Actor
Over the Hedge - (2006) - Voice
Charlotte's Web - (2006) - Voice
Sideways - (2004) - Actor
George of the Jungle 2 - (2003) - Actor
Rolling Kansas - (2003) - Director, Actor, Screenwriter
Behind the Badge - (2002) - Actor
Lone Star State of Mind - (2002) - Actor
3000 Miles to Graceland - (2001) - Actor
The Specials - (2000) - Actor
Serial Killing 101 - (1999) - Actor
Mr. Murder - (1999) - Actor
Free Money - (1999) - Actor
George of the Jungle - (1997) - Actor
One Night Stand - (1997) - Actor
Tales from the Crypt Presents - Demon Knight - (1995) - Actor
