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Finn Wittrock

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Finn Wittrock
Wittrock at the 2015 PaleyFest
Born (1984-10-28) October 28, 1984 (age 40)
Lenox, Massachusetts, U.S.
EducationThe Juilliard School (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active2002–present
Spouse
Sarah Roberts
​
(m. 2014)​
Children1

Peter L. Wittrock Jr.[1] (born October 28, 1984), known professionally as Finn Wittrock, is an American actor who began his career in guest roles on several television shows. He made his film debut in 2004, in Halloweentown High before returning to films in the 2010 film Twelve. After studying theater at The Juilliard School, he was a regular in the soap opera All My Children from 2009 to 2011, while performing in several theatrical productions. In 2011, he performed in playwright Tony Kushner's Off-Broadway play The Illusion and made his Broadway debut in 2012 as Happy Loman in the revival of Arthur Miller's play Death of a Salesman, directed by Mike Nichols.

In 2014, he gained recognition for his roles in the films The Normal Heart, Noah, and Unbroken, and garnered a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his role as Dandy Mott in the FX series American Horror Story: Freak Show. In 2015, he portrayed model Tristan Duffy and actor Rudolph Valentino in American Horror Story: Hotel, and starred in the ensemble cast of the dramedy film The Big Short. In 2016, Wittrock guest starred as Jether Polk in American Horror Story: Roanoke, and played Greg in Damien Chazelle's La La Land. In 2018, he portrayed murder victim Jeffrey Trail in the FX crime drama series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story for which he received a second Emmy nomination. In his seventh collaboration with Ryan Murphy, Wittrock played murderer Edmund Tolleson in the Netflix series Ratched (2020).

Early life

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Wittrock was born in Lenox, Massachusetts, the son of Kate Claire Crowley, a professor of occupational therapy at the University of Southern California, and Peter L. Wittrock, an actor. He has a younger brother, Dylan.[2] As a child, he grew up at the Shakespeare & Company theatre, where his father worked, and would often act as a pageboy or messenger.[3][4][5][6][7][8] As a teenager, he attended the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, where he would act, make films and be a part of movement classes for actors.[9] In 2003, Wittrock was named a U.S Presidential Scholar in the Arts as part of the Presidential Scholars program.[10] He is also a YoungArts alumnus.[10] After graduating from high school, he was accepted into the Juilliard School, but turned them down, hoping to get work in Los Angeles.

Wittrock acted in some episodes for television, but would often face rejection.[8] He auditioned for Juilliard the next year and was accepted again. He attended the school, where he was a member of the drama division's Group 37 (2004–2008). He was an active participant in the drama department and starred in several theatrical productions. He also won the Juilliard Journal Award, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to Juilliard's newspaper, The Juilliard Journal; and was the recipient of the drama division's Stephanie Palmer McClelland Scholarship.[11] He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2008.[12]

Career

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At the end of high school, Wittrock appeared in guest stints on the police procedural series Cold Case and medical drama ER. He also made an appearance on CSI: Miami and in the Disney Channel Original Movie Halloweentown High (2004) during his time at drama school. After graduating from Juilliard, he portrayed Romeo in Washington, D.C.'s regional theatre, the Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of Romeo and Juliet,[13] as well as playing the role of Eugene Marchbanks in the 2008 production of Candida at the Berkshire Theatre Festival.[14] He later portrayed Damon Miller in the long-running series All My Children from 2009 to 2011, portrayed Troilus in the 2009 Off-Broadway play The Age of Iron,[15] and appeared in the teen drama film Twelve (2010).

In 2011, Wittrock starred in the Off-Broadway play The Illusion by famous playwright Tony Kushner. Director Mike Nichols came to see the play and later told Wittrock to audition for producer Scott Rudin for their upcoming revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.[9] He got the part of Harold "Happy" Loman and made his Broadway debut in 2012 opposite Philip Seymour Hoffman. The Nichols-directed play won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Play[16] and Wittrock won a Theatre World Award[17] and the Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Male Performer.[18] Later that year, he starred in a production of The Blue Deep at the Williamstown Theatre Festival directed by Bob Balaban.[19] He also appeared on series such as Harry's Law, Criminal Minds and played the role of gigolo Chance Wayne in the David Cromer-directed production of Tennessee Williams' play Sweet Bird of Youth at The Goodman Theatre[20]

In 2013, he starred in the play adaptation of the film The Guardsman at The Kennedy Center, directed by Gregory Mosher.[21] He also guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit and on several episodes of the series Masters of Sex.

In 2014, Wittrock first collaborated with director Ryan Murphy in the HBO television film The Normal Heart, based on the play of the same name. He also appeared in the films Winter's Tale and director Darren Aronofsky's Noah, playing a young Tubal-cain. He next collaborated with Murphy playing the integral part of the wealthy Dandy Mott on American Horror Story: Freak Show, the fourth season of the FX anthology series American Horror Story for which he was a series regular. For his performance, Wittrock received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie.[22] Wittrock rounded out 2014 by starring as World War II Air Force bombardier Francis "Mac" McNamara in Angelina Jolie's biographical war drama film Unbroken, which revolves around the life of USA Olympian and athlete Louis "Louie" Zamperini.[23]

In 2015, Wittrock marked his third collaboration with Murphy as model Tristan Duffy and actor Rudolph Valentino in the fifth installment of American Horror Story, subtitled Hotel.[24] Also in 2015, he co-starred in Adam McKay's drama film The Big Short.[25] In 2016, Wittrock had a small role in the musical La La Land, directed by Damien Chazelle,[26] and released in December.[27] He co-stars as Cassio alongside Daniel Craig and David Oyelowo in the Sam Gold-directed production of William Shakespeare's Othello, which started its run on December 12 at the New York Theatre Workshop.[28]

In 2017, Wittrock returned to Broadway, in the Sam Gold-directed production of Tennessee Williams' play The Glass Menagerie, opposite Sally Field and Joe Mantello. The play opened on March 23, 2017[29] and closed on July 2, 2017.[citation needed] That year, Wittrock also appeared in Gillian Robespierre's comedy film Landline. In 2018, he briefly played actor Tim Matheson in David Wain's comedy A Futile and Stupid Gesture.

In August 2018, he starred with Kristen Stewart in the music video for Indie band Interpol's music video for "If You Really Love Nothing".[30][31]

Wittrock co-starred as Judy Garland's fifth and final husband Mickey Deans in the biopic Judy (2019), directed by Rupert Goold. In January 2019, it was announced that Wittrock will star in the upcoming Netflix drama series Ratched,[32] as well as appearing in one episode of American Horror Story: 1984.[33]

In April 2021, Wittrock had officially been cast as Guy Gardner for the HBO Max live action television series based on Green Lantern.[34] In July 2022, the series was confirmed to have been undergoing rewrites, and the start of production had been delayed. In an interview, Wittrock claimed that the series was still in production. In January 2023 the DC Studios co-president James Gunn, announced a new slate of projects that were going to serve as a reboot of the DC Extended Universe. Among these projects was a Green Lantern series titled, Lanterns. This series was going to be focused on the Hal Jordan version of Green Lantern. It was unknown at the time whether or not Wittrock was still involved. It was speculated that the majority of actors involved in the DCEU would be recast, and that all prior plans for DC in film or TV had been cancelled, leading to intense backlash from fans, but a clear answer was never given. In July 2023 Gunn announced that he had chosen to cast frequent collaborator Nathan Fillion as the Guy Gardener character, effectively replacing Wittrock.

In 2024, Wittrock appeared in the autobiographic documentary Steve! (martin): a documentary in two pieces (Apple TV). In it, he plays Steve Martin's father, Glenn, in a skit based on Martin's play WASP.

Personal life

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On October 18, 2014, Wittrock married his longtime girlfriend and fellow Juilliard graduate, Sarah Roberts, in a private ceremony.[35][36] In March 2019, the couple had a son, Jude.[37][38][39]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Le Dernier Tour Tigo Short film
2010 Twelve Warren
2014 Winter's Tale Gabriel
Noah Young Tubal-cain
Unbroken Francis "Mac" McNamara
2015 My All American Freddie Steinmark
The Submarine Kid Spencer Koll
The Big Short Jamie Shipley
2016 La La Land Greg Earnest
2017 Landline Nate
A Midsummer Night's Dream Demetrius
2018 A Futile and Stupid Gesture Tim Matheson
Write When You Get Work Jonny Collins
If Beale Street Could Talk Hayward
2019 Locating Silver Lake Seth
Plus One Steve
The Last Black Man in San Francisco Clayton
Big Boy Pants Kyle Short film
Judy Mickey Deans
Semper Fi "Jaeger"
2021 Long Weekend Bart
A Mouthful of Air Ethan Davis
2022 Deep Water Tony Cameron
Luckiest Girl Alive Luke Harrison
2023 Downtown Owl Coach Laidlaw
Origin August Landmesser
2024 Don't Move Richard [40]
TBA Louie Young Roscoe Short film; post-production

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2003 Cold Case Eric Whitley (1976) Episode: "Look Again"
ER Thomas Yoder Episode: "Missing"
2004 CSI: Miami Chad Van Horn Episode: "Murder in a Flash"
Halloweentown High Cody Trainer Television film
2009–2011 All My Children Damon Miller 112 episodes
2011 Torchwood: Miracle Day Danny Episode: "Rendition"
2012 Harry's Law Jimmy Cormack Episode: "New Kidney on the Block"
Criminal Minds Harvey Morell Episode: "True Genius"
2013 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Cameron Tyler Episode: "Wonderland Story"
Masters of Sex Dale 4 episodes
2014 The Normal Heart Albert Television film
2014–2015 American Horror Story: Freak Show Dandy Mott 12 episodes
2015 Deadbeat Max Episode: "The Polaroid Flasher"
2015–2016 American Horror Story: Hotel Tristan Duffy 6 episodes
Rudolph Valentino 3 episodes
2016 American Horror Story: Roanoke Jether Polk 2 episodes
2018 The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Jeffrey Trail 4 episodes
2019 Alternatino with Arturo Castro Eddie Episode: "The Dreamer"
American Horror Story: 1984 Bobby Richter Episode: "Final Girl"
2020 Cake Himself Episode: "Forbidden Love"
Ratched Edmund Tolleson Main role
2021 American Horror Story: Double Feature Harry Gardner 6 episodes
2024 Steve! (Martin): A Documentary in 2 Pieces Glenn Martin Episode 2 "Now"

Stage

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Year Title Role Notes
2008 Candida Eugene Marchbanks Berkshire Theatre Festival
Romeo and Juliet Romeo Montague Shakespeare Theatre Company
2009 The Age of Iron Troilus Classic Stage Company
2011 The Illusion Calisto / Clindor / Theogenes Signature Theatre Company
2012 Death of a Salesman Harold "Happy" Loman Ethel Barrymore Theatre
The Blue Deep Jamie Williamstown Theatre Festival
Sweet Bird of Youth Chance Wayne The Goodman Theatre
2013 The Guardsman The Actor The Kennedy Center
2016 Othello Michael Cassio New York Theatre Workshop
2017 The Glass Menagerie Jim O'Connor Belasco Theatre
2022 2:22 Sam Ahmanson Theater

Awards and nominations

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Organizations Year[a] Category Work Result
Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2016 Best Acting Ensemble The Big Short Nominated
Critics' Choice Super Awards 2021 Best Villain in a Series Ratched Nominated
Critics' Choice Television Awards 2015 Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries American Horror Story: Freak Show Nominated
2019 The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Nominated
Clarence Derwent Awards 2012 Most Promising Male Performer Death of a Salesman Won
Dorian Awards 2015 We're Wilde About You Rising Star Award Himself Nominated
Fangoria Chainsaw Awards 2015 Favorite Supporting Actor on Television American Horror Story: Freak Show Nominated
National Board of Review Awards 2015 Best Ensemble The Big Short Won
Primetime Emmy Awards 2015 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie American Horror Story: Freak Show Nominated
2018 The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Nominated
Satellite Awards 2019 Best Cast – Television Series The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Won
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2016 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture The Big Short Nominated
Theatre World Awards 2012 Theatre World Award Death of a Salesman Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association 2015 Best Ensemble The Big Short Won

Notes

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  1. ^ Indicates the year of the ceremony.

References

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  1. ^ "Juilliard Students Return to New Orleans". The Juilliard Journal. April 2008. Archived from the original on 2016-06-11. Retrieved 2019-10-03.
  2. ^ Gladstone, Douglas J. (7 August 2016). "PROFILE: Lenox-born actor Finn Wittrock builds a stellar career". The Berkshire Edge. Archived from the original on 27 October 2017. Retrieved 3 September 2016.
  3. ^ "Peter L Wittrock, United States Public Records". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Catherine C Crowley, United States Public Records". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  5. ^ Smith, Nigel M. (29 December 2014). "Finn Wittrock On Going To Extremes For 'American Horror Story' and 'Unbroken'". Indiewire. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  6. ^ "Kate Crowley". RateMyProfessors.com. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  7. ^ "AMC Stars Together On Stage!". ABC - Soaps In Depth. December 2, 2010. Archived from the original on September 6, 2015. Retrieved December 26, 2014.
  8. ^ a b Brown, Emma (2014-12-18). "THE CHARACTER ACTOR". Interview. Archived from the original on June 26, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  9. ^ a b "DP/30 Emmy Watch: Finn Wittrock, American Horror Story: Freak Show". YouTube. June 15, 2015. Archived from the original on March 15, 2016. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  10. ^ a b "Our History | 40 years for artists". YoungArts. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
  11. ^ "2 Students Share 5th Annual Juilliard Journal Award". The Juilliard School. Archived from the original on June 17, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  12. ^ "Peter Finn Wittrock". The Juilliard School. Archived from the original on July 4, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  13. ^ Jones, Kenneth (5 August 2008). "DC's All-Male Romeo and Juliet Will Feature Juilliard's Wittrock and Davis". Playbill. Archived from the original on 30 June 2015. Retrieved 28 June 2015.
  14. ^ Hetrick, Adam (15 April 2008). "Atkinson Is Candida for Berkshire Theatre Festival". Playbill. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  15. ^ "Classic Stage Company Presents THE AGE OF IRON, Closes 12/13". BroadwayWorld. 13 December 2009. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  16. ^ "2012 Tony Award Winner full list: 'Once' rules the night". The Washington Post. June 11, 2012. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  17. ^ "Phillip Boykin, Jeremy Jordan, Finn Wittrock & More Celebrate the 2012 Theatre World Awards". Broadway.com. 6 June 2012. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  18. ^ Gens, Andrew (12 June 2012). "Susan Pourfar and Finn Wittrock Receive Actors' Equity Clarence Derwent Awards June 12". Playbill. Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  19. ^ "THE BLUE DEEP". Archived from the original on 19 June 2015. Retrieved 17 June 2015.
  20. ^ Jones, Kenneth (24 September 2012). "Sweet Bird of Youth, With Diane Lane and Finn Wittrock, Opens at Goodman". Playbill. Archived from the original on 22 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  21. ^ Gans, Andrew (25 May 2013). "Kennedy Center's The Guardsman, with Shuler Hensley, Julie Halston, Finn Wittrock, Begins May 25". Playbill. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  22. ^ "'AHS' Star Finn Wittrock Reveals Emmy Nomination Secret Weapon: 'I'll Just Have to Wear Something Awesome'". TheWrap. 16 July 2015. Archived from the original on 25 August 2015. Retrieved 16 August 2015.
  23. ^ Hicklin, Aaron (2019-09-27). "Finn Wittrock of 'Judy' Visits His Old Juilliard Haunts". The New York Times. p. ST2. Archived from the original on 2019-10-01. Retrieved 2019-10-03. After graduating he became more deliberate about his diet. To prepare for Angelina Jolie's 2014 movie, Unbroken, Mr. Wittrock lost 35 pounds by eating whitefish and vegetables in two-hour increments and then fasting for 12 hours. 'They say it's how cave men would eat,' he said. 'They would gorge and then not eat for a while.'
  24. ^ Kenneally, Tim (June 17, 2015). "Lady Gaga Will Be Torn Between Matt Bomer and Finn Wittrock in 'American Horror Story: Hotel'". TheWrap. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  25. ^ Fleming, Mike Jr. (April 21, 2015). "'The Big Short' Solidifies With Christian Bale, Steve Carell, Ryan Gosling, Brad Pitt". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on June 18, 2015. Retrieved June 16, 2015.
  26. ^ Ford, Rebecca (10 July 2015). "'La La Land' Adding 'American Horror Story' Actor Finn Wittrock (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 22 March 2016. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  27. ^ Lang, Brent (March 7, 2016). "Ryan Gosling, Emma Stone Musical 'La La Land' Grabs Oscar Season Debut". Variety. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved March 13, 2016.
  28. ^ Lloyd Webber, Imogen (25 August 2016). "Finn Wittrock & More to Join Othello, Starring Daniel Craig & David Oyelowo, Off-Broadway". Broadway.com. Archived from the original on 29 August 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  29. ^ Gerard, Jeremy (6 June 2016). "Sally Field & Joe Mantello Will Star In 'The Glass Menagerie' Broadway Revival For Scott Rudin". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on 14 September 2016. Retrieved 1 September 2016.
  30. ^ "Kristen Stewart and Finn Wittrock Star in Interpol's Wild 'If You Really Love Nothing' Video: Watch". Billboard. Archived from the original on 2018-08-23. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  31. ^ "Kristen Stewart and Finn Wittrock paint the town red in Interpol's new video for "If You Really Love Nothing": Watch". Consequence of Sound. 2018-08-23. Archived from the original on 2018-08-24. Retrieved 2018-08-24.
  32. ^ Petski, Denise (January 14, 2019). "'Ratched': Sharon Stone, Cynthia Nixon Among 10 Cast In Ryan Murphy's Netflix Series". Deadline. Archived from the original on January 15, 2019. Retrieved January 20, 2019.
  33. ^ Schremph, Kelly (7 November 2019). "Finn Wittrock's Mysterious 'AHS' Character Could Mean Another Time Jump". Bustle. Retrieved 14 August 2020.
  34. ^ Otterson, Joe (2021-04-30). "'Green Lantern' HBO Max Series Casts Finn Wittrock". Variety. Retrieved 2021-04-30.
  35. ^ McPhee, Ryan (20 October 2014). "No More Clowning Around: AHS: Freak Show Star & Broadway Alum Finn Wittrock Marries Sarah Roberts". Broadway. Archived from the original on 23 September 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  36. ^ Callegari, Caitlyn (11 November 2014). "Who Is 'AHS' Dandy Mott Married To? Finn Wittrock's Wife Must Be Fearless". Bustle. Archived from the original on 18 June 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2015.
  37. ^ Hicklin, Aaron (September 27, 2019). "Finn Wittrock of 'Judy' Visits His Old Juilliard Haunts". The New York Times.
  38. ^ "'AHS' Star Finn Wittrock, Wife Sarah Roberts Expecting Their First Child". December 6, 2018.
  39. ^ Nordstrom, Leigh (October 22, 2019). "Finn Wittrock Believes in Being Nice".
  40. ^ Kroll, Justin (2023-07-19). "Ishana Night Shyamalan's The Watchers & Sam Raimi's Don't Move Among Latest Projects Granted SAG-AFTRA Waivers To Shoot During Strike". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 2023-08-17.
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