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Lee Pace

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Lee Pace
Pace in September 2019 at Paris Fashion Week
Born
Lee Grinner Pace

(1979-03-25) March 25, 1979 (age 45)
Chickasha, Oklahoma, U.S.[1]
EducationJuilliard School (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active2001–present
SpouseMatthew Foley

Lee Grinner Pace[2] (born March 25, 1979)[3] is an American actor. He starred as Thranduil the Elvenking in The Hobbit trilogy and as Joe MacMillan in the period drama television series Halt and Catch Fire. He has also appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ronan the Accuser, a role he first played in Guardians of the Galaxy and reprised in Captain Marvel. Pace earned a 2008 Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Ned in the comedy-drama Pushing Daisies. Since 2021, he has starred as the galactic emperor Brother Day in the Foundation television series, based on the stories of Isaac Asimov.

Early life

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Pace was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma,[1] to Charlotte, a schoolteacher, and James, an engineer. He has a brother and a sister.[4] As a child, Pace spent several years in Saudi Arabia, where his father worked in the oil business; the family later moved to Houston, Texas. He was raised Catholic.[5]

Pace attended Klein High School in Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston, with actor Matt Bomer. Pace briefly stopped attending high school to act at Houston's Alley Theatre before returning to graduate. At the Alley, he appeared in productions of The Spider's Web and The Greeks.

In 1997, he was accepted by the Juilliard School's Drama Division as a member of Group 30 (1997–2001), which also included actors Anthony Mackie and Tracie Thoms.[6] While there, he was in several plays, including Romeo and Juliet as Romeo, Richard II in the title role, and Julius Caesar as Cassius. He graduated from Juilliard with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.[4]

Career

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Theater

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After graduation, Pace starred in several off-Broadway plays, including The Credeaux Canvas and The Fourth Sister. He also starred in a production of Craig Lucas's Small Tragedy, for which he was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award as Outstanding Actor. In 2006, Pace starred in the two-character play Guardians by Peter Morris, which earned Pace his second nomination for a Lortel Award as Outstanding Actor.

Pace made his Broadway debut in Larry Kramer's play The Normal Heart, portraying Bruce Niles.[7] It opened at the Golden Theatre on April 27, 2011. The show ran for a total of 96 performances, with July 10 marking its final performance.[8]

Pace was cast as composer Vincenzo Bellini in Golden Age, which began previews November 15, 2012.[9] The play, written by Terrence McNally, began its official run at the Manhattan Theatre Club December 4, 2012.[10] The previews were originally scheduled for November 13, 2012, but two shows were cancelled as a result of Hurricane Sandy.[11]

Pace played the role of Joe Pitt in the Broadway revival of the National Theatre's production of Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes. Previews began at the Neil Simon Theatre on February 23, 2018, and the show opened on March 25, 2018.[12]

Film

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Pace promoting Guardians of the Galaxy at the 2013 San Diego Comic-Con

Pace first gained recognition for his role in the 2003 film Soldier's Girl, based on real events, in which he played the central role of Calpernia Addams.

Of the role, Pace has said:

Not even my excellent training at Juilliard prepared me for my first movie role, where I played a transsexual who falls in love with a military guy in Soldier's Girl. Here I was, this 6 feet 3 inches (1.91 m), 190 pounds (86 kg), lanky kid from Chickasha, Oklahoma, not knowing how to begin being a woman. So I saw documentaries about transsexuals, I lost twenty-five pounds, and I put on prosthetic boobs and hips to become that character. There were times I'd look in the mirror and wonder, 'What am I doing to my life here? My dad is going to kill me!' But the reason I went into acting was to be able to play parts as complicated and important as this one. In playing a transsexual, I got the chance to help change people's perspective about other people, and that is a powerful thing. I'm playing a swashbuckling bandit in my next film, but I'll always be proud of Soldier's Girl ".[13]

Pace won a Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor and was nominated for several other awards, including a Golden Globe Award, for his work in this film.

In 2006, Pace starred in Tarsem Singh's The Fall. Upon release, The Fall was received with mixed reviews among critics and was a box office failure. However, it was one of his most artistic roles. His next film was Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day. Pace was also featured in Possession with Sarah Michelle Gellar. Pace also played supporting roles in The White Countess, Infamous, When in Rome and The Good Shepherd. In 2010, Pace appeared as Phil Winslow in the film Marmaduke.

In 2012, Pace starred as Garrett, the nomadic vampire, in The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2. Pace was admittedly aware of the reputation linked to the Twilight franchise, and revealed that he "went in to this a little like 'You know what you're getting into, just do what you can.' "[14] However, he enjoyed the experience and only had praise for the director Bill Condon.[15] Stephenie Meyer, the author of the Twilight saga, was very satisfied with Pace's performance as Garrett, since he "stood out as someone who really was just so much fun and really looked the part."[16] The movie was met with a mixed reception by critics.[17] However, some critics, such as Betsy Sharkey of the Los Angeles Times, whose only issue was that he was introduced too late in the series: "Why, oh, why didn't they introduce him sooner?"[18] Meanwhile, Sara Stewart of the New York Post simply described him as a "standout".[19]

On April 30, 2011, it was announced that Pace had been cast as the king of the Mirkwood Elves, Thranduil, in Peter Jackson's film adaptation of J. R. R. Tolkien's The Hobbit. The announcement was made by Peter Jackson himself, who revealed on his Facebook page that Pace had been his favorite for the part, ever since he saw his performance in The Fall.[20] The character had previously been mentioned in Jackson's The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, and had previously been portrayed in The Hobbit, voiced by Oscar-nominated director Otto Preminger, and in the 1968 BBC radio series, voiced by the British actor Leonard Fenton. Pace made three trips to New Zealand, and called it a "fantastic experience".[15] The character appeared in the prologue of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey released in December 2012, and had a larger role in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug released in December 2013 and in the last film of the series, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, released on December 17, 2014.[21][22]

On July 28, 2011, it was announced that Pace had been cast in Steven Spielberg's Lincoln, as the one-time New York City mayor Fernando Wood, an early Confederate supporter.[23] The events in the film take place in 1865, when Fernando Wood served in the House of Representatives. However, at the time, Wood was 53 years old, which is 20 years senior to Pace's age when he portrayed him. In a Q&A, Spielberg revealed that he decided to offer Pace the part, after he saw his performance in Ceremony.[24] Of the experience of the film, Pace said that "it was a real pinnacle of what I've done as an actor."[15] The movie was nominated for 12 Academy Awards,[25] including Best Picture, and was nominated for Best Ensemble at the Screen Actors Guild Award. However, Pace was not included among the Lincoln ensemble's nomination, and several bloggers were annoyed by this, including Katey Rich of Cinemablend.com and Nathaniel Rogers of The Film Experience.[26]

Pace played the villain, Ronan the Accuser, in the 2014 Marvel Studios film Guardians of the Galaxy.[27] He reprised the character in Captain Marvel.[28]

Television

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Pace played Aaron Tyler in the acclaimed but short-lived 2004 television series Wonderfalls, which was co-created by Bryan Fuller. Later, Fuller cast Pace in the lead role of Ned in the series Pushing Daisies which debuted on ABC in October 2007 and returned for its second and final season on October 1, 2008. He received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance.[29]

Pace has also portrayed a child molester in the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Guilt".[30] In 2010, he was cast in the unsold HBO pilot The Miraculous Year directed by Kathryn Bigelow.[31][32] From 2014 to 2017, he played the role of Joe MacMillan in the AMC series Halt and Catch Fire.[33]

In 2018, Pace was cast as Sam Colin in Hong Kong action crime television series Flying Tiger 2 produced by Shaw Brothers Studios.[34]

In 2019, Apple announced that Pace had joined the cast of its adaptation of Isaac Asimov's Foundation, which premiered in September 2021, playing the role of Brother Day, the Galactic Empire's current Emperor.[35]

Pace was the narrator of the horror podcast entitled Darkest Night, which was produced by the Paragon Collective and AMC's streaming service Shudder.[36][37]

Personal life

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Pace's sexual orientation became a topic of public discussion after he was accidentally outed as gay by Ian McKellen, who worked with him in The Hobbit films, in 2012. McKellen's "outing" of Pace was described in the press as a blunder and an accident on his part, as Pace had never addressed the subject.[38][failed verification] In an interview with W in February 2018, Pace mentioned having dated both men and women,[39] and in June 2018, he spoke about being a queer actor in an interview with The New York Times.[1][39] He is married to Matthew Foley, an executive at Thom Browne.[5]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2005 The White Countess Thomas Crane
2006 Infamous Richard Hickock
The Fall Roy Walker / The Masked Bandit
The Good Shepherd Richard Hayes
2008 Polarbearman Man Short film
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day Michael Pardew
2009 A Single Man Grant
Possession Roman
2010 When in Rome Brady Sacks
Marmaduke Phil Winslow
2011 The Resident Jack
Ceremony Whit Coutell
30 Beats Matt Roberts
2012 Lincoln Fernando Wood
The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2 Garrett
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Thranduil
2013 The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug
2014 The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies
Guardians of the Galaxy Ronan the Accuser
2015 The Program Bill Stapleton
2017 The Keeping Hours Mark
The Book of Henry David Daniels
Revolt Bo
2018 The Party's Just Beginning Dale
Driven John DeLorean
2019 Captain Marvel Ronan the Accuser
Weathering with You Keisuke Suga (voice) English dub
2022 Bodies Bodies Bodies Greg
2025 The Running Man Evan McCone Filming

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Benjamin Tucker Episode: "Guilt"
2003 Soldier's Girl Calpernia Addams Television film
2004 Wonderfalls Aaron Tyler Main cast
2007–2008 Pushing Daisies Ned Main cast
2014–2017 Halt and Catch Fire Joe MacMillan Main cast
2015 The Mindy Project Alex Eakin Episode: "San Francisco Bae"
Robot Chicken Heinrich Himmler (voice) Episode: "Zero Vegetables"
2019 Flying Tiger 2 Sam Colin Hong Kong TVB & Shaw Brothers Studio series
2021–present Foundation Brother Day Main cast

Awards and nominations

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Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2003 Gotham Award Breakthrough Actor Soldier's Girl Won [40]
2004 Golden Globe Award Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated [41]
Satellite Award Best Actor in a Miniseries or a Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [42]
Independent Spirit Award Best Male Lead Nominated [43]
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Lead Actor Small Tragedy Nominated [44]
2007 Silver Bear Outstanding Artistic Contribution Shared with cast The Good Shepherd Won [45]
Lucille Lortel Award Outstanding Lead Actor Guardians Nominated [46]
Satellite Award Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy Pushing Daisies Nominated [47]
2008 Golden Globe Award Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated [48]
Saturn Award Best Actor on Television Nominated [49]
Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated [50]
Satellite Award Best Actor in a Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated [51]
2014 Satellite Award Best Actor in a Television Series Drama Halt and Catch Fire Nominated [52]
2022 Critics' Choice Super Award Best Actor in a Science Fiction/Fantasy Series Foundation Nominated [53]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b c Schneier, Matthew (June 4, 2018). "Lee Pace Came Out Seven Times a Week. Then He Came Out for Real". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 5, 2018. Retrieved June 4, 2018. Mr. Pace, 39, has been working steadily in theater, film and TV for the better part of two decades
  2. ^ Fisher, James (July 15, 2021). Historical Dictionary of Contemporary American Theater. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781538123027.
  3. ^ "Celebrity birthdays for the week of March 19-25". ABC News. March 13, 2023. Archived from the original on March 13, 2023. Retrieved March 26, 2023.
  4. ^ a b Keck, William (April 2008). "Lee Almighty". Modern Luxury. Archived from the original on January 3, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2013. At 29, he was just named one of Entertainment Weekly's best actors under 30
  5. ^ a b Meltzer, Marissa (August 17, 2022). "Lee Pace's Body of Work". GQ.
  6. ^ "Alumni News for May 2008". The Juilliard Journal. May 2008. Archived from the original on December 11, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2013. Drama: Lee Pace (Group 30) stars opposite Sarah Michelle Gellar in the feature film Possession
  7. ^ Gans, Andrew (March 7, 2011). "Lee Pace and Jim Parsons Join Cast of Broadway's Normal Heart". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  8. ^ Rooney, David (April 27, 2011). "The Normal Heart: Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  9. ^ Cerasaro, Pat (March 13, 2013). "Lee Pace talks Golden Age facial hair, Twilight, and more". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  10. ^ "Golden Age Will Star Lee Pace, Bebe Neuwirth, Lorenzo Pisoni, Richard Easton, Eddie Kaye Thomas, Will Rogers and More". Manhattan Theatre Club. September 27, 2012. Archived from the original on November 14, 2012. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  11. ^ "GOLDEN AGE Delays Previews Until 11/15 Due to Hurricane Sandy". BroadwayWorld. November 7, 2012. Archived from the original on November 15, 2014. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  12. ^ "Breaking News: Lee Pace Joins ANGELS IN AMERICA on Broadway". BroadwayWorld. October 19, 2017. Archived from the original on October 19, 2017. Retrieved October 19, 2017.
  13. ^ Staff report (August 2004). "Lee Pace". Interview. Archived from the original on May 24, 2007.
  14. ^ Wieselman, Jarett (March 7, 2011). "Lee Pace talks Breaking Dawn, Ceremony, and Pushing Daisies". New York Post. Archived from the original on January 29, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  15. ^ a b c Brian Scott Lipton (December 14, 2012). "Lee Pace Is Living In His Golden Age of Acting". TheaterMania. Archived from the original on January 28, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  16. ^ Radish, Christina (November 12, 2012). "Author Stephenie Meyer, Screenwriter Melissa Rosenberg and Producer Wyck Godfrey Talk The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2". Collider. Archived from the original on April 5, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  17. ^ "The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn – Part 2". Rotten Tomatoes. Archived from the original on January 17, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  18. ^ Sharkey, Betsy (November 15, 2012). "Bella is on a tear in Twilight finale". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 18, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  19. ^ Stewart, Sara (November 14, 2012). "Good to the last bite!". New York Post. Archived from the original on November 17, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  20. ^ Chitwood, Adam (April 30, 2011). "Lee Pace and Dean O'Gorman Join Peter Jackson's THE HOBBIT". Collider. Archived from the original on December 13, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  21. ^ Sacks, Ethan (December 8, 2013). "Evangeline Lilly says role in 'The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug' was the only way she could've been tempted back into spotlight". Daily News. New York. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  22. ^ Pais, Matt (December 16, 2014). "'The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies': Journey over!". The Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  23. ^ Fischer, Russ (July 28, 2011). "Lee Pace Joins Steven Spielberg's Lincoln". /Film. Archived from the original on October 26, 2012. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  24. ^ "Q&A with the Cast and Crew of Lincoln". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on December 19, 2021.
  25. ^ "Oscars nominations 2013 in full". The Daily Telegraph. February 24, 2013. Archived from the original on January 10, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  26. ^ Rogers, Nathaniel (December 12, 2012). "SAG Ensemble. Our annual "Fix This" rule". The Film Experience. Archived from the original on June 5, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  27. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 16, 2016). "'Halt And Catch Fire' Star Lee Pace Signs With WME". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on December 20, 2019. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  28. ^ Sneider, Jeff (April 23, 2013). "Lee Pace in Final Negotiations to Play Villain in Guardians of the Galaxy". TheWrap. Archived from the original on April 26, 2013. Retrieved April 23, 2013.
  29. ^ Baber, P. Ryan (August 7, 2008). "Emmy Wrap: Actor". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on February 12, 2022. Retrieved December 20, 2019.
  30. ^ "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit: Season 3, Episode 18". IMDb. March 29, 2002. Archived from the original on June 4, 2013. Retrieved April 3, 2013.
  31. ^ Eng, Joyce (July 9, 2010). "Pushing Daisies and Law & Order Alums Join The Miraculous Year". TV Guide. Archived from the original on February 18, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  32. ^ "HBO Rejects Broadway-Inspired Pilot The Miraculous Year, Starring Norbert Leo Butz". Broadway.com. November 9, 2010. Archived from the original on June 18, 2013. Retrieved March 30, 2013.
  33. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (February 26, 2013). "Lee Pace To Topline AMC Pilot 'Halt & Catch Fire'". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 1, 2013. Retrieved February 26, 2013.
  34. ^ Otterson, Joe (September 12, 2018). "Lee Pace Joins Hong Kong Drama Series 'Flying Tiger' in Key Role (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Archived from the original on May 25, 2020. Retrieved June 16, 2020.
  35. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 22, 2019). "'Foundation': Lee Pace & Jared Harris To Star In Apple Series Based On Isaac Asimov's Sci-Fi Classic". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on September 24, 2021. Retrieved September 24, 2021.
  36. ^ Murthi, Vikram (October 31, 2016). "Lee Pace Hosts New Horror Anthology Podcast 'Darkest Night' on Shudder: The Series Stars Denis O'hare ("American Horror Story"), Missi Pyle ("The Artist"), Rupaul and More". IndieWire. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  37. ^ Nakamura, Reid (October 26, 2016). "Rupaul, Lee Pace Voice Horror Anthology Podcast 'Darkest Night' for AMC's Shudder (Exclusive): Voice Cast of Streaming Service Series Also Includes Michelle Visage and Denis O'hare". TheWrap. Archived from the original on October 1, 2022. Retrieved October 1, 2022.
  38. ^ "Did Ian McKellen Accidentally Out A Fellow "Hobbit" Actor?". Queerty. January 4, 2014. Archived from the original on March 1, 2018. Retrieved February 28, 2018.
  39. ^ a b "Lee Pace Is Barnstorming Back to Broadway with the First Revival of Angels In America". W. February 28, 2018. Archived from the original on February 28, 2018. Retrieved January 23, 2023.
  40. ^ "PAST RECIPIENTS OF 2003". Gotham Awards. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  41. ^ "Winners & Nominees 2004". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  42. ^ "Nominees & Winners – Satellite™ Awards 2004 (8th Annual Satellite™ Awards)". Satellite Awards. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  43. ^ ""In America," "American Splendor," and "Raising Victor Vargas" Top Nominees for 2004 IFP Independent". IndieWire. December 4, 2003. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  44. ^ "2004 Nominees". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  45. ^ "Awards". Berlin International Film Festival. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  46. ^ "2007 Nominees". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  47. ^ "Nominees & Winners – Satellite™ Awards 2007 (12th Annual Satellite™ Awards)". Satellite Awards. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  48. ^ "Winners & Nominees 2008". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  49. ^ "The 34th Annual Saturn Awards". Saturn Awards. Archived from the original on February 5, 2009. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  50. ^ "Outstanding Lead Actor In A Comedy Series Nominees / Winners". Emmy Awards. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  51. ^ "Nominees & Winners – Satellite™ Awards 2008 (13th Annual Satellite™ Awards)". Satellite Awards. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  52. ^ "2014". Satellite Awards. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  53. ^ "Nominations Announced for the 2nd Annual Critics Choice Super Awards". Critics Choice Association. Archived from the original on February 23, 2022. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
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