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Scoot McNairy

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Scoot McNairy
McNairy at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
John Marcus McNairy

(1977-11-11) November 11, 1977 (age 47)
Dallas, Texas, U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • film producer
Years active2001–present
Spouse
​
​
(m. 2010; div. 2019)​
Children2

John Marcus "Scoot" McNairy (born November 11, 1977)[1] is an American actor and film producer. He is known for his roles in films such as Monsters (2010), Argo, Killing Them Softly (both 2012), 12 Years a Slave (2013), Gone Girl (2014), Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016), Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019), Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile (2022), Speak No Evil, and Nightbitch (both 2024).

On television, McNairy starred as Gordon Clark in the AMC period drama Halt and Catch Fire (2014–2017), Bill McNue in the Netflix miniseries Godless (2017), Walt Breslin on Netflix's Narcos: Mexico (2018–2021), Tom Purcell on the third season of True Detective (2019), and Rod Rosenstein in the Showtime miniseries The Comey Rule (2020). His accolades include an Independent Spirit Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Early life

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McNairy was born on November 11, 1977, in Dallas, Texas, to Alicia Ann McNairy (née Merchant) and Stewart Hall McNairy.[1] In addition to a house in Dallas, the family had a ranch in rural Paris, Texas, where they spent time on weekends and holidays.[2][3] Growing up, he did theater in after-school programs.[4] His father began calling him Scooter when he was about two years old. "A lot of people are like, oh, it must be some amazing story. But it's because I used to scoot around on my butt", says McNairy.[5]

McNairy has stated that he is "highly dyslexic" and that he had to "go to dyslexia school for four years." He describes himself as a visual learner and was attracted to films for that reason.[6] McNairy attended Lake Highlands High School.[7]

Career

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Actor

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McNairy moved to Austin, Texas, when he was 18 to attend the University of Texas at Austin.[8] In 2001 he appeared in Wrong Numbers, written and directed by Alex Holdridge, which won the Audience Award at the Austin Film Festival.[3] Holdridge was hired to remake Wrong Numbers into a studio picture, which was never made.[5] Interested in cinematography and photography, McNairy moved to Los Angeles to go to film school.[3] He attended for a year,[9] then dropped out and began working in film production, doing carpentry and building film sets. He then worked as an extra before eventually securing a consistent job in more than 200 TV commercials. He eventually was offered roles in feature films, a career he has been pursuing since 2001.[4][10]

During the early 2000s, McNairy portrayed colorful and individualistic young men with a rebellious edge. He had small parts in films, including Wonderland, Herbie: Fully Loaded, and Art School Confidential. 2010 saw the release of the alien invader film Monsters by Gareth Edwards, in which McNairy starred and featured largely improvised dialogue and was shot in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, and Texas.[11][12][13]

In 2012, McNairy played Frankie in director Andrew Dominik's film Killing Them Softly opposite Brad Pitt.[14] This led to a string of high-profile roles, including Ben Affleck's Argo,[2] Gus Van Sant's Promised Land, and Lynn Shelton's Touchy Feely opposite Rosemarie DeWitt.[15] For his role as Joe Stafford in Argo, he studied Persian, which he spoke in his final monologue in the film.[16] In 2013, he appeared in Steve McQueen's 12 Years a Slave, which again included Pitt. McNairy filmed his second movie with Michael Fassbender, Leonard Abrahamson's Frank, and co-starred in Jaume Collet-Serra's Non-Stop, opposite Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore.[16]

He appears in David Michod's The Rover opposite Robert Pattinson and Guy Pearce. McNairy starred as computer engineer and internet pioneer Gordon Clark in the AMC Network drama Halt and Catch Fire, about the personal computer business in the 1980s and 1990s.[17][18] The series ran for four seasons from 2014 to 2017 to high critical acclaim.[19] By coincidence, his character's wife in Halt and Catch Fire is portrayed by actor Kerry Bishé, who also played his spouse in Argo. McNairy played Wallace Keefe in Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.[20] In September 2016, McNairy was announced as a cast member in the third season of the FX drama Fargo.[21]

In 2017, McNairy played crime boss Novak in the crime drama Sleepless and returned to television when he co-starred in the Netflix western-miniseries Godless as shortsighted sheriff Bill McNue. Since 2018, he has also portrayed DEA Agent Walt Breslin on Netflix's Narcos: Mexico. He received critical acclaim for his portrayal of troubled father Tom Purcell in the third season of True Detective in 2019.[22]

McNairy next appeared in Taurus, alongside Machine Gun Kelly (who also co-wrote the script) and Megan Fox, which premiered at the 72nd Berlin International Film Festival.[23] He also reunited with Andrew Dominik in the 2022 film Blonde, an adaptation of Joyce Carol Oates's historical fiction novel that chronicles the inner life of Marilyn Monroe. In 2022, McNairy also starred in the Netflix mystery film Luckiest Girl Alive and the live-action/animated hybrid musical comedy Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile.[24] Additionally, he voiced a character in AMC's animated series Pantheon.[25]

Upcoming projects

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As of July 2022, McNairy is filming the drama The Line.[26] He will star in the film Fairyland, which concluded production in June 2022. In February 2022, it was announced that McNairy would star alongside Michael Shannon, Emilia Clarke and Dane DeHaan in an upcoming Joseph McCarthy biopic.[27] In May 2022, he reportedly joined Jack Reynor and Emily Browning in psychological thriller Brightwater.[28] That same month, McNairy was announced as part of the cast for Blood for Dust, an action thriller, also including Kit Harington and Josh Lucas.[29] A month later, McNairy also joined Amy Adams in Marielle Heller's Nightbitch.[30] Filming is set to start in September 2022. As of July 2023, McNairy is set to be in the upcoming third season of the Amazon Prime series Invincible.

Producer

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McNairy worked as producer for 2007's In Search of a Midnight Kiss, in which he also starred and which is referred to as his breakout film.[31][32] He has worked on a number of other projects as an actor and producer, including 2012's A Night in the Woods; and Angry White Man, Dragon Day, and The Off Hours, all released in 2011.[15]

Other work

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Personal life

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McNairy married actress Whitney Able in 2010. They initially started dating in Los Angeles about six months before co-starring in Monsters.[34] They have two children.[35] On November 19, 2019, Able announced that they had divorced.[36]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
2001 Wrong Numbers Russell
2002 Plugged In Raver Kid #1 Short film
2003 Sexless Ryan
Wonderland Jack
Silenced Friend #1 Short film
2004 D.E.B.S. Stoner
White Men in Seminole Flats Dale Short film
Sleepover DJ at Club
2005 Herbie: Fully Loaded Augie
2006 Marcus Charles
Art School Confidential Army-Jacket
Bobby Beatnik
The Shadow Effect Harold Grey Short film
Mr. Fix It Dan
2007 In Search of a Midnight Kiss Wilson Also producer
Blind Man Sparky Collins
2008 Wednesday Again Peter
2009 Shipping and Receiving Steve Porter Short film
Cop Out Mike Singbush
The Resurrection of Officer Rollins Shooter
Mr. Sadman Stevie
2010 Wreckage Frank Jeffries
Everything Will Happen Before You Die Matt
Monsters Andrew Kaulder
Wes and Ella Wes
2011 Amor Fati Teddy Short film
The Off Hours Corey
A Night in the Woods Brody Cartwright
Angry White Man Walt
2012 Killing Them Softly Frankie
Argo Joe Stafford
Promised Land Jeff Dennon
2013 Touchy Feely Jesse
Dragon Day Phil
12 Years a Slave Merrill Brown
2014 Non-Stop Tom Bowen
All Hail the King Jackson Norriss Short film
The Rover Henry
Frank Don
Gone Girl Tommy
Black Sea Daniels
The Life and Mind of Mark DeFriest Mark DeFriest (voice) Documentary
2015 Lamb Jesse
Our Brand Is Crisis Rich
2016 Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice Wallace Keefe
2017 Sleepless Rob Novak
Aftermath Jacob "Jake" Bonanos
War Machine Sean Cullen
2018 The Legacy of a Whitetail Deer Hunter Greg
Destroyer Ethan
2019 Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Business Bob Gilbert
The Parts You Lose Ronnie
2020 A Quiet Place Part II Marina Man Cameo
2021 C'mon C'mon Paul
2022 Taurus Ray
Blonde Tommy "Tom" Ewell / Richard Sherman
Luckiest Girl Alive Andrew Larson
Lyle, Lyle, Crocodile Mr. Primm
2023 Fairyland Steve Abbott
Blood for Dust Cliff
The Line
2024 Speak No Evil Ben Dalton
Nightbitch Husband
A Complete Unknown Woody Guthrie

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
2004 Good Girls Don't... Henry Episode: "My Best Friend Is a Big Fat Slut"
2005 Six Feet Under Trevor Episode: "All Alone"
Close to Home T.J. Episode: "Meth Murders"
2006 More, Patience Jake Television film
Murder 101 Panache Television film
Jake in Progress Dean Thomas Stilton Episodes: "Eyebrow Girl vs. Smirk Face", "The Hot One"
2007 How I Met Your Mother Fast Food Worker Episode: "Something Blue"
2007–2011 Bones Noel Liftin Episodes: "The Secret in the Soil", "The Man in the Outhouse", "The Daredevil in the Mold"
2008 Murder 101: New Age Panache Television film
The Shield Doug Obermyer Episode: "Snitch"
My Name Is Earl Bed Bug Episode: "Quit Your Snitchin'"
Eleventh Hour Rudy Callistro Episode: "Surge"
2009 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Vitas Long Episode: "Lover's Lanes"
2011 The Whole Truth Larry Thompson Episode: "Lost in Translation"
2013–2015 Axe Cop Scoot / Sun Thief (voice) 3 episodes
2014–2017 Halt and Catch Fire Gordon Clark Main role (40 episodes)
2017 Fargo Maurice LeFay 2 episodes
Godless Bill McNue Miniseries (7 episodes)
2018–2021 Narcos: Mexico D.E.A Special Agent Walt Breslin 20 episodes
2019 True Detective Tom Purcell Season 3 (8 episodes)
2020 Love Life Bradley Field 2 episodes
The Comey Rule Rod Rosenstein Miniseries (2 episodes)
2022–2023 Pantheon Cody Lowell, Kurt (voice) 9 episodes
2023 Invincible King Lizard (voice) Season 2[37]
Producer
Year Title Notes
2007 In Search of a Midnight Kiss
2012 Please, Alfonso Short film
2013 Straight A's
2014 Frank and Cindy

Awards and nominations

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Association Year Category Work Result Ref(s)
British Independent Film Awards 2010 Best Actor Monsters Nominated [38]
Georgia Film Critics Association Awards 2013 Breakthrough Award Argo, Killing Them Softly and Promised Land Nominated [39]
Best Ensemble Argo Nominated
2014 Best Ensemble 12 Years a Slave Nominated [40]
Hamptons International Film Festival Awards 2012 Variety's Ten Actors to Watch Killing Them Softly Won [41]
Hollywood Film Awards 2012 Ensemble of the Year Argo Won [42]
Independent Spirit Awards 2009 John Cassavetes Award In Search of a Midnight Kiss Won [43]
International Emmy Awards 2022 Best Actor Narcos: Mexico Nominated [44]
Palm Springs International Film Festival Awards 2012 Ensemble Cast Award Argo Won [45]
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards 2012 Best Performance by an Ensemble Argo Nominated [46]
2013 Best Performance by an Ensemble 12 Years a Slave Nominated [47]
Screen Actors Guild Awards 2013 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Argo Won [48]
2014 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture 12 Years a Slave Nominated [49]

References

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  1. ^ a b "John Marcus Mcnairy, "Texas, Birth Index, 1903–1997"". FamilySearch. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  2. ^ a b Sperling, Nicole (September 8, 2012). "Toronto International Film Festival: Actor Scoot McNairy is on a roll with multiple roles". L.A. Times. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  3. ^ a b c Campion, Freddie (October 2, 2012). "One to Watch: Mr Scoot McNairy". Mr Porter. Archived from the original on October 4, 2012. Retrieved May 17, 2015.
  4. ^ a b Creeden, Molly (November 28, 2012). "Breaking Out: Scoot McNairy in Killing Them Softly". Vogue. Condé Nast. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  5. ^ a b Boursaw, Jane (September 8, 2008). "Exclusive: Interview with Scoot McNairy of "In Search of a Midnight Kiss" – Video". Every Joe. Defy Media, LLC. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved January 27, 2014.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  6. ^ a b Herman, James Patrick (November 29, 2012). "Meet Mr. Right Now...Scoot McNairy". Verge. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  7. ^ "Watch LH grad Scoot McNairy in AMC's new drama". The Lake Highlands Advocate. June 3, 2014. Retrieved July 17, 2022.
  8. ^ Baumgarten, Marjorie (November 30, 2012). "From the Vaults: Scoot McNairy's Splendid Year". The Austin Chronicle. Retrieved September 28, 2019.
  9. ^ Doperalski, Dan (October 3, 2012). "10 Actors to Watch 2012: Scoot McNairy / McNairy: 'Softly' star gets chance to shine". Variety. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  10. ^ Aguirre, Abby (January 2, 2013). "Asked & Answered | Scoot McNairy". New York Times. T-Magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  11. ^ Catsoulis, Jeannette (October 28, 2010). "Alien Invaders, Earthling Romance". New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  12. ^ Kohn, Eric (October 13, 2010). "Making Movies With Laptops and Ingenuity". New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  13. ^ "SXSW 2010: Exclusive – Scoot McNairy on 'Monsters'". Fear.net. March 18, 2010. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  14. ^ Lim, Dennis (September 6, 2012). "Illuminating Performances: Breakout Actors of the New Season – Scoot McNairy". New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  15. ^ a b Osenlund, R. Kurt (September 6, 2013). "Scoot McNairy Has Worked with Brad Pitt, Ben Affleck, Matt Damon and Michael Fassbender. So Why Don't You Know His Name Yet?". Indiewire. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  16. ^ a b Ferguson, Deborah (December 15, 2012). "Scoot McNairy". contentMode. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  17. ^ Weisman, Jon (March 4, 2012). "Scoot McNairy Joins AMC Pilot 'Halt'". Variety. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  18. ^ Marechal, AJ (July 26, 2013). "TCA: AMC Orders 'Halt and Catch Fire' and 'Turn' to Series". Variety. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  19. ^ Halt and Catch Fire, retrieved June 26, 2020
  20. ^ "Batman V. Superman May Be More Insanely Depressing Than We Suspected". io9. August 28, 2014. Retrieved August 29, 2014.
  21. ^ Stolworthy, Jacob (September 20, 2016). "Fargo season 3 adds Scoot McNairy to its most impressive cast list yet". The Independent.
  22. ^ "'True Detective' season 3: From a pitiful middle-aged man to a brave gun-toting dad, Tom Purcell has come a long way". February 15, 2019.
  23. ^ Roxborough, Scott (December 15, 2021). "Berlin Announces First Films for 2022 Including Titles With Isabelle Huppert and Nikolaj Coster-Waldau". The Hollywood Reporter.
  24. ^ Vlessing, Etan (June 6, 2022). "Emilia Jones, Scoot McNairy Star in 'Fairyland' Adaptation for American Zoetrope". The Hollywood Reporter.
  25. ^ Thorne, Will (August 7, 2020). "Daniel Dae Kim, Katie Chang and Scoot McNairy Board AMC Animated Drama 'Pantheon'". Variety.
  26. ^ Hipes, Patrick (March 26, 2019). "Alex Wolff To Star In Thriller 'The Line'; John Malkovich, Scoot McNairy Also Aboard". Deadline Hollywood.
  27. ^ Ritman, Alex (February 7, 2022). "Michael Shannon's Joseph McCarthy Biopic Sells Globally Ahead of European Film Market". The Hollywood Reporter.
  28. ^ Marc, Christopher (May 9, 2022). "'Brightwater': Scoot McNairy, Jack Reynor & Emily Browning To Star In Lance Edmands' Psychological Thriller". The Playlist.
  29. ^ Lang, Brent (May 21, 2022). "Scoot McNairy, Kit Harington, Josh Lucas Starring in 'Blood For Dust'". Variety.
  30. ^ Donnelly, Matt (June 27, 2022). "Scoot McNairy Joins Amy Adams in 'Nightbitch'". Variety.
  31. ^ Dargis, Manohla (August 1, 2008). "Hopeful Misanthrope Seeks Same". New York Times. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  32. ^ "Lost and Found". New York Times. August 1, 2008. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  33. ^ BookShorts Film: JPod by Douglas Coupland, retrieved September 21, 2022
  34. ^ Smith, Krista (October 19, 2012). "Whitney Able & Scoot McNairy on "Monsters"" (video). Vanity Fair. Condé Nast. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
  35. ^ "S11E1108: Trey Galyon, Scoot McNairy, Alex Diamond and Raul Sanchez guest". Doug Loves Movies. Retrieved June 9, 2018.
  36. ^ Stone, Natalie (November 20, 2019). "Halt and Catch Fire's Scoot McNairy and Actress Whitney Able Divorce After 9 Years of Marriage". People. Retrieved November 20, 2019.
  37. ^ "Invincible Season 2: Release Date, Trailer, Cast & More". Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  38. ^ "2010 British Independent Film Awards Winners and Nominees". BIFA. October 24, 2010. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  39. ^ "2012 Awards". Georgia Film Critics Association. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  40. ^ "2013 Awards". Georgia Film Critics Association. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  41. ^ "Variety reveals 10 Actors to Watch". Variety. August 24, 2012. Archived from the original on June 3, 2016. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  42. ^ King, Susan (October 3, 2012). "'Argo' cast to be celebrated at Hollywood Film Awards". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  43. ^ "37 Years of Nominees & Winners, 1986–2022" (PDF). Film Independent. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  44. ^ Yossman, K.J. (September 29, 2022). "International Emmys 2022: The Complete Nominations List". Variety. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  45. ^ Hanna, Beth (December 5, 2012). "Palm Springs Int'l Film Festival Honors 'Argo' with Ensemble Performance Award". IndieWire. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  46. ^ "San Diego Film Critics Nominate Top Films for 2012". San Diego Film Critics Society. December 9, 2012. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  47. ^ "San Diego Film Critics Nominate Top Films for 2013". San Diego Film Critics Society. December 10, 2013. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  48. ^ "The 19th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
  49. ^ "The 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild. Retrieved September 30, 2022.
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