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Wentworth Miller

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Wentworth Miller
Miller in 2016
Born
Wentworth Earl Miller III

(1972-06-02) June 2, 1972 (age 52)
Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England
Other namesTed Foulke
Citizenship
  • United States
  • United Kingdom
EducationPrinceton University (BA)
Occupation
  • Actor
Years active1998–present
Signature

Wentworth Earl Miller III (born June 2, 1972)[1] is an American actor. He rose to prominence following his starring role as Michael Scofield in the Fox series Prison Break, for which he received a nomination for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Drama in 2005. He made his screenwriting debut with the 2013 thriller film Stoker. In 2014, he began playing Leonard Snart / Captain Cold in a recurring role on The CW series The Flash before becoming a series regular on the spin-off, Legends of Tomorrow.

Early life

Miller was born in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England, to American parents.[2] His mother, Roxann (née Palm), is a special education teacher, and his father, Wentworth E. Miller II, is a lawyer and teacher, who was studying at the University of Oxford on a Rhodes Scholarship at the time of Miller's birth.[1][3][4] Miller said in 2003 that his father is black and his mother is white.[5] His father is of African-American, Jamaican, German, and English ancestry; his mother is of Rusyn,[6] Swedish, French, Dutch, Syrian, and Lebanese ancestry.[7][8] He has two sisters, Leigh and Gillian.

Miller's family moved to Park Slope, Brooklyn, when he was a year old.[4][9] He attended Midwood High School in Brooklyn, and graduated from Princeton University in 1995 with an BA in English after completing a 116-page long senior thesis, titled "Doubling and the Identity Construct in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's 'The Yellow Wallpaper,' Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea, and Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre", under the supervision of Gina Dent.[10][11] While at Princeton, he performed with the a cappella group the Princeton Tigertones and was a member of the Quadrangle Club and the Colonial Club.[12]

Career

Miller in October 2008.

In 1995, Miller relocated to Los Angeles to pursue an acting career.[13] He has stated that his rocky road to stardom "was a long time in the coming and there were a lot of upsets and a lot of failures and roadblocks, but I couldn't walk away from it. I needed it like I needed air, it was just something I had to do."[14] Miller's first TV appearance was as student-turned-sea monster Gage Petronzi on Buffy the Vampire Slayer ("Go Fish", 1998).

Miller's first starring role was in 2002 as the sensitive, introverted David Scott in ABC's mini-series Dinotopia. After appearing in a few minor television roles, he moved on to co-star in the 2003 film The Human Stain, playing the younger version of the Anthony Hopkins character, Coleman Silk. He identified strongly with the core dilemma of the movie, about a black man who chooses to "pass" as white. Miller worked extensively on the role, not only in researching Anthony Hopkins, but by embarking on a four-month regimen to accurately portray Silk as a boxer. Also in 2003, he had a minor role in the film Underworld, playing a doctor and friend of the character Michael Corvin.

In 2005, Miller was cast as Michael Scofield in Fox Network's television drama Prison Break. He played the role of a gifted structural engineer who created an elaborate scheme to help his brother, Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), escape death row after being found guilty of a crime he did not commit. His character had a full upper body (front and back) tattoo. Covering both the front of Miller's torso and his back, along with both arms from shoulders to wrists, the special effects for the tattoo took over four hours to apply. His performance in the show earned him a 2005 Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actor in a Dramatic Series.[15] The show was finished in 2009 after four seasons, but a new nine-episode fifth season was released April 4, 2017, with Miller reprising his role.

Miller appeared in two Mariah Carey music videos, "It's Like That" as a party guest and "We Belong Together" as her love interest. Director Brett Ratner, who directed the pilot episode of Prison Break, was also signed on to direct the two Carey videos. Ratner decided to use Miller in the videos as well.[16]

In addition, Miller guest-starred in the Season 11 premiere of Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as Detective Nate Kendall, a detective from Precinct 24 of the New York City Police Department.[17][18] He also featured in Resident Evil: Afterlife, the fourth film in the commercially successful Resident Evil film series based on the video game series of the same name; Miller plays Chris Redfield, one of the protagonists of the video game series.

Miller wrote the screenplay for the film Stoker, as well as a prequel to Stoker, Uncle Charlie.[19] He used the pseudonym Ted Foulke, later explaining, "I just wanted the scripts to sink or swim on their own."[20] Miller's script was voted to the 2010 "Black List" of the 10 best unproduced screenplays then making the rounds in Hollywood.[21] The film is about a teenage girl who must deal with a mysterious uncle following the death of her father. Miller described it as a "horror film, a family drama and a psychological thriller".[22] Although influenced by Bram Stoker's Dracula, Miller has clarified that Stoker is not a vampire story.[22][23] Hitchcock's Shadow of a Doubt also influenced the film but only as a jumping-off point, from which the story takes a different direction.[22] Park Chan-wook directed, with stars Mia Wasikowska as the teenager, Nicole Kidman as the mother, and Matthew Goode as the uncle.[24] The film was released in 2013, and received generally positive reviews from critics.[25]

In July 2014, it was announced that Miller had joined the cast of The CW superhero series The Flash in a recurring role as Leonard Snart / Captain Cold.[26] He made his first appearance in the fourth episode of the first season, and reprised his role on Legends of Tomorrow.[27] These shows reunited him with his Prison Break co-star Dominic Purcell, who portrayed Mick Rory / Heat Wave. Miller exited Legends of Tomorrow as a series regular at the end of season one, but signed a contract with Warner Bros. TV to continue portraying Snart simultaneously on multiple shows in the Arrowverse.[28]

Miller wrote the screenplay for the 2016 horror film The Disappointments Room, produced by Voltage Pictures and Killer Films.[29] The film received negative reviews from critics.[30] He is reportedly in negotiations to write the screenplay adaptation of the novel The Story of Edgar Sawtelle by David Wroblewski which is set to be produced by Oprah Winfrey and Tom Hanks among others.[31]

Miller came out as gay in 2013, and in 2020 announced that he was no longer interested in portraying straight characters in film or television, and thus would not participate in a sixth season of Prison Break if it were produced.[32]

Personal life

Miller in 2015

Miller lives in Vancouver, British Columbia. He holds US citizenship by virtue of his birth in the United Kingdom to American parents.[23]

In 2007, Miller denied to InStyle magazine that he was gay.[33] However, he came out as gay in August 2013, when he posted a letter on GLAAD's website declining an invitation to attend the Saint Petersburg International Film Festival because he felt "deeply troubled" by the Russian government's treatment of its gay citizens (referring to the Russian LGBT propaganda law, enacted the previous June, which banned "propaganda of nontraditional sexual relations").[34][35] Miller wrote that he "cannot in good conscience participate in a celebratory occasion hosted by a country where people like myself are being systematically denied their basic right to live and love openly".[34]

At the 2013 Human Rights Campaign Dinner in Seattle, Washington, Miller said he had attempted suicide multiple times as a teenager before coming out as gay.[36] He stated: "When someone asked me if that was a cry for help, I said no, because I told no one. You only cry for help if you believe there's help to cry for."[36] He discussed struggling in Hollywood as a closeted actor, and talked about how his involvement in the ManKind Project helped him learn about brotherhood, sisterhood, and being part of a community.[37]

On October 17, 2016, Active Minds, a mental health charity, announced that Miller would be an ambassador for the organization.[38] In a 2016 Facebook post, he revealed that he "[had] struggled with depression since childhood. It's a battle that's cost [him] time, opportunities, relationships, and a thousand sleepless nights." He made this emotional post in reaction to a meme of himself that poked fun at his weight gain in 2010. Miller said that his weight gain was due to him finding comfort in food as he was suicidal.[39] Near the end of the post he provided links for organizations such as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and Active Minds.[40] Wentworth revealed he had been diagnosed with autism "a year ago" on July 27, 2021. He posted on Instagram: "This isn't something I'd change ... immediately being autistic is central to who I am. To everything I've achieved/articulated."[41]

Filmography

Film

As actor

Year Title Role Notes
2000 Romeo and Juliet Paris Direct-to-video
2001 Room 302 Server No. 1 Short film
2003 The Human Stain Young Coleman Silk
Underworld Dr. Adam Lockwood
2005 The Confession The Prisoner/Tom Short film
Stealth EDI Voice role
2009 Blood Creek German soldier Uncredited
2010 Resident Evil: Afterlife Chris Redfield
2014 The Loft Luke Seacord
2015 2 Hours 2 Vegas Guy in rally car Short film

As screenwriter

Year Title Notes
2013 Stoker Credited as Ted Foulke
2016 The Disappointments Room

As producer

Year Title Notes
2013 Stoker

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Buffy the Vampire Slayer Gage Petronzi Episode: "Go Fish"
1999–2000 Time of Your Life Nelson 3 episodes
2000 Popular Adam Rothschild-Ryan 2 episodes
ER Mike Palmieri Episode: "Homecoming"
2002 Dinotopia David Scott Lead role; 3 episodes
2005 Joan of Arcadia Ryan Hunter 2 episodes
2005–2009;
2017 		Prison Break Michael Scofield Lead role
2005 Ghost Whisperer Sgt. Paul Adams Episode: "Pilot"
2009 Family Guy Jock No. 4
Popular Kid No. 2 		Voice role, Episode: "Stew-Roids"
Prison Break: The Final Break Michael Scofield Television film
2009, 2019–2021 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Detective Nate Kendall
ADA Isaiah Holmes 		Episode: "Unstable"
"Murdered at a Bad Address"[42]
"The Long Arm of the Witness"
2011 House Benjamin Byrd Episode: "Charity Case"
2013 Young Justice Slade Wilson / Deathstroke Voice role, Episode: "The Fix"
2014–2019 The Flash Leonard Snart / Captain Cold
Leo Snart / Citizen Cold 		Recurring role; 14 episodes (seasons 1–4 & 6)
2015 Superhero Fight Club Captain Cold Short promo video
2016–2018, 2021 Legends of Tomorrow Leonard Snart / Captain Cold
Leo Snart / Citizen Cold 		Main role (season 1), Recurring role (seasons 2–3), Guest role (season 7); 23 episodes
2019 Batwoman Leonard Snart (Earth-74) Voice role; Episode: "Crisis on Infinite Earths: Part Two"[43]
Madam Secretary Senator Mark Hanson Recurring role; 9 episodes (season 6)[44]

Video games

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Prison Break: The Conspiracy Michael Scofield Voice role

Music videos

Year Song title Artist
2005 "It's Like That" Mariah Carey
"We Belong Together"

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2004 Black Reel Award Best Actor The Human Stain Nominated
2004 Black Reel Award Best Breakthrough Performance Nominated
2005 Golden Globe Award Best Performance by an Actor in a TV Series – Drama Prison Break Nominated
2005 Saturn Award Best Actor on Television Nominated
2006 Gold Derby Award Breakthrough Performer of the Year Nominated
2006 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor Nominated
2006 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Breakout Star Nominated
2007 Bravo Otto Best Male TV Star 2nd place
2007 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor: Drama Nominated
2008 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor: Action Adventure Nominated
2013 Fright Meter Award Best Screenplay Stoker Nominated
2013 International Online Cinema Awards Best Original Screenplay Nominated
2014 Fangoria Chainsaw Award Best Screenplay 2nd place
2015 Saturn Award Best Guest Starring Role on Television The Flash Won
2017 Teen Choice Award Choice TV Actor: Action Adventure Prison Break Nominated

References

  1. ^ a b "Wentworth Miller Biography (1972–)". FilmReference.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 29, 2016.
  2. ^ "Yes, the Newly Out Wentworth Miller is British — BBC America". Archived from the original on July 16, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  3. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved January 28, 2017.
  4. ^ a b "Being Wentworth Miller: The star of Fox's upcoming "Prison Break" navigates Hollywood's biracial politics". EURWeb.com. June 27, 2005. Archived from the original on December 27, 2010. Retrieved August 5, 2008. Though he was raised in Brooklyn, Miller was actually born in Chipping Norton, England where his black father, a Rhodes Scholar, had been studying. Miller retains dual citizenship, but affirms he is 'American – first, last and always.'
  5. ^ Baskin, Ellen (November 6, 2003). "A clear sense of self". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 7, 2016. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  6. ^ Anonymous member, (Administrator) (September 5, 2018). "FAMOUS RUSYN-AMERICANS". C-RS.
  7. ^ Paumgarten, Nick.Central Casting: The Race Card, The New Yorker, November 10, 2003. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
  8. ^ Reider, Maxim (March 13, 2008). "'Prison Break' star on furlough here". The Jerusalem Post. Retrieved May 22, 2010.
  9. ^ "On The Move: Wentworth Miller". The Times. London. May 11, 2008. Archived from the original on October 7, 2008. (subscription required)
  10. ^ "Wentworth Miller: A Creole Son Born in the UK and Raised in America". Kreolmagazine.com. May 18, 2015. Retrieved December 27, 2019.
  11. ^ Miller, Wentworth Earl (1995). Doubling and the Identity Construct in Charlotte Perkins Gilman's "The Yellow Wallpaper," Jean Rhys's Wide Sargasso Sea, and Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre (Thesis).
  12. ^ "From Princeton to Primetime". The Daily Princetonian. Princeton University. November 10, 2005. Archived from the original on August 25, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  13. ^ Dutch television program Jensen!, September 10, 2007.
  14. ^ Rob Owen (September 16, 2007). "'Prison Break' role reversals energize Wentworth Miller". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved January 28, 2009.
  15. ^ "2006 Golden Globe Nominations & Winners". Hollywood Foreign Press Association. January 26, 2006. Archived from the original on February 17, 2007. Retrieved February 26, 2007.
  16. ^ "Wentworth Miller says he's not gay, just shy and concentrating on career @ Flylip.com – Latest Breaking Celebrity News, Celebrity Photos And Celebrity Gossip From Around The Web. The latest celebrity news from the webs best celebrity blogs". Archived from the original on June 6, 2008. Retrieved March 2, 2008.
  17. ^ "Wentworth Miller Photo". tv.com. September 3, 2009. Archived from the original on February 23, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  18. ^ "News | Wentworth Miller Joins SVU". TV Guide Magazine. June 29, 2009. Archived from the original on February 9, 2010. Retrieved February 4, 2010.
  19. ^ "'Prison Break' Star Secretly Writing Horror Scripts?". July 21, 2010.
  20. ^ Buchanan, Kyle (July 24, 2010). "Wentworth Miller on How He Became Hollywood's Hottest Secret Screenwriter". Movieline. Archived from the original on July 14, 2011. Retrieved February 11, 2011.
  21. ^ "Black List: 2010 Best Unproduced Screenplays". moviefone.com.
  22. ^ a b c Radish, Christina (August 3, 2010). "SDCC 2010: Wentworth Miller Interview RESIDENT EVIL: AFTERLIFE; Plus Updates on STOKER and UNCLE CHARLIE". collider.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2010. Retrieved March 8, 2011.
  23. ^ a b "Wentworth Miller On Love, His Celebrity Crush". Who. January 26, 2008. Archived from the original on July 11, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
  24. ^ Kroll, Justin (June 8, 2011). "Matthew Goode in talks for 'Stoker' lead". Variety. Retrieved June 9, 2011.
  25. ^ "Stoker". Rotten Tomatoes. March 22, 2013. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  26. ^ Fowler, Matt (July 18, 2014). "The Flash: Prison Break Star To Play Captain Cold". IGN. Retrieved July 18, 2014.
  27. ^ Beedle, Tim (May 6, 2015). "Breaking News: DC's Legends of Tomorrow, a New Arrow and Flash Spinoff Series, is Coming to The CW". DC Comics. Retrieved August 19, 2015.
  28. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (May 12, 2016). "'DC's Legends Of Tomorrow': Wentworth Miller Exits As Regular, Becomes Regular In The Berlanti Universe". Deadline. Retrieved May 23, 2016.
  29. ^ Wentworth Miller Script 'The Disappointments Room' Grabbed by Voltage Pictures and Killer Films, Jay A. Fernandez, April 13, 2012
  30. ^ "The Disappointments Room". Rotten Tomatoes. September 9, 2016. Retrieved May 11, 2017.
  31. ^ Wentworth Miller in Talks to Adapt the Bestselling Novel, THE STORY OF EDGAR SAWTELLE Archived January 23, 2015, at the Wayback Machine, Dave Trumbore, August 13, 2012,
  32. ^ "Wentworth Miller Says No More Prison Break As He Doesn't Want to Play Straight Characters". E! Online. November 10, 2020. Retrieved November 18, 2020.
  33. ^ "Prison Break's Wentworth Miller comes out in letter protesting Russian government". The A.V. Club. August 22, 2013.
  34. ^ a b Adam, Seth (August 21, 2013). "Wentworth Miller rejects Russian film festival invitation; 'As a gay man, I must decline'". GLAAD. Archived from the original on August 12, 2018. Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  35. ^ Shira, Dahvi (August 21, 2013). "Wentworth Miller Comes Out as Gay". People. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
  36. ^ a b Idato, Michael (November 15, 2012). "Wentworth Miller reveals struggles with suicide". smh.com.au. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  37. ^ Peeples, Jase (September 10, 2013). "Wentworth Miller Attempted Suicide Before Coming Out". advocate.com. Retrieved September 13, 2013.
  38. ^ "Wentworth Miller Named Active Minds' Ambassador for Mental Health" (Press release). October 17, 2016. Retrieved December 10, 2016.
  39. ^ Grant, Stacey (March 29, 2016). "Wentworth Miller Opens Up About Depression And Suicidal Thoughts In Candid Facebook Post". MTV.com. Archived from the original on March 30, 2016. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  40. ^ Bahadur, Nina. "Wentworth Miller Opened Up About His History Of Depression And Suicidal Thoughts". SELF. Retrieved April 26, 2018.
  41. ^ Garvey, Marianne (July 27, 2021). "'Prison Break' star Wentworth Miller reveals autism diagnosis". CNN. Retrieved July 28, 2021.
  42. ^ SVU Writers Room [@SVUWritersRoom] (October 31, 2019). "Welcome (back) to the show #WentworthMiller (!) – a.k.a. ADA Isaiah Holmes. Something tells me he's about to have an important role in this case... 🤔" (Tweet). Retrieved December 9, 2019 – via Twitter.
  43. ^ Agard, Chancellor (December 9, 2019). "'Batwoman' crossover recap: DC's past and present collide in 'Crisis on Infinite Earths'". Entertainment Weekly.
  44. ^ Jacobs, Meredith (September 5, 2019). "'Madam Secretary' Adds Wentworth Miller for Final Season". TV Insider. Retrieved June 24, 2023.
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