Paul Giamatti, born on June 6, 1967, in New Haven, Connecticut, is the youngest of three siblings. His father, A. Bartlett Giamatti, was a distinguished professor of comparative literature at Yale University and later served as the university’s president before becoming the Commissioner of Major League Baseball. His mother, Toni Marilyn Giamatti, was a former actress who later worked as an English teacher and homemaker.
Paul received his early education at the Foote School in New Haven and later graduated from Choate Rosemary Hall in 1985. He earned a Bachelor’s degree in English from Yale University in 1989, where he was also active in university theater productions. Giamatti then pursued a Master of Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama, refining his acting skills through rigorous training and multiple stage performances.
After graduating, he participated in theatrical productions both regionally and off-Broadway, including a stint at Seattle’s Annex Theater from 1989 to 1992. His early stage work laid a firm foundation for his future in film and television. Giamatti’s brother, Marcus, is also an actor, known for his work on stage and in television.
Giamatti's first major break in film came in 1997 when he portrayed Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton in Private Parts, the semi-autobiographical film about radio personality Howard Stern. The performance won admiration from Stern himself and introduced Giamatti’s talent to a broader audience.
In 1998, Giamatti featured in several prominent supporting roles in high-profile films, including The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan, and The Negotiator. By the early 2000s, he had established himself as a versatile character actor, with appearances in films like Big Momma’s House, Planet of the Apes, and Big Fat Liar further expanding his recognition.
He earned critical acclaim in 2003 with his performance in American Splendor, where he played comic book writer Harvey Pekar. The following year, he starred in Sideways, an independent romantic comedy that became a breakout success. His portrayal of Miles, a melancholic wine enthusiast and writer, earned Giamatti a Golden Globe nomination and several accolades from film critics associations in cities including New York, Chicago, and San Francisco.
Giamatti’s performance in the 2005 film Cinderella Man as boxing manager Joe Gould earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and additional Golden Globe recognition. From this point forward, he continued to secure a steady stream of notable and diverse roles in both film and television.
| Net Worth 2021: | 25 million |
