Paul Schneider (actor)

Paul Andrew Schneider (born March 16, 1976) is an American actor. He is best known for his portrayal of Mark Brendanawicz on the first two seasons of the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation and Dick Liddil in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.[1][2] He won a Best Actor in a Narrative Feature award at the 2014 Tribeca Film Festival for his performance in Goodbye to All That and the Best Supporting Actor Award from the National Society of Film Critics for his performance as Charles Armitage Brown in Bright Star.[3][4]

Paul Schneider
Schneider in July 2018
Born (1976-03-16) March 16, 1976 (age 48)
EducationUniversity of North Carolina School of the Arts (BFA)
OccupationActor
Years active1996–present
Spouse
Theresa Schneider
(m. 2016)
Children1

Early life edit

Schneider was born in Oakland, California,[5][6] and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.[7]

Career edit

In 2000, Schneider made his film debut in David Gordon Green's George Washington and starred in Green's All the Real Girls.[8][9] As research for his role as Jesse Baylor in Elizabethtown, director Cameron Crowe suggested that Schneider tour with the band My Morning Jacket for five days. Schneider accompanied the band to concerts held in such locations as Irving Plaza, the Webster Theater, the Theater of the Living Arts, and Stone Pony Landing.[citation needed]

After Elizabethtown, Schneider had supporting roles in The Family Stone and Live Free or Die. In 2007, he portrayed Gus Lindstrom in Lars and the Real Girl and Dick Liddil in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford.[7] He was named one of "Ten Actors to Watch" by Variety.[10] In 2008, he made his directorial debut with the independent film Pretty Bird.[11] Also in 2008, Schneider played President William Henry Harrison in an episode of the Comedy Central series Drunk History Vol. 4.[12]

In 2009, Schneider appeared as Charles Armitage Brown in Bright Star, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Award from the National Society of Film Critics. The award was shared with Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds.[13] He portrayed Courtney Farlander in Away We Go.[12]

In arguably his most mainstream role, Schneider co-starred as Mark Brendanawicz in the NBC series Parks and Recreation, appearing in the first 2 seasons from 2009 to 2010 before leaving the series because he felt sidelined.[14] Quoting an April 2014 interview with ScreenCrush:[15]

That experience was very strange for me. You know, I signed up for a specific character that was changed in mid-season. And it became a character with a lot less to do. And, all of a sudden, I was kind of confused and kind of having a lot less to do.

In 2018, Schneider made his Broadway debut in Young Jean Lee's play Straight White Men as Matt. Schneider's performance earned praise, with The New York Times critic Jesse Green singling him out as one of the highlights of the production.[16]

Personal life edit

On April 16, 2016, Schneider married Theresa Avila, an occupational therapist and co-founder of The World Lens Foundation, of which Schneider is a board member.[17][18] The two have a daughter. Schneider is an Innocence Project Ambassador.[19]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1997 Pleasant Grove Bedford Short film
1998 Physical Pinball Short film
2000 George Washington Rico Rice
2003 Security, Colorado Paul Filmed in the Dogme 95 style.
2003 All the Real Girls Paul Also writer
2003 Crude Gabe
2004 50 Ways to Leave Your Lover Owen McCabe
2005 Elizabethtown Jesse Baylor
2005 The Family Stone Brad Stevenson
2006 Live Free or Die Jeff Lagrand
2007 The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford Dick Liddil
2007 Lars and the Real Girl Gus
2008 Pretty Bird Beach Dog Jogger Also writer, director
2009 Bright Star Charles Armitage Brown
2009 Away We Go Courtney Farlander
2011 Water for Elephants Charlie O'Brien
2011 Beloved Henderson
2012 The Flowers of War Terry
2012 The Babymakers Tommy Macklin
2013 Hello Carter Aaron
2014 Goodbye to All That Otto Wall
2014 Black Eyed Dog
2014 Straight Men/Same Bed Short film
Writer, director, producer
2015 The Daughter Christian
2016 Café Society Steve
2016 Rules Don't Apply Richard Miskin
2020 Brothers by Blood Jimmy
2021 A House on the Bayou John Chambers
2022 Abandoned Dr. Carver
2022 American Murderer David Brown

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
2003 Third Watch Thomas Warner Guest role; 3 episodes
2008 Drunk History Vol. 4 William Henry Harrison 1 episode
2009–2010 Parks and Recreation Mark Brendanawicz Main role (seasons 1–2); 30 episodes
2012 The Newsroom Brian Brenner Guest role; 2 episodes
2014 The Divide Clark Rylance Main role; 6 episodes
2016 The Tunnel Artem Baturin Guest role; 4 episodes
2016 Channel Zero: Candle Cove Mike Painter Main role; 6 episodes
2017 Chance Ryan Winter Main role (season 2); 9 episodes
2018 The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story Paul Beck Episode: "Ascent"
2020 Tales from the Loop George 6 episodes
2020 NOS4A2 Jonathan "The Hourglass" Beckett 3 episodes
2022 A Friend of the Family Marty Episode: "Revelation"
2023 Florida Man Officer Andy Boone Recurring role

Awards and nominations edit

Year Award Category Work Result
2003 Gotham Awards Breakthrough Actor All the Real Girls Nominated
2004 Chlotrudis Awards Best Original Screenplay (shared with David Gordon Green) All the Real Girls Nominated
2008 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Pretty Bird Nominated
2009 Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Supporting Actor Bright Star Nominated
Hollywood Film Awards Won
Indiewire Critics' Poll Best Supporting Performance Bright Star Nominated
San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Dramatic Pretty Bird Nominated
Village Voice Film Poll Best Supporting Actor Bright Star Nominated
2010 National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA Best Supporting Actor Bright Star Won
2012 RiverRun International Film Festival Won
2014 Tribeca Film Festival Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Goodbye to All That Won
2017 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best TV Actor Channel Zero: Candle Cove Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ Evans, Greg (May 24, 2018). "Paul Schneider Rounds Out Broadway's 'Straight White Men' Cast; Joins Josh Charles, Armie Hammer". Deadline Hollywood. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  2. ^ Spangler, Todd (February 22, 2018). "'Parks and Recreation' Team Rips Into NRA for Using Amy Poehler GIF". Variety. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  3. ^ Debruge, Peter (May 3, 2014). "Tribeca Film Review: 'Goodbye to All That'". Variety. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved August 11, 2014.
  4. ^ Indsdorf, Annette (July 30, 2012). "Paul Schneider, Versatile 'Babymaker' and 'Beloved' Actor". Huffington Post. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  5. ^ "Paul Schneider". Playbill. Archived from the original on March 17, 2019. Retrieved March 17, 2019.
  6. ^ "The Birth of Paul A. Schneider". California Birth Index. California Vital Statistics. Retrieved May 7, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Fischer, Jonathan (February 4, 2010). "The Nifty 50: Paul Schneider, Actor". T Magazine. New York Times. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  8. ^ Kehr, Dave (February 28, 2003). "From the Pride of an Art School, a Sophomore Effort". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 28, 2009. Retrieved December 30, 2007.
  9. ^ Adams, Sam (September 30, 2009). "Random Roles: Paul Schneider". The A.V. Club. Onion Inc. Archived from the original on October 29, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  10. ^ Idelson, Karen (October 19, 2007). "Paul Schneider: 'Jesse James' star prefers life over acting school". Variety. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  11. ^ "Up, Up and Away: Paul Schneider's "Pretty Bird"". Indiewire. January 25, 2008. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  12. ^ a b Johanson, MaryAnn. "AWFJ Women On Film - Paul Schneider on "Bright Star" and more - MaryAnn Johanson interviews". Alliance of Women Film Journalists. Archived from the original on January 9, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  13. ^ Childress, Erik (January 4, 2010). "National Society of Film Critics 'Hurt' Oscar Chances?". Moviefone. Archived from the original on December 9, 2012. Retrieved November 28, 2012.
  14. ^ Bucholtz, Meg (May 26, 2020). "The Reason Paul Schneider Left Parks And Rec After Season 2". Looper. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  15. ^ Ryan, Mike (April 22, 2014). "Paul Schneider on Why He Left 'Parks And Recreation' and Why He Might Leave Hollywood". ScreenCrush. Retrieved August 27, 2023.
  16. ^ Green, Jesse (July 24, 2018). "Review: 'Straight White Men,' Now Checking Their Privilege on Broadway". The New York Times. Retrieved February 25, 2019.
  17. ^ "Home". The World Lens Foundation. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  18. ^ "theresa avila tc schneider (@theresaavilas) • Instagram photos and videos". www.instagram.com. Retrieved May 25, 2018.
  19. ^ "Straight White Men". 2econd Stage Theatre. Archived from the original on March 12, 2018. Retrieved May 25, 2018.

External links edit