Noah Strausser Speer Wyle (/ˈwli/; born June 4, 1971) is an American actor, producer, director, and writer. He is best known for his role as John Carter in the television series ER (1994–2009), which earned him nominations for three Golden Globe Awards and five Primetime Emmy Awards. He is also known for his roles as Flynn Carsen in The Librarian franchise including three TV movies The Librarian: Quest for the Spear (2004), The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mine (2006), and The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice (2008) then returning for the television series (2013–2018) and Tom Mason in the television series Falling Skies (2011–2015). He has appeared in films such as A Few Good Men (1992), Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999), Donnie Darko (2001), and W. (2008).

Noah Wyle
Wyle at the 2010 San Diego Comic-Con
Born
Noah Strausser Speer Wyle

(1971-06-04) June 4, 1971 (age 52)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationNorthwestern University (BA)
OccupationActor
Years active1990–present
Spouses
Tracy Warbin
(m. 2000; div. 2010)
Sara Wells
(m. 2014)
Children3
RelativesJames C. Katz (stepfather)
Edith R. Wyle (paternal grandmother)
Sonia Romero (cousin)

Wyle was nominated for a Critics' Choice Television Award for his role as Daniel Calder in the television miniseries The Red Line (2019).

Early life edit

Wyle, the middle of three children, was born in Los Angeles, California, the son of Marjorie (née Speer), a registered orthopedic head nurse, and Stephen Wyle, an electrical engineer and entrepreneur.[1] His father was Jewish (of Russian-Jewish descent), whereas his mother was Episcopalian, and he was raised "fairly nondenominationally", around both faiths.[2][3][4][5] Wyle's parents divorced in the late 1970s, and his mother later married James C. Katz, a film restorationist[6] with three children of his own from a previous marriage. Wyle's paternal grandparents, Edith and Frank Wyle, founded the Los Angeles Craft and Folk Art Museum, and his grandfather also founded Wyle Laboratories.[7] Edith R. Wyle was an expressionist painter who also created The Egg and The Eye, a café and shop in the Miracle Mile district of Los Angeles.[8]

Wyle was educated at The Thacher School in Ojai, California, and graduated with the class of 1989. Wyle participated in a Theatre Arts program at Northwestern University after his junior year of high school and appeared in high school plays, even winning an award for a play he wrote. After graduation, he studied with acting teacher Larry Moss while living in a small apartment on Hollywood Boulevard.

Career edit

 
Wyle at the 1995 Emmy Awards

ER edit

Wyle's big break came when he was given the pilot script for ER and was cast as medical student John Carter. He was the youngest member when he joined the cast.[9] Wyle was the only major cast member of ER to have been with the show since its inception (1994) when he left after its eleventh season (2005). His performances on the show earned him Emmy Award nominations in each of its first five seasons. As part of an ensemble he was nominated several times for the Screen Actors Guild Award, he was recognized with three Golden Globe nominations as Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television and won the 2001 TV Guide Award for Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Wyle left the series at the end of season 11, although he returned in guest appearances for a four-episode arc during season 12. He stated that he left because he wanted to spend more time with his family and friends and to make room for the upcoming generation. However, in 2009, Wyle returned to ER during its fifteenth and final season for five episodes, including the series finale. According to the Guinness World Records 2005 Special 50th Anniversary Edition, Wyle became the holder of a "Highest paid TV drama actor per episode" record during the 2003–2004 tenth season, earning approximately $400,000 per episode. While on ER, Wyle's estimated salary was $9 million a year.[10] Wyle has also appeared in the most episodes of ER, 254, four more than Laura Innes.[11]

Film edit

Wyle was first seen in the Paul Bartel 1985 film Lust in the Dust (a western exploitation/parody which starred Tab Hunter, Lainie Kazan, and Divine) as an extra in the local gang running the small town of Chili Verde.

His later roles were a mini-series and featuring in the movie Crooked Hearts (1991) in 1990. In 1993 he appeared in another feature film, There Goes My Baby. After appearing in several local plays in Los Angeles, he was cast in the box-office hit A Few Good Men, in which he played a Marine jeep driver who testified in court. He also appeared in the feature Swing Kids as Emil Lutz, a leader in the Hitler Youth, and in the independent movie The Myth of Fingerprints with Roy Scheider, Blythe Danner, and Julianne Moore. Additionally, he starred as Lancelot opposite Sheryl Lee in the Television movie Guinevere. Wyle starred in the original film The Librarian: Quest for the Spear with Sonya Walger, in its sequel The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines opposite Gabrielle Anwar, and in the third part of the series The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice alongside Stana Katic.

His latest work dealing with The Librarian is a series called The Librarians. It focuses on three additional new librarians who are brought into the library at a time of cataclysmic events. In the beginning of the series, Noah Wyle was more of a co-star, versus his original role of the main character. In the following seasons, he had more and more appearances. Until, with the latest season, he 'supposedly' quit the job of The Librarian.

His other work has included a critically acclaimed turn as Steve Jobs in the Emmy-nominated Pirates of Silicon Valley (1999). Steve Jobs was so impressed with the performance that he invited Wyle to step on stage as him at the opening of his annual speech at the Apple convention.[12] He has also appeared in several feature films, including White Oleander opposite Renée Zellweger, Enough opposite Jennifer Lopez, the independent feature Donnie Darko, as the President's interpreter in the 2000 live-television production of Fail Safe, and in the independent film The Californians.

Stage edit

 
Wyle in 2009

Along with his film and television career, Wyle is also Artistic Producer of The Blank Theatre Company located in Hollywood, California. With the company, he has appeared on stage in the 1995 production of The 24th Day with Peter Berg, The Why (as part of the company's Young Playwrights Festival), and Lobster Alice, opposite Nicholas Brendon, where he played the surrealist painter Salvador Dalí.

For his work as one of the producers of 2005 Los Angeles Production of Michael John LaChiusa's The Wild Party, he won an NAACP Theatre Award.[13]

Falling Skies edit

Wyle starred as the lead in TNT's sci-fi series Falling Skies. Wyle played Tom Mason, a former Boston University history professor who becomes the second-in-command of the 2nd Massachusetts Militia Regiment, a group of civilians and fighters fleeing post-apocalyptic Boston while fighting aliens who have wiped out 90% of humanity.[14] The character was also the father of three boys, one of whom was captured by the aliens. Wyle's performance earned him BuddyTV's #91 position on its list of "TV's Sexiest Men of 2011".[15]

Post-Falling Skies edit

In 2018, Wyle announced that he will portray Daniel Calder in the eight-part limited series The Red Line.[16] On April 22, 2020, Wyle confirmed that he will join the revival of the series, Leverage, reuniting with John Rogers, Dean Devlin and Christian Kane who worked with him on The Librarians. He will also be directing two of the 13 episodes.[17]

Personal life edit

Noah met his first wife, make-up artist Tracy Warbin, on the set of The Myth of Fingerprints. They married in 2000 and have a son, Owen Strausser Speer Wyle (born November 9, 2002), and a daughter, Auden Wyle (born October 15, 2005). Wyle and Warbin separated in 2009 and divorced in 2010.[18]

Wyle married Sara Wells in June 2014 in California.[19] The couple met in 2011 during a production at The Blank Theatre Company. Their daughter Frances Harper Wyle was born on June 22, 2015.[20]

Political advocacy and philanthropy edit

Wyle opened the 1999 NY Macworld Expo keynote, initially posing as Apple Inc.'s Steve Jobs. It was a practical joke on the audience, engineered by Jobs and Wyle in light of the 1999 TNT film Pirates of Silicon Valley.[21]

Wyle devotes much of his free time to the international non-profit organization Doctors of the World and to his work as a member of the Human Rights Watch Council. Wyle also serves as the voluntary artistic producer of the Blank Theatre Company in Hollywood, which stages an annual young playwrights festival and whose alumni include Ed Asner, Sarah Michelle Gellar, D. B. Sweeney, James Kerwin, Amber Benson, Megan Henning, Travis Schuldt, Warren Davis, Grant Show, and Nicholas Brendon. He also recently acquired Second Stage Theater (Los Angeles) in Hollywood, where the company has mounted numerous successful productions.

Wyle was the spokesperson for the Cover the Uninsured campaign in 2004, which had as Honorary Co-Chairs former Presidents Gerald Ford and Jimmy Carter. The Cover the Uninsured Week is annually held in the United States of America and focuses attention on the nearly 44 million Americans who go without health care coverage. The campaign includes several events among different communities, health and enrollment fairs, press conferences, and business seminars all over the U.S. Additionally, Wyle is a supporter of animal rights and a spokesman for the World Wildlife Fund, dedicated to protecting and conserving wildlife for future generations.

In 2009, Wyle became a spokesperson for the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), claiming that polar bears are "hanging on by a thread" and "may be extinct in our children's lifetime, due to the effects of climate change."[22]

In 2012, Wyle supported the disability rights group ADAPT.[23] On April 23, he was arrested during a protest on Capitol Hill to fight against Medicaid cuts for the elderly and people with disabilities.[24][25]

Filmography edit

Film edit

Year Title Role Notes
1991 Crooked Hearts Ask
1992 A Few Good Men Cpl. Jeffrey Barnes
1993 Swing Kids Emil Lutz
1994 There Goes My Baby Michael Finnegan
1997 The Myth of Fingerprints Warren Also associate producer
1999 Can't Stop Dancing Poe
1999 Pirates of Silicon Valley Steve Jobs
2001 Donnie Darko Prof. Kenneth Monnitoff
2001 Scenes of the Crime Seth
2002 Enough Robbie
2002 White Oleander Mark Richards
2005 The Californians Gavin Ransom
2008 Nothing But the Truth Avril Aaronson
2008 An American Affair Mike Stafford
2008 W. Donald Evans
2010 Below the Beltway Hunter Patrick
2010 Queen of the Lot Aaron Lambert
2013 Snake & Mongoose Arthur Spear
2015 The World Made Straight Leonard Shuler
2017 Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House Stan Pottinger
2017 Shot Mark Newman

Television edit

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Blind Faith Eric Miniseries; 2 episodes
1994 Guinevere Lancelot Television film
1994–2009 ER Dr. John Carter Main role (seasons 1–11 and 15); guest star (season 12)
1995 Friends Dr. Jeffrey Rosen Episode: "The One with Two Parts: Part 2"
1995 The Larry Sanders Show Himself Episode: "Eight"
1996 Sesame Street Dr. Colburn 2 episodes "Maria Goes To The Hospital"
1999 Pirates of Silicon Valley Steve Jobs Television film
1999 Save Our History: America's Most Endangered 1999 Himself Host
2000 Fail Safe Buck Television film
2000 Beggars and Choosers Davis G. Green Episode: "The Naked Truth"
2004 The Librarian: Quest for the Spear Flynn Carsen Television film
2006 The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines Flynn Carsen Television film; also producer
2008 The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice Flynn Carsen Television film; also producer
2011–2015 Falling Skies Tom Mason Main role; also producer and director
2013 Lab Rats Dr. Evans Episode: "Twas the Mission Before Christmas"
2014 Phineas and Ferb Martin the news vendor (voice) Episode: "Night of the Living Pharmacists"
2014–2018 The Librarians Flynn Carsen Recurring role; also executive producer, writer and director
2015 Drunk History Thomas Nast Episode: "Journalism"
2016 Angie Tribeca Hospital administrator Episode: "Organ Trail"
2018 The Romanoffs Ivan Episode: "The Royal We"
2019 The Red Line Daniel Calder
2020 25 words or less Himself Main role; player; s1:e163
2021–present Leverage: Redemption Harry Wilson Main role; also director

Awards and nominations edit

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1995 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series ER Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
Viewers for Quality Television Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series Nominated
1996 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
1997 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
Viewers for Quality Television Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series Nominated
1998 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
Viewers for Quality Television Best Supporting Actor in a Quality Drama Series Nominated
1999 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Nominated
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Won
Teen Choice Awards Choice TV Actor Nominated
2000 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
2001 Nominated
2003 Prism Awards Performance in a Drama Series Won
2005 Saturn Awards Best Actor on Television The Librarian: Quest for the Spear Nominated
2007 The Librarian: Return to King Solomon's Mines Nominated
2009 The Librarian: Curse of the Judas Chalice Nominated
2011 Teen Choice Awards Choice Summer TV Star: Male Falling Skies Nominated
2012 Saturn Awards Best Actor on Television Nominated
2014 Nominated
2015 Nominated
2020 Critics' Choice Television Award Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television The Red Line Nominated

References edit

  1. ^ "Noah Wyle Biography (1971–)". filmreference.com. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  2. ^ Schneider, Karen S. (May 20, 1996). "Smooth Operators – ER, Anthony Edwards, Eriq La Salle, George Clooney, Noah Wyle". People.com. Retrieved June 18, 2012.
  3. ^ Rappaport, Jill; Linda Solomon (2007). Mazel Tov: Celebrities' Bar and Bat Mitzvah Memories. Simon and Schuster. p. 47. ISBN 978-0-7432-8787-6.
  4. ^ "Intensive Care: ER's Noah Wyle Made Sure His Wedding Went Off Without Complications". People. May 22, 2000. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  5. ^ Miller, Gerri (July 31, 2013). "Hollywood Now: Noah Wyle - Raised Interfaith, Raising Interfaith Kids". Interfaith Family. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  6. ^ "Noah Wyle Biography – Yahoo! Movies".
  7. ^ Sharon K. Emanuelli, "Oral History Interview with Edith Wyle, 1993, March 9-September 7," Archives of American Art, Women in the Arts in Southern California Oral History Project.
  8. ^ Aushenker, Michael (April 10, 2003). "Loco for Local Art". Jewish Journal. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  9. ^ "NOAH WYLE: RAISING THE BAR". Archived from the original on April 1, 2016.
  10. ^ "Salaries". Entertainment Weekly. October 26, 2001.
  11. ^ blanche-2. "ER (TV Series 1994–2009)". IMDb.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  12. ^ "Noah Wyle on playing Steve Jobs". Fortune. October 7, 2011. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  13. ^ Pincus-Roth, Zachary (February 21, 2007). "Fishburne Among Beverly Hills/Hollywood NAACP Theatre Award Winners". Playbill. Archived from the original on December 4, 2012. Retrieved November 24, 2009.
  14. ^ Adam Bryant (June 30, 2009). "Noah Wyle Set to Star in Spielberg's TNT Series". TVGuide.com. Retrieved July 1, 2009.
  15. ^ "TV's 100 Sexiest Men of 2011". BuddyTV. Retrieved March 9, 2012.
  16. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 6, 2018). "Noah Wyle To Topline CBS Pilot 'Red Line' From Ava DuVernay & Greg Berlanti". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 6, 2018.
  17. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (April 22, 2020). "'Leverage' Reboot Starring Noah Wyle Ordered By IMDb TV; Original Series' Team, 4 Cast Members Set To Return". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 23, 2020.
  18. ^ Leonard, Elizabeth (January 15, 2010). "Noah Wyle Separates from Wife". People.com. Retrieved December 7, 2014.
  19. ^ Michaud, Sarah (June 24, 2014). "Noah Wyle Marries Sara Wells". People.com. Retrieved June 24, 2014.
  20. ^ "Noah Wyle Welcomes Daughter Frances Harper – Moms & Babies – Celebrity Babies and Kids - Moms & Babies - People.com". PEOPLE.com. Archived from the original on October 25, 2015. Retrieved November 23, 2015.
  21. ^ "Noah Wyle on playing Steve Jobs." Fortune Magazine, October 7, 2011.
  22. ^ "Save the polar bears".
  23. ^ "Noah Wyle to be ADAPT Celebrity Fun Runner". Archived from the original on February 7, 2012. Retrieved April 23, 2012.
  24. ^ Donnelly, Matt (April 23, 2012). "Noah Wyle arrested during Medicaid-cuts protest in D.C." Los Angeles Times. He was arrested.
  25. ^ Marrero, Pedro (May 17, 2020). "Glimpse into ER Star Noah Wyle's Personal Life Including Wife Sara Wells and Three Kids". news.amomama.com. Retrieved September 14, 2020.

External links edit