Stanley Tucci has appeared in over 50 films and countless television shows. In the past few years he has appeared in films such as “Captain America: The First Avenger,” “The Devil Wears Prada,” “The Terminal” and “Road to Perdition.” He is no stranger to the theater; and has appeared in over a dozen plays, on and off Broadway.
The year of 2008 was an extremely busy year. Stanley appeared in the soon to be classic, “Julie & Julia,” opposite Meryl Streep and directed by Nora Ephron and “The Lovely Bones,” for which he earned his first Academy Award® nomination along with Golden Globe®, BAFTA, SAG and Broadcast Film Critics nominations.
He recently finished filming “Jack and the Giant Killer,” which is a modern day fairy tale in which the long-standing peace between men and giants is threatened, as a young farmer leads an expedition into the giants’ kingdom in hopes of rescuing a kidnapped princess. Bryan Singer is directing and it is currently slated for June 15, 2012.
In 2008, Tucci partnered with his friend for more than 20 years, Steve Buscemi and Wren Arthur to form OLIVE Productions, a New York based film and television company. One of OLIVE’s mandates is to cast a wide net when developing film and television material, with a portion of the projects to be earmarked for Stanley and Steve to direct. OLIVE is a co-producer of “Vine Talk,” and additionally has other TV shows in development at HBO and AMC. It also has films projects currently in development at HBO, Sony and Fox Searchlight.
Earlier this year, Tucci made his Broadway directorial debut with a revival of Ken Ludwig’s “Lend Me a Tenor” starring Tony Shalhoub. The production received a Tony Award nomination for Best Revival of a Play.
In addition to his accomplishments in movies last year, Stanley was also nominated for an Emmy® for his guest role as Dr. Moretti on “ER.” In 2007, his appearance on “Monk,” received critical attention as well as an Emmy® Award in the category of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
In 2002 Tucci received critical acclaim for his work in DreamWorks’ “Road to Perdition,” co-starring Tom Hanks, Jude Law and Paul Newman. The film directed by Sam Mendes, was about a hit man who takes things personally after his wife and son are murdered. Stanley was also seen in the ever-popular Disney comedy “Big Trouble,” co-starring Tim Allen and Rene Russo and directed by Barry Sonnenfeld. Tucci also graced screens in Paramount Classics’ “Sidewalks of New York,” written and directed by Edward Burns and Sony’s “America’s Sweethearts,” opposite Julia Roberts and Billy Crystal. He also appeared alongside Kenneth Branagh and Colin Firth in the highly acclaimed HBO drama, “Conspiracy,” a film for which Tucci earned both an Emmy® and Golden Globe® nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Made for TV Movie or Miniseries.
Tucci’s multiple talents have led to a very diverse career. Not only an accomplished and gifted actor, he is also a writer, director and producer. At The Sundance Film Festival in 2008, Stanley premiered the film “Blind Date,” which after seven years, brought him once again behind the camera, as he has directed and co-wrote, as well as starred in the Van Gogh remake of this film.
Another directorial effort was USA Films’ “Joe Gould’s Secret,” which starred Ian Holm as bohemian writer ‘Joe Gould’ and Tucci as ‘Joseph Mitchell,’ the famed writer for The New Yorker. The film, set in New York’s Greenwich Village in the 1940s, tells the story of the strange meeting and long lasting friendship between Gould and Mitchell, as well as the stories Mitchell wrote about Gould and his life.
“Big Night,” Tucci’s first effort as co-director, co-screenwriter and actor on the same film, earned him numerous accolades, including the Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the 1996 Sundance Film Festival, a recognition of Excellence by the National Board of Review, an Independent Spirit Award, The Critics Prize at the 1996 Deauville Film Festival and honors from the New York Film Critics and the Boston Society of Film Critics.
Tucci’s second project, “The Imposters,” a film which he wrote, directed, co-produced and starred, was an Official Selection at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival and was acquired by Fox Searchlight Pictures later that year. The 1930’s farce starred Tucci and Oliver Platt as a pair of out-of-work actors who find themselves aboard a cruise ship passengered by Steve Buscemi, Alfred Molina, Lili Taylor and Hope Davis.
Tucci’s previous film credits include “Easy A,” “Burlesque,” “Swing Vote,” “Kit Kitteredge: An American Girl,” “Robots,” “The Life and Death of Peter Sellers,” “Shall We Dance,” “Spin,” “The Terminal,” “The Tale of Despereaux,” “Deconstructing Harry,” “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” “The Alarmist,” “A Life Less Ordinary,” “The Daytrippers,” “Kiss of Death,” “Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle,” “It Could Happen to You,” “The Pelican Brief,” “Prelude to a Kiss,” “Billy Bathgate, “In the Soup” and “Slaves of New York.”
In 2002, Stanley won a Golden Globe® Award for his brilliant portrayal of Lt. Colonel Adolf Eichmann in the television film entitled, “Conspiracy.” This was the dramatic recreation of the Wannasee Conference where the Nazi Final Solution phase of the Holocaust was devised. He also received a Golden Globe®, as well as an Emmy® Award for his portrayal of Walter Winchell, a founder of American gossip, in the HBO original film, “Winchell.” His performance as the fast-talking tattler, whose exposure of secrets and scandals turned politically-left audiences and critics alike singing his praises. “Winchell,” directed by Paul Mazursky, provided Tucci with one of the juiciest roles of his diverse career.
His work on television includes his appearance as a re-occurring guest star on TNT’s “Bull.” He played ‘Hunter Lasky,’ a charming, conniving, power-player, one of Wall Street’s best negotiation ‘sharks.’ His other television credits include appearances on “Equal Justice,” “Wiseguy,” “The Equalizer,” “Thirtysomething” and “The Street.” Tucci also starred as ‘Richard Cross’ in the Steven Bochco drama “Murder One,” a performance for which he earned an Emmy® Nomination.
Tucci, no stranger to the theater, has appeared in many plays including “Frankie & Johnny in the Claire de Lune,” “Execution of Hope,” “The Iceman Cometh,” “Brighton Beach Memoirs” and “The Misanthrope.” He has also performed in a number of off-Broadway plays, at Yale Repertory Theater and SUNY Purchase, where he first studied acting.
Stanley serves on the Board of Directors of The Food Bank for New York City and has served as a Creative Advisor at the Sundance Institute Screenwriters and Directors Labs.
Tucci resides in New York.
Biography/Filmography courtesy of Lionsgate and The Hunger Games
