Nathaniel Wales Faxon (born October 11, 1975) is an American actor and comedian. A frequent presence on comedic films and TV series, he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing The Descendants (2011). He starred in the Fox comedy series Ben and Kate (2012–2013) and the FX comedy series Married (2014–2015), and voices Elfo in the Netflix adult animated television series Disenchantment (2018–2023). He also co-wrote and co-directed The Way, Way Back (2013) and Downhill (2020) with writing partner Jim Rash.
Early life Faxon was born Nathaniel Wales Faxon on October 11, 1975, in Boston, Massachusetts to Monica (née Kersten) and David Faxon.
Faxon's early years were spent in the seaside community of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, where he attended the Brookwood School. He later graduated from the Holderness School near Plymouth, New Hampshire, and then Hamilton College in 1997.
Career
Acting Faxon is an alumnus of the Los Angeles-based improvisational and sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings, where he began performing in 2001.Faxon at Groundlings.com
He may be best known for his appearances in comedic films such as Orange County (2002), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), Bad Teacher (2011), and several Broken Lizard films including Beerfest (2006). He co-starred in Darren Star's semi-autobiographical satire Grosse Pointe and had recurring roles in several television series, including The Cleveland Show, Joey, Up All Night and Reno 911!. He has also appeared on the Roseanne spin-off The Conners since 2020 as Neville Goldufski.
Faxon has been featured in a series of prominent Holiday Inn commercials featuring Joe Buck, as well as an ad by Blockbuster. In 2012, he was cast as Ben Fox on the Fox sitcom Ben and Kate. He starred with Judy Greer in the FX comedy series Married, which ran for two seasons.
Writing and directing Faxon and writing partner Jim Rash, whom he met while performing with The Groundlings, co-wrote the screenplay for the film The Descendants, starring George Clooney and directed by Alexander Payne. On February 26, 2012, the screenplay for The Descendants won an Oscar, with Faxon, Rash, and Payne sharing the award. The duo made their directorial debut with The Way, Way Back (2013), based on their original screenplay, and starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette and Sam Rockwell. It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired it for $10 million; it was released domestically to positive reviews that July.
Personal life Faxon is married to Meaghan Gadd. They have three children.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes2002 Orange County Kip Slackers Karl, the Grad Student 2004 Club Dread Manny 2006 The TV Set Reporter Beerfest Rolf 2007 Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story Awards Show Stage Manager 2008 Hamlet 2 Glenn from Copy Shop Lower Learning Turner Abernathy 2009 The Slammin' Salmon Carl the Manager 2011 Freeloaders Fritz Bad Teacher Mark Zookeeper Dave The Descendants Co-screenwriter only, Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay 2012 The Babymakers Zig-Zag 2013 The Way, Way Back Roddy Also co-screenwriter and co-director2014 Tammy Greg Sex Tape Max 2016 Operator Gregg 2017 Thoroughbreds Producer A Happening of Monumental Proportions Paramedic #2 2018 Life of the Party Lance Father of the Year Mardy 2019 Ready or Not Justin (voice) Charlie's Angels Peter Fleming 2020 Downhill Co-director and co-screenwriter 2021 Yes Day Mr. Deacon 2022 Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe Jim Hartson (voice) 2024 Orion and the Dark Worrisome Insomnia (voice) 2026 Miss You, Love You Producer Super Troopers 3 Captain Todd Markowski
Television Year Title Role Notes 1999 Rude Awakening Slackula Episode: "Slackula" 2000–2001 Grosse Pointe Kevin the P.A. 17 episodes 2003–2004 Reno 911! Milk Shake 6 episodes 2004 Significant Others Breck Episode: "A Breck, a Brother & a Funeral"2004–2005 Joey Bodie 3 episodes2005 Romy and Michele: In the Beginning Chad TV movie NCIS Carter Finch Episode: "The Voyeur's Web" Reba Elder Care Worker Episode: "Grannies Gone Wild" 2005–2014 American Dad! Various voices 4 episodes 2006–2008 Happy Hour Brad Cooper 14 episodes 2008 Mad Men Flatty Episode: "The Benefactor"2009 DJ & the Fro The Fro (voice) 12 episodes Glenn Martin DDS Trailer Park Teen (voice) Episode: "Halloween Hangover" The Big D Brady Pilot The Burr Effect Dale 2009–2012 The Cleveland Show Raymond the Bear (voice) 10 episodes 2010 Party Down Garlan Greenbush Episode: "Party Down Company Picnic"2011 Allen Gregory Jeremy (voice) 7 episodes Happy Endings Chef Leslie Episode: "Bo Fight"2012 Are You There, Chelsea? Tim Kornick Episode: "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying" Up All Night Lawrence Episode: "Couple Friends" 2012–2013 Ben and Kate Ben Fox Main role2013 Comedy Bang! Bang! Earl of Crathmore Episode: "Jessica Alba Wears a Jacket with Patent Leather Pumps" Spy Alan Pilot 2013–2014 Trophy Wife Sad Steve 3 episodes2014 Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja Sinjin Knightfire (voice) Episode: "Julian's Birthday Surprise/True Bromance" Marry Me Scooby Episode: "Win Me" Benched Harold Episode: "Solitary Refinement"2014–2015MarriedRuss BowmanMain role 2014–2016 TripTank Various voices 8 episodes 2014–2022 Robot Chicken Various voices 6 episodes 2014–2025 Blaze and the Monster Machines Pickle, Joe (voice) Main role 2015 Community Director, 2 episodes The Grinder Lyle Episode: "Little Mitchard No More" 2015–2018 SuperMansion Ivan Whiff (voice) 3 episodes 2015–2019 Family Guy Various voices 4 episodes 2016 Black-ish Joseph Everton Episode: "Super Rich Kids" 2016, 2020 Mike Tyson Mysteries Will / Nat O'Sullivan (voice) 2 episodes2017 Jeff & Some Aliens Farmer (voice) Episode: "Jeff & Some Energy Trading Speechless Undercover Boss Episode: "J-J'S D-R-- DREAM" Dogs in a Park Various dogs (voice) 8 episodes 2017–2018 Nobodies Himself 3 episodes 2017–2019 Friends from College Nick Main role2018 Great News Anthony Lyon Episode: "Early Retirement" Dallas & Robo Clark (voice) 3 episodes Summer Camp Island Popular Banana Split (voice)Episode: "Popular Banana Split" The Guest Book Derek Episode: "Finding Reality" The Kids Are Alright Tom Episode: "Christmas 1972" 2018–2020 The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants Captain Underpants/Mr. Krupp (voice) Main role 2018-2023 Disenchantment Elfo (voice) 2019 Harvey Street Kids Stu (voice) 3 episodes Catastrophe Pat Episode #4.6 Life in Pieces Hayes Episode: "Jungle Push Resort Anniversary" Euphoria Rick Episode: "The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed" 2019–2020 Harvey Girls Forever! Stu (voice) 5 episodes 2019, 2021 Tacoma FD Frenchie Willikers 2 episodes2020 Narcos: Mexico Ted Faye Solar Opposites Bryson (voice) Episode: "The Lavatic Reactor" It's Pony Mr. Underwood (voice) 2 episodes 2020–2025 The Conners Neville Goldufskyi Recurring role2021 The Great North Calvin Prescott (voice) Episode: "Avocado Barter Adventure" Archibald's Next Big Thing Is Here! Randy (voice) Episode: "A Star is Hatched/Say Cheese" The Chicken Squad Endicott (voice)2 episodes 2021–2023 HouseBroken Chief/Various (voice) Main role2022 Our Flag Means Death The Swede Recurring role Gaslit Bob Haldeman 4 episodes 2022–present Loot Arthur Main role2023–2024 Frog and Toad Frog (voice) Mulligan Matty Mulligan (voice) 2025 Ghosts Alexander Hamilton Episode: "Alexander Hamilton and the Ruffle Kerfuffle" Watson Hobie McSorley Episode: "The Man with the Glowing Chest"2026 Sofia the First: Royal Magic King Ziggy (voice) Guest roleFuturama Elfo (voice) Guest rolePresident Curtis Michael (voice) Guest role
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Title of work Result2011 Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards Adapted Screenplay The Descendants Toronto Film Critics Association Awards Adapted Screenplay Satellite Awards Adapted Screenplay San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Adapted Screenplay Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards Adapted Screenplay Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards Adapted Screenplay Florida Film Critics Circle Awards Adapted Screenplay Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards Adapted Screenplay Chicago Film Critics Association Awards Adapted Screenplay National Board of Review Adapted Screenplay 2012 Writers Guild of America Adapted Screenplay Vancouver Film Critics Circle Adapted Screenplay USC Scripter Award Adapted Screenplay Online Film Critics Society Awards Adapted Screenplay London Critics Circle Film Awards Adapted Screenplay Independent Spirit Awards Adapted Screenplay Golden Globe Adapted Screenplay Central Ohio Film Critics Association Adapted Screenplay Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards Adapted Screenplay BAFTA Awards Adapted Screenplay Australian Film Institute Adapted Screenplay Academy Award Adapted Screenplay 2013 Newport Beach Film Festival Audience Award Feature Film The Way Way Back Filmfest Hamburg Art Cinema Award 2014 St. Louis Film Critics Association Best Comedy Critics' Choice Movie AwardsBest Comedy 2022Peabody AwardsEntertainmentOur Flag Means Death
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