Paul Sparks (born October 16, 1971) is an American actor. He is known for his roles as gangster Mickey Doyle in the HBO period drama series Boardwalk Empire, writer Thomas Yates in the Netflix political drama series House of Cards, mall owner John Breem in the Apple TV+ comedy-drama series Physical, attorney David Tellis in the Starz anthology drama series The Girlfriend Experience, and a recurring role in the limited series The Night Of. Sparks has also starred in the films Deception (2008), Afterschool (2008), The Missing Person (2008), Mud (2012), Parkland (2013), Stealing Cars (2015), Thoroughbreds (2017), and The Greatest Showman (2017).

Early life and education Sparks was born in Lawton, Oklahoma, and grew up in nearby Marlow. He attended Marlow High School, where his father coached football, graduating in 1990. While attending school in Marlow, Paul was a part of the Marlow Outlaw Speech Team (M.O.S.T.) where he was coached by Paula and Gary McConnell. Sparks earned a scholarship to Oklahoma State University to study chemistry, but later transferred to New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in drama in 1995.

Career In 2010, Sparks began portraying the regular role of Mickey Doyle on HBO's drama series Boardwalk Empire, which was created by Terence Winter and executive produced by Martin Scorsese and Mark Wahlberg. The series ended in 2014, after completing five seasons.

Personal life Sparks is married to actress Annie Parisse, after meeting in 2005. Together they have two children, son Emmett (born 2009), and daughter Lydia (born 2014). Sparks has diabetes mellitus type 1 and works with the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. He is good friends with fellow actor Michael Shannon; the two have worked together on a number of projects including Waco, The Missing Person, Mud, Boardwalk Empire, and Midnight Special and The Bikeriders.

Filmography

Film Year Title Role Notes 2005 Headspace Jason 2006 The Treatment Andre 2007 Blackbird Baylis 2008 Synecdoche, New York Derek 2008 Rachel Getting Married 12 Step Member 2008 Deception Detective Burke 2008 Afterschool Detective Eclisse 2008 The Missing Person Gus Papitos 2008 The Understudy Bobby 2010 Please Give Blind Date 2010 Edge of Darkness Police Detective 2011 Return Ed 2012 Forgetting the Girl Tanner 2012 Mud Carver 2012 Sparrows Dance Wes 2013 Trust Me Ray 2013 Parkland Harry McCormick 2015 Stealing Cars Conrad Sean Lewis 2016 Midnight Special Agent Miller 2016 All the Birds Have Flown South Stephen 2016 In the Radiant City Michael Yurley 2017 Thoroughbreds Mark 2017 The Greatest Showman James Gordon Bennett Sr. 2019 Human Capital Jon 2020 The Lovebirds Moustache 2021 Giving Birth to a Butterfly Daryl 2021 Hands That Bind Andy Hollis 2023Eric Larue Steve Calhan 2023 The Bikeriders Gary Rogue Leader 2024 Lost on a Mountain in Maine Mr. Donald Fendler 2026 The Mortuary Assistant Raymond Delver TBA Liminal Filming Rooster Post-production A Great Depression Mark Turner Post-production

Television Year Title Role Notes 1998 Trinity Rod Episode: "In a Yellow Wood" 2000 Law & Order Paul Luterik Episode: "Panic" 2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Marvin Posey Episode: "Manhunt" 2005 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Keith Durbin Episode: "Shibboleth" 2006 Brotherhood Aaron 3 episodes 2010–2014 Boardwalk Empire Mickey Doyle 36 episodes 2011 Mildred Pierce Ted Hobey Episode: "Part Five" 2012–2013 Underemployed Guy Doyle 3 episodes 2013 M.Y.C. Mickey Mothstein Television short 2013 Person of Interest Wilson Episode: "Relevance" 2014 Believe Karl McKenzie Episode: "Bang and Blame" 2015–2017 House of Cards Thomas Yates 27 episodes 2016 The Girlfriend Experience David Tellis 12 episodes 2016 The Night Of Don Taylor 6 episodes 2017 Get Shorty Owen Episode: "The Pitch" 2017 The Crown Billy Graham Episode: "Vergangenheit" 2018 Waco Steve Schneider 6 episodes 2018–2019 Sweetbitter Howard Main role 2019 Castle Rock John "Ace" Merrill 10 episodes 2021–2023 Physical John Breem Main role2021Joe PickettWacey HedemanMain role2025The Better Sister Ken Winnick 4 Episodes2025 The Lowdown Pastor Mark Sternwick 4 Episodes

Stage Year Title Role Location/Company 2000 Coyote on a Fence Bobby Reyburn Urban Stages 2003–2004 Take Me Out Jason Chenier Walter Kerr Theatre Shane Mungitt Kippy Sunderstrom 2004 Blackbird Baylis Edge Theater Company 2005 Orange Flower Water Brad Youngquist 2006 Landscape of the Body Marvin Holahan Signature Theatre Company 2007 Essential Self-Defense Yul Carroll Edge Theater Company 2009 Hedda Gabler Ejlert Lovborg American Airlines Theatre 2010 Dusk Rings a Bell Ray Atlantic Theater Company 2016 Buried Child Tilden The New Group 2018 Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo Jerry Signature Theatre 2023 Grey House Henry Lyceum Theatre, Broadway 2023 Waiting for Godot Vladimir Theatre for a New Audience 2025 Grangeville Jerry Signature Theatre

Awards and nominations Year Association Category Work Result 2000 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Play Coyote on a Fence 2004 Blackbird 2005 Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Orange Flower Water 2007 Outstanding Actor in a Play Essential Self-Defense 2010 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Boardwalk Empire 2011 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Play Dusk Rings a Bell 2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Boardwalk Empire 2013 Film Independent Spirit Awards Robert Altman Award Mud 2014 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series Boardwalk Empire 2016 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Buried Child Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series House of Cards 2018 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Play Drama League Awards Distinguished Performance Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play 2025 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play Grangeville Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play

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