Paul Giamatti is an American actor and producer. He has received various accolades including a Primetime Emmy Award, three Golden Globe Awards and four Actor Awards as well as nominations for two Academy Awards and a British Academy Film Award.
Giamatti received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of boxing manager Joe Gould in Ron Howard's sports drama Cinderella Man (2005). The role also earned him the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role as well as nominations for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture and a Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Supporting Actor. For his role as a depressed teacher on a road trip to a winery in the Alexander Payne dramedy Sideways (2004) he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and the Actor Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role. For his leading role as an uptight boarding school teacher in Alexander Payne's holiday dramedy The Holdovers (2023) he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role and also won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and the Critics' Choice Movie Award for Best Actor.
On television, he gained acclaim for his portrayal of title role in the HBO historical drama miniseries John Adams (2008) which earned him the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie, the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film, and the Actor Award for Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie. He was further Emmy-nominated for his roles as Ben Bernanke in the HBO biographical drama film Too Big to Fail (2011), Harold Levinson in the PBS historical drama series Downton Abbey (2013), and a Juror in the Comedy Central sketch series Inside Amy Schumer (2015). For his performance as Charles "Chuck" Rhoades, Jr. in the Showtime drama series Billions (2016–2023), he was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Drama Series.
Major associations Academy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2006 Best Supporting Actor Cinderella Man 2024Best ActorThe Holdovers
Actor Awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2005 Outstanding Cast in a Motion PictureSideways Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role 2006 Outstanding Male Actor in a Supporting Role Cinderella Man 2009 Outstanding Male Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie John Adams 2012 Too Big to Fail 2014 Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture 12 Years a Slave 2016 Straight Outta Compton 2024 Outstanding Male Actor in a Leading Role The Holdovers
BAFTA Awards Year Category Nominated work Result British Academy Film Awards2024 Best Actor in a Leading Role The Holdovers
Critics' Choice Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Critics' Choice Movie Awards 2005 Best Acting Ensemble Sideways Best Actor 2006 Best Supporting Actor Cinderella Man 2012Best Acting Ensemble The Ides of March 2014 12 Years a Slave 2015 Straight Outta Compton 2024The Holdovers Best Actor Critics' Choice Television Awards2018 Best Actor in a Drama Series Billions Critics' Choice Super Awards2026Best Villain in a SeriesStar Trek: Starfleet Academy
Emmy Awards Year Category Nominated work Result Primetime Emmy Awards 2008 Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie John Adams 2011 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Too Big to Fail 2013 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series Downton Abbey ("The London Season") 2015 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Inside Amy Schumer ("12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer")
Golden Globe Award Year Category Nominated work Result 2005 Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Sideways 2006 Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture Cinderella Man 2009 Best Actor – Miniseries or TV Movie John Adams 2011 Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy Barney's Version 2012 Best Supporting Actor – Television Too Big to Fail 2024 Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy The Holdovers
Miscellaneous awards Year Category Nominated work Result 2003 National Board of Review Award for Best Breakthrough Performance – Actor American Splendor Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy 2004 Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast Sideways Boston film critics flip for 'Sideways' - Variety Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Comedy Film Honor for Best Actor Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor San Francisco Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor "Sideways named best film of 2004 by Toronto critics". Sault Star, December 17, 2004. London Film Critics' Circle Award for Actor of the Year Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy 2005 Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor Cinderella Man Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor "Cronenberg's History of Violence tops T.O. critics' best-of list". Sudbury Star, December 22, 2005.Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor 2008 Golden Nymph Award for Outstanding Actor – Mini Series John Adams Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film TCA Award for Individual Achievement in Drama 2009 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival Award for Best Actor Cold Soul Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Ensemble Performance 2010 Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role Barney's Version 2013 Annie Award for Voice Acting in a Feature Production Turbo Black Reel Award for Best Ensemble 12 Years a Slave San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Performance by an Ensemble Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble 2023 Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor The Holdovers Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor National Board of Review Award for Best Actor San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor Satellite Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor 2024 Palm Springs International Film Festival– Icon Award 2024 Santa Barbara International Film Festival Cinema Vanguard Award
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