Thomas Griffin Dunne (/ˈdʌn/; born June 8, 1955) is an American actor, director and producer. He is known for portraying Jack Goodman in An American Werewolf in London (1981) and Paul Hackett in After Hours (1985), for which he was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy.
Griffin Dunne | |
|---|---|
 Dunne in 2010 | |
| Born | Thomas Griffin Dunne June 8, 1955 New York City, U.S. |
| Education | The Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1975–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | Hannah Dunne |
| Parent(s) | Dominick Dunne Ellen Griffin |
| Relatives | Dominique Dunne (sister) John Gregory Dunne (uncle) Joan Didion (aunt)[1] |
Early life
editThomas Griffin Dunne was born on June 8, 1955, in New York City. He is the oldest child of Ellen Beatriz (née Griffin) and Dominick Dunne. His father was born and raised in an Irish Catholic family, while his maternal grandfather was Irish-American and his maternal grandmother was from Sonora, Mexico.[2][3] He is the older brother of Alexander and Dominique Dunne. His mother founded the victims' rights organization Justice for Homicide Victims after Dominique's murder in 1982. His father was a journalist, producer, writer, and actor.[4][5] He is also a nephew of writers John Gregory Dunne and Joan Didion. Raised in Los Angeles, Dunne attended the Fay School in Southborough, Massachusetts, and Fountain Valley School in Colorado Springs, where he developed an interest in acting, appearing in many school plays. He was scheduled to perform in a school production of Othello when, on the eve of a performance, a teacher found him smoking marijuana. Dunne was subsequently expelled, and moved back to New York to pursue his acting interests.[6] He studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre under Sanford Meisner.[7][8]
Career
editActing
editDunne began his professional acting career at age 19 with a small supporting role in The Other Side of the Mountain in 1975. He has since appeared on both film and television, starring in An American Werewolf in London (1981) as Jack Goodman, Johnny Dangerously (1984) as Tommy Kelly, After Hours (1985) as Paul Hackett, Who's That Girl (1987) as Loudon Trott opposite Madonna, My Girl (1991) as Jake Bixler, Quiz Show (1994) as the Geritol Account Executive, Game 6 (2005) as Elliott Litvak, and I Like It Like That (1994) as Stephen Price. Dunne also played Dr. Vass, opposite Matthew McConaughey, in the Oscar-winning 2013 film Dallas Buyers Club.[9]
Dunne's television appearances include Frasier (pilot episode "The Good Son" as caller Russell, and in season 3 episode 11 "The Friend" as Bob), Saturday Night Live, Alias, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent (Episodes 5, 118, and 128). He portrayed Tony Mink in the comedy Trust Me on TNT. In 2012, Dunne guest-starred as management consultant Marco Pelios in seven episodes of the premiere season of the Showtime TV series House of Lies.
In 2018 he joined the cast of This is Us where he starred as Nicky Pearson, Jack Pearson's brother until the series concluded in 2022.
Producing
editDunne's first experience as a producer was the successful 1982 film Chilly Scenes of Winter, an adaptation of the 1976 novel of the same name by Ann Beattie.[10] Dunne and his co-producers, Amy Robinson and Mark Metcalf, had formed their production company, Triple Play Productions, in the late 1970s and optioned Beattie's book after agreeing to her stipulation that she be given a role.[10][11] The film had a less than successful short run in theaters when it was released three years earlier with a "happy" ending and an alternate title, at the insistence of the distributor, United Artists.[10][12] The trio persevered to have the film re-released with a more realistic ending and the same title as the book, which proved more successful.[10][12] Dunne had a small part in the film, as Mark, a young doctor. After Mark Metcalf left the company, Dunne and Robinson continued as producing partners.[11] Their company, now called Double Play Productions, produced several films, including Baby It's You, After Hours, Running on Empty and Game 6. In 1986, the company had signed an agreement with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for a two-year production agreement.[13]
Directing
editDunne's directorial debut was the 1995 short film Duke of Groove. For it, Dunne received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film, along with producer Thom Colwell.
Since then, he has directed five feature films, including Addicted to Love (1997) and Practical Magic (1998). He also directed one segment of the 2012 anthology film Movie 43. Dunne produced and directed Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold (2017), a documentary about his aunt, author Joan Didion, whom Dunne interviews and appears with on screen.
Writing
editDunne has written articles for New York Times Travel section, Details Magazine, Porter Magazine and has a Kindle Single collection of short stories on Amazon called Air Guitar. His New York Times best-selling family memoir, The Friday Afternoon Club, was released on June 11, 2024.
Personal life
editDunne was married to American actress Carey Lowell from 1989 to 1995. They had one daughter together, actress Hannah Dunne (born April 8, 1990).[14]
He was married to Anna Bingemann, an Australian stylist, from 2009 to 2010.[15]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Credited as | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Director | Producer | Actor | Role | Notes | ||
| 1975 | The Other Side of the Mountain | Yes | Herbie Johnson | |||
| 1979 | Chilly Scenes of Winter | Yes | Yes | Dr. Mark | ||
| 1981 | An American Werewolf in London | Yes | Jack Goodman | |||
| The Fan | Yes | Production Assistant | ||||
| 1983 | Baby It's You | Yes | ||||
| Cold Feet | Yes | Tom Christo | ||||
| 1984 | Johnny Dangerously | Yes | Tommy Kelly | |||
| 1985 | After Hours | Yes | Yes | Paul Hackett | ||
| Almost You | Yes | Alex Boyer | ||||
| 1987 | Amazon Women on the Moon | Yes | Doctor | Segment: "Hospital" | ||
| Who's That Girl | Yes | Loudon Trott | ||||
| 1988 | The Big Blue | Yes | Duffy | |||
| Me and Him | Yes | Bert | ||||
| Running on Empty | Yes | |||||
| 1990 | White Palace | Yes | ||||
| 1991 | My Girl | Yes | Mr. Jake Bixler | |||
| Once Around | Yes | Yes | Rob | |||
| 1992 | Big Girls Don't Cry... They Get Even | Yes | David | |||
| Straight Talk | Yes | Alan Riegert | ||||
| 1993 | Naked in New York | Yes | Auditioner | |||
| The Pickle | Yes | Planet Cleveland Man | Uncredited | |||
| 1994 | I Like It Like That | Yes | Stephen Price | |||
| Quiz Show | Yes | Geritol Account Executive | ||||
| 1995 | Search and Destroy | Yes | Martin Mirkheim | |||
| 1996 | Duke of Groove | Yes | Short film | |||
| Joe's Apartment | Executive | |||||
| 1997 | Addicted to Love | Yes | ||||
| 1998 | Practical Magic | Yes | ||||
| 2000 | Lisa Picard Is Famous | Yes | Yes | Andrew | ||
| 2001 | Piñero | Yes | Agent | |||
| Sam the Man | Yes | Man in Bathroom | ||||
| 2002 | 40 Days and 40 Nights | Yes | Jerry Anderson | |||
| Cheats | Yes | Mr. Davis | ||||
| 2003 | Stuck on You | Yes | Himself | |||
| 2005 | Fierce People | Yes | Yes | |||
| Game 6 | Yes | Yes | Elliott Litvak | |||
| 2006 | Bondage | Yes | Dr. Simon | |||
| Your Product Here | Yes | Short film | ||||
| 2007 | Snow Angels | Yes | Don Parkinson | |||
| 2008 | The Accidental Husband | Yes | ||||
| The Great Buck Howard | Yes | Jonathan Finerman | ||||
| 2009 | Shrink | Yes | Uncredited | |||
| 2010 | Last Night | Yes | Truman | |||
| 2012 | The Discoverers | Yes | Lewis Birch | |||
| 2013 | Broken City | Yes | Sam Lancaster | |||
| Blood Ties | Yes | McNally | ||||
| Movie 43 | Yes | Segment: "Veronica" | ||||
| Dallas Buyers Club | Yes | Dr. Vass | ||||
| 2014 | Rob the Mob | Yes | Dave Lovell | |||
| Fugly! | Yes | Jefferey | ||||
| 2015 | Touched with Fire | Yes | George | |||
| Tumbledown | Yes | Upton | ||||
| Consumed | Yes | Peter | ||||
| 2016 | My Dead Boyfriend | Yes | Joey Lucas / Nick McCrawley | |||
| 2017 | War Machine | Yes | Ray Canucci | |||
| Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold | Yes | Yes | ||||
| 2018 | Ocean's 8 | Yes | Parole Board Officer | |||
| Alright Now | Yes | Joanne's Dad | ||||
| 2019 | Bittersweet Symphony | Yes | Griffin | |||
| 2021 | With/In: Volume 2 | Yes | Yes | Segment: "One Night Stand" | ||
| The French Dispatch | Yes | Legal Advisor | ||||
| 2023 | Ex-Husbands | Executive | Yes | Peter Pearce | ||
| 2024 | Junction | Yes | Lawrence | |||
| TBA | Caught Stealing | Yes | Filming[16] | |||
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Amazing Stories | Dick | Episode: "Secret Cinema" |
| 1986 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Knoll | Episode: "The Jar" |
| 1986 | Saturday Night Live | Frankie Toussaint | Episode: "William Shatner/Lone Justice"; uncredited |
| 1989 | Trying Times | David | Episode: "Hunger Chic" |
| 1990 | Secret Weapon | Mordechai Vanunu | Television film |
| 1992 | Screenplay | Michael Tyne | Episode: "Buying a Landslide" |
| 1993 | Hotel Room | Robert | Episode: "Getting Rid of Robert" |
| 1993 | L.A. Law | Gerard Samuels | Episode: "F.O.B." |
| 1993 | Frasier | Russell (voice) | Episode: "The Good Son" |
| 1995 | The Android Affair | Teach / William | Television film |
| 1996 | Frasier | Bob Reynolds | Episode: "The Friend" |
| 2001 | Blonde | The Playwright | 2 episodes |
| 2001–07 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Henry Talbott | Episode: "Jones" |
| 2002 | Warning: Parental Advisory | Frank Zappa | Television film |
| 2002 | A Nero Wolfe Mystery | Nicolas Losseff | 2 episodes |
| 2002 | What Leonard Comes Home To | Leonard | Television short |
| 2004 | Alias | Leonid Lisenker | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | 3 lbs | Dr. Jerry Cole | 2 episodes |
| 2006–07 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Seamus Flaherty | 2 episodes |
| 2009 | Trust Me | Tony Mink | 13 episodes |
| 2009 | Leverage | Marcus Starke | Episode: "The Two Live Crew Job" |
| 2010 | How to Make It in America | Fresconi | Episode: "Crisp" |
| 2010 | White Collar | Wesley Kent | Episode: "Company Man" |
| 2010 | The Good Wife | Judge Jared Quinn | Episode: "Cleaning House"; also director |
| 2011 | Damages | Dean Gullickson | 3 episodes |
| 2012–14 | House of Lies | Marco Pelios | 8 episodes |
| 2013 | Girls | Thomas - John's Father | Episode: "It's a Shame About Ray" |
| 2013 | The League | Burt | Episode: "The Von Nowzick Wedding" |
| 2014 | Red Band Society | Ruben Garcia | 3 episodes; also director |
| 2015 | Manhattan | Woodrow Lorentzen | 4 episodes |
| 2015–16 | Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll | Music Therapist | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Benno Gilbert | Episode: "Fashionable Crimes" |
| 2016–17 | I Love Dick | Sylvère | 8 episodes |
| 2018 | Imposters | Herman | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Succession | Dr. Alon Parfit | Episode: "Austerlitz" |
| 2018 | The Romanoffs | Frank Shefflied | Episode: "Panorama" |
| 2018–22 | This Is Us | Nicky Pearson | 28 episodes |
| 2019 | Better Things | Durham | Episode: "The Unknown" |
| 2019–21 | Goliath | Gene Bennett | 7 episodes |
| 2021 | Search Party | Richard Wreck | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | The L Word: Generation Q | Isaac Zakarian | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | Billions | George Pike IV a.k.a. Fourth | Episode: "The Owl" |
| 2024 | The Girls on the Bus | Bruce Turner | Recurring role |
| 2024 | Only Murders in the Building | Prof. Dudenoff | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | The Simpsons | Cockroach Actor (voice) | Episode: "Desperately Seeking Lisa" |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Title | Association | Category | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | After Hours | Golden Globe Award | Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Comedy or Musical | Nominated | [17] |
| 1986 | Independent Spirit Award | Best Feature (shared with Robert F. Colesberry & Amy Robinson) | Won | ||
| 1994 | Love Matters | CableACE Award | Actor in a Movie or Miniseries | Nominated | |
| 1996 | Duke of Groove | Academy Award | Best Short Film – Live Action (shared with Thom Colwell) | Nominated | |
| 1996 | Frasier | Primetime Emmy Award | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series | Nominated | |
| 2000 | Lisa Picard Is Famous | Cannes Film Festival | Un Certain Regard Award | Nominated | |
| 2000 | — | Deep Ellum Film Festival | Pioneer Filmmaker Award | Won | |
| 2013 | The Discoverers | Sarasota Film Festival | Achievement in Acting | Won | |
| 2013 | Sedona International Film Festival | Outstanding Actor | Won | ||
| 2014 | Movie 43 | Golden Raspberry Award | Worst Director | Won |
References
edit- ^ Syme, Rachel (October 24, 2017). "Their Love Letter to Aunt Joan (Didion)". The New York Times. p. 1.
- ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths DUNNE, ELLEN GRIFFIN". The New York Times. January 13, 1997. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ "Celebrity Author And Hartford Native Dominick Dunne Dies At Age 83 -- Courant.com". August 28, 2009. Archived from the original on August 28, 2009. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
- ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths DUNNE, ELLEN GRIFFIN". The New York Times. November 3, 1997.
- ^ "Griffin Dunne Biography (1955-)". Filmreference.com.
- ^ Nathan, Jean (May 18, 1997). "He's Adding Director to His List of Credits". The New York Times.
- ^ "A conversation with Griffin Dunne". Little White Lies. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ "Alumni". neighborhoodplayhouse.org. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
- ^ Radish, Christian (January 20, 2013). "Griffin Dunne Talks Directing a Segment in Comedy Anthology MOVIE 43, Matthew McConaughey's Weight Loss in DALLAS BUYER'S CLUB, and More". Collider. Retrieved February 5, 2021.
- ^ a b c d Atlas, James (October 10, 1982). "How 'Chilly Scenes' Was Rescued". New York Times Books section.
- ^ a b Malooley, Jake (August 16, 2023). "AFTER HOURS takeover edition". Expanding Dan Substack. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
- ^ a b "Episode 310: Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979)". The Projection Booth. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
- ^ "Dunne & Robinson Ink 2-Year Pact With MGM". Variety. March 5, 1986. p. 6.
- ^ Westarp, Elaine (April 12, 1990). "Producer leaves town with babe". The News and Observer. p. 1E – via Newspapers.com. "Hannah Beatriz Dunne, 8 pounds, 12 ounces made her Carolina debut at 3:17 a.m. Sunday at Rex Hospital."
- ^ "Done and Dunne! Interior Designer Woos New York Royalty with Soho Loft". The New York Observer. June 15, 2010.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (September 4, 2024). "Griffin Dunne Joins Darren Aronofsky's Caught Stealing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
- ^ "Griffin Dunne". IMDb. Retrieved September 16, 2018.