Greg Kinnear

Gregory Buck Kinnear, born on June 17, 1963, is an American actor and former talk show host. He gained acclaim with a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "As Good as It Gets" (1997).
Kinnear has appeared in numerous popular films, showcasing his versatility in both comedic and dramatic roles. Some of his notable film credits include "Sabrina" (1995), "You've Got Mail" (1998), "Nurse Betty" (2000), "Someone like You" (2001), "We Were Soldiers," "Auto Focus" (both 2002), "Stuck on You" (2003), "Robots" (2005), "Little Miss Sunshine," "Invincible" (both 2006), "Green Zone," "The Last Song" (both 2010), "Heaven Is for Real" (2014), and "Misbehaviour" (2020).
In addition to his film work, Kinnear has also made notable appearances on television. He has had roles in popular series such as "Friends," "Talk Soup," "Modern Family," "House of Cards," "Rake," and the miniseries "The Stand" (2020). Notably, Kinnear portrayed John F. Kennedy in "The Kennedys" (2011) and Joe Biden in "Confirmation" (2016).


Gregory Buck Kinnear was born on June 17, 1963, in Logansport, Indiana, to Suzanne (née Buck), a homemaker, and Edward Kinnear, who served as a career diplomat for the US State Department. He has two older brothers, James (born 1957) and Steven (born 1959). Kinnear's ancestry is Scotch-Irish.
Growing up as a "Foreign Service brat," Kinnear experienced frequent moves, living in various places from Beirut to Athens. During his time as a student at the American Community Schools in Athens, he delved into the role of a talk show host with his radio show "School Daze With Greg Kinnear." Upon returning to the United States for university education, he attended the University of Arizona, where he graduated in 1985 with a degree in broadcast journalism. During his time at the university, he was a member of the Alpha Tau Omega fraternity.

Greg Kinnear's career saw him transitioning into hosting roles, beginning with the short-lived game show "College Mad House," which spun off from the kids' show "Fun House." He then created, co-executive produced, and hosted "Best of the Worst," which aired from 1991 to 1992. In 1991, Kinnear made history as the inaugural host of "Talk Soup," a role he held until 1995 when he departed to host the NBC late-night talk show "Later with Greg Kinnear" (1994).


Following his debut in the film "Blankman," Kinnear secured the role of David Larrabee in Sydney Pollack's 1995 remake of Billy Wilder's classic "Sabrina." He also took the lead in the 1996 comedy "Dear God." However, it was his portrayal in James L. Brooks' comedy-drama "As Good as It Gets" (1997) that garnered him critical acclaim and earned him a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Kinnear's filmography during this period includes "A Smile Like Yours," where he starred alongside Lauren Holly as part of a couple trying to conceive, and "You've Got Mail," in which he played Meg Ryan's significant other, Joe Fox. Additionally, he appeared in "Mystery Men," "Nurse Betty," "Loser," "The Gift," and "Someone Like You."
Throughout his roles, Kinnear showcased versatility, portraying a range of characters from righteous figures like a principled principal in "The Gift" to less savory characters such as a sleazy college professor in "Loser" and an egotistical soap opera star in "Nurse Betty."


In 2002, Kinnear delivered a compelling performance as actor Bob Crane in "Auto Focus," a film depicting Crane's life and eventual murder. The following year, he starred in the comedy "Stuck On You," alongside Matt Damon, portraying a conjoined twin pursuing his Hollywood dreams despite his brother's differing aspirations. In 2005, he appeared in the black comedy "The Matador" with Pierce Brosnan and voiced Phineas T. Ratchet in the animated film "Robots." Kinnear's role in the Oscar-winning comedy-drama "Little Miss Sunshine" (2006), alongside Steve Carell, showcased his comedic talent, while "Invincible" saw him portraying Mark Wahlberg's character's friend in a film based on a true story about trying out for the Philadelphia Eagles football team.


He also took on roles in "Fast Food Nation" (2006), "Flash of Genius" (2008), and "Baby Mama" (2008), where he played a local smoothie shop owner and romantic interest. In "The Last Song" (2010), Kinnear starred as the estranged father of Miley Cyrus' character.
In 2011, Kinnear portrayed John F. Kennedy in the miniseries "The Kennedys," initially slated for the History Channel but later aired on ReelzChannel. He continued his diverse roles with a part in "Stuck in Love" (2012), playing a famous novelist navigating relationships with his former wife and teenage children.
In 2023, it was announced that Kinnear would guest star in Part 2 of Season 4 of "You" as Tom Lockwood, the father of Joe Goldberg's latest love interest, Kate Galvin.

References

1.  20 Other Stuff You Might Want to Know (Greg Kinnear). Stason.org. Retrieved on June 5, 2014.
2. ^ "Greg Kinnear". TV Guide. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
3. ^ "Greg Kinnear Biography". Yahoo! Movies. Retrieved October 28, 2008.
4. ^ Logansport Pharos Tribune, July 2, 1955; engagement announcement of Edward Kinnear and Suzanne Buck
5. a b kevinpollakschatshow (January 9, 2018), KPCS: Greg Kinnear #338, archived from the original on November 11, 2021, retrieved February 5, 2018
6. ^ "Famous ATO's". Alpha Tau Omega. Retrieved February 8, 2020.
7. ^ Belloni, Matthew (January 7, 2011). "EXCLUSIVE: History Channel Pulls 'The Kennedys'; Says Controversial Miniseries 'Not a Fit'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 8, 2020.