Stanley Tucci

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Stanley Tucci
Stanley Tucci 2017 Berlinale.jpg
Tucci at the 2017 Berlin Film Festival
Born
Stanley Tucci Jr.

(1960-11-11) November 11, 1960 (age 60)
Peekskill, New York, U.S.
EducationState University of New York, Purchase (BFA)
Occupation
  • Actor
  • writer
  • producer
  • director
Years active1982–present
Spouse(s)
  • Kathryn Spath-Tucci
    ​
    ​
    (m. 1995; died 2009)​
  • Felicity Blunt
    ​
    (m. 2012)​
Children5
Relatives
  • Christine Tucci (sister)
  • Emily Blunt (sister-in-law)
  • John Krasinski (brother-in-law)

Stanley Tucci Jr. (/ˈtuːtʃi/ TOO-chee; born November 11, 1960) is an American actor, writer, producer, and former fashion model.[1][2] Involved in acting from a young age, he made his film debut in John Huston's Prizzi's Honor (1985), and continued to play a variety of supporting roles in films such as Woody Allen's Deconstructing Harry (1997), Sam Mendes's Road to Perdition (2002), and Steven Spielberg's The Terminal (2004). In 1996, he made his directorial debut with the cult comedy Big Night which he also co-wrote and starred in alongside Tony Shalhoub. He also played Stanley Kubrick in the television film The Life and Death of Peter Sellers. Tucci is also known for his collaborations with Meryl Streep in films such as The Devil Wears Prada (2006) and Julie & Julia (2009). Tucci gained further acclaim and success with such films as Easy A (2010), Captain America: The First Avenger (2011), Margin Call (2011), The Hunger Games film series (2012–2015), Spotlight (2015) and Beauty and the Beast (2017) and Supernova (2020).

He has won three Emmy Awards; one for Winchell (1998), one for a guest appearance on the comedy series Monk, and one for being a producer of the web series Park Bench with Steve Buscemi. Tucci was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in The Lovely Bones (2009). He was also nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his performance in Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune (2003),[3] and a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album for Children, for The One and Only Shrek! alongside Meryl Streep.[4]

Tucci also starred in numerous television series such as the legal drama Murder One (1995–96), the medical drama 3 lbs (2006), Ryan Murphy's limited series Feud: Bette & Joan (2017), and the drama Limetown (2018). Since 2020, Tucci has voiced Bitsy Brandenham in the Apple TV+ animated series Central Park. In 2021, he hosted a six-part food and travel documentary series on CNN titled Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy.

Early life[]

Tucci was born in Peekskill, New York,[5] and grew up in nearby Katonah, New York.[6] His parents, Joan (née Tropiano), a secretary and writer, and Stanley Tucci, Sr.,[6][7] an art teacher at Horace Greeley High School in Chappaqua, New York,[8] both of Italian descent, had roots in Calabria.[9] Tucci is the oldest of three children;[6] his sister is actress Christine Tucci.[10] Screenwriter Joseph Tropiano is a cousin.[11] During the early 1970s, the family spent a year living in Florence, Italy.[9]

He attended John Jay High School,[6] where he played on the soccer and baseball teams, although his main interest lay in the school's drama club, where he and fellow actor and high school friend, Campbell Scott, son of actors George C. Scott and Colleen Dewhurst, gave well-received performances at many of John Jay's drama club productions. Tucci then attended State University of New York at Purchase, where he majored in acting and graduated in 1982.[6] Among his classmates at SUNY Purchase was fellow acting student Ving Rhames. It was Tucci who gave Rhames, born Irving, the Ving nickname by which he is known.[12]

Career[]

1980s: Early work[]

In 1982, Tucci earned his Actors' Equity card when actress Colleen Dewhurst, the mother of Tucci's high-school friend, actor Campbell Scott, arranged for the two young men to have parts as soldiers in a Broadway play in which she was co-starring,[6] The Queen and the Rebels which premiered on September 30, 1982. Around this time, Tucci also worked as a model, with his most notable work being a television commercial for Levi's 501 jeans.[13][14] In 1985, Tucci made his film debut in Prizzi's Honor. Tucci then went on to portray minor and supporting roles in a number of films including Monkey Shines (1988), Slaves of New York (1989), Fear, Anxiety & Depression (1989) and Billy Bathgate (1991).

In 1991, Tucci performed at the Yale Repertory Theatre in Molière’s Scapin.[15] In 1992, Tucci starred in the family comedy Beethoven and the romantic fantasy Prelude to a Kiss. The former spawned a franchise of the same name due to the success of the 1992 film.

1990s: Breakthrough[]

From 1995 to 1996, Tucci starred in the television series Murder One as the mysterious Richard Cross. Tucci received his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for his performance in the series, specifically for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Following disappointing ratings, ABC decided to revamp the series resulting in Tucci being dismissed from the series.

In 1996, Tucci co-wrote, co-directed and starred in the comedy-drama film Big Night. Tucci wrote the screenplay with his cousin Joseph Trapiano and directed the film with friend Campbell Scott. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival where it was nominated for the ''Grand Jury Prize". Tucci and Tropiano won the Independent Spirit Award for Best First Screenplay for writing the screenplay of the film. The film also featured his sister Christine and their mother, who wrote a cookbook for the film.

In 1998, Tucci wrote, directed, co-produced and starred in the comedy film The Impostors. Shortly thereafter, Tucci starred in the HBO biographical television film Winchell in which Tucci portrayed columnist Walter Winchell. For his portrayal of Winchell, Tucci won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or Movie and the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film. Tucci also received a Screen Actors Guild Awards nomination for his performance in the film.

In 1999, he played Robin Goodfellow / Puck in the Michael Hoffman adaptation of A Midsummer Night's Dream.[16][17]

2000s[]

In 2000, Tucci directed, produced and starred in the drama film Joe Gould's Secret, based on the book of the same name by Joseph Mitchell. In 2001, Tucci starred in the HBO television war film Conspiracy as Adolf Eichmann. The project also starred Kenneth Branagh and Colin Firth. For his portrayal of Eichmann, Tucci won another Golden Globe Award for Best Actor - Miniseries or Television Film. The film was critically acclaimed and won a Peabody Award.[18]

Tucci alongside the cast of The Devil Wears Prada (2006)

In 2002, Tucci returned to the stage by starring in the revival of Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune. Tucci received a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play nomination for his performance in the play. Also in 2002, he starred in Sam Mendes' Road to Perdition opposite Tom Hanks. The film went on to receive $181 million at the box office and received six Academy Award nominations.[19] He reunited with Hanks in Steven Spielberg's The Terminal (2004). That same year Tucci appeared in Shall We Dance (2004). Tucci also portrayed Stanley Kubrick in the HBO television film, The Life and Death of Peter Sellers (2004). He also was a guest caller in an episode of Frasier. Also that year, Caedmon Audio released an audiobook of Tucci reading Kurt Vonnegut's 1973 novel Breakfast of Champions. In 2005, Tucci had his first voice role in the animated film Robots.

In 2006, Tucci had a major role in the comedy film The Devil Wears Prada, opposite Meryl Streep, Anne Hathaway and Emily Blunt. The film was Tucci's highest grossing-film until Captain America: The First Avenger in 2011.[20] Also in 2006, Tucci made an appearance on the television series Monk, for which he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

Tucci returned to broadcast television by starring in the drama series 3 lbs, which premiered on November 14, 2006. However, due to low ratings CBS cancelled the series. The following year, Tucci went on to recur in the drama series ER.[21] For his performance in ER, Tucci was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series.

In 2009, Tucci portrayed George Harvey, a serial killer of young girls, in The Lovely Bones, Peter Jackson's adaptation of Alice Sebold's novel, for which he received Golden Globe and Academy Award nominations. To prepare for the role, he consulted with retired FBI profiler John Douglas.[22] Also in 2009, Tucci reunited with Meryl Streep in Julie & Julia. The following year, Tucci directed a revival of the Ken Ludwig play Lend Me a Tenor on Broadway, starring Tony Shalhoub.[23] Furthermore, Tucci had a supporting role in the teen comedy film Easy A. In 2011, Tucci played Dr. Abraham Erskine in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Captain America: The First Avenger.[24]

2010s[]

In the fall of 2012, Tucci released his first cookbook titled The Tucci Cookbook.[9] Tucci was also a co-owner of the Finch Tavern restaurant in Croton Falls, New York.[25]

From 2012 to 2015 Tucci portrayed Caesar Flickerman in The Hunger Games (2012) and its sequels The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013), The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 1 (2014) and The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2 (2015). In 2013, Tucci played the role of the Ancient Greek God Dionysus in Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters. Also in 2013, he lent his voice to an episode of the animated series American Dad!.[26][27]

Tucci at the 2010 Hamptons International Film Festival

In 2014, Tucci portrayed CEO Joshua Joyce in Transformers: Age of Extinction. The same year, he voiced Leonardo da Vinci in the animated film Mr. Peabody & Sherman and had a cameo in Muppets Most Wanted. From 2014 to 2020, he had a recurring voice role in the animated series BoJack Horseman.

In 2015, Tucci portrayed Mitchell Garabedian in the biographical drama film Spotlight. The film won the Academy Award for Best Picture as well as Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. Also in 2015, Tucci starred in the British series Fortitude as DCI Eugene Morton.

In 2017, Tucci directed and wrote the drama film Final Portrait. The same year, Tucci played the role of the composer Maestro Cadenza in the live-action adaptation of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, co-starring with Emma Watson and Dan Stevens. Tucci also returned to the Transformers film series by portraying Merlin in Transformers: The Last Knight. Furthermore, Tucci played the husband of Dame Fiona Maye, a British High Court judge, opposite Emma Thompson in The Children Act, based on the book of the same name by Ian McEwan.

Also in 2017, Tucci starred in the miniseries Feud as Warner Bros. studio head Jack L. Warner. Feud received critical acclaim from critics and Tucci received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.

In 2018, Tucci starred the independent films Patient Zero, A Private War and Night Hunter. In 2019, Tucci starred in the drama series Limetown, based on the podcast of the same name. Facebook cancelled the series after one season had aired.[28] The same year, Tucci starred in the horror film The Silence.

2020s[]

In 2020, Tucci began voicing the character Bitsy Brandenham in the animated series Central Park. The series received a two-season order from Apple Inc., with each season set to consist of 13 episodes each.[29] The series premiered on May 29, 2020.[30] In the same year, Tucci narrated the series The California Century, on notable people in the history of California told from the point of view of a screenwriter.[31][32]

In 2020, Tucci starred in the British drama film Supernova opposite Colin Firth. The film explores the relationship between a couple played by Tucci and Firth as one of them succumbs to early onset dementia. The film premiered at the San Sebastián International Film Festival and since has received critical acclaim. Guy Lodge, critic for Variety wrote of their chemistry "Firth and Tucci are such reliable stalwarts that we tend not to regard their presence too closely in films these days: Almost invariably, they fulfill our expectations of their refined gravitas. But there’s something lovely and surprising in what they bring out of each other here, as they complement and reflect each other’s curtness, evasiveness and occasional spillages of tenderness in the way that long-term couples do."[33]

In 2021, Tucci hosted the culinary travel series, "Stanley Tucci: Searching for Italy", a six-part original CNN series following the actor on a food tour of Italy.[34][35]

Personal life[]

Tucci's first wife, Kathryn "Kate" Spath-Tucci (b. 1962), died of breast cancer in 2009.[36][37] She was a social worker and former wife of actor and stage manager Alexander R. Scott, the elder son of actors Colleen Dewhurst and George C. Scott.[38] She and Tucci married in 1995 and had three children.[39] The couple also raised Kate's two children from her previous marriage.[6][39] Tucci left her in 2002 for actress Edie Falco, with whom he was appearing on Broadway in Terrence McNally's Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune, but the affair ended, and he returned to his wife and children.[40]

In 2011, now a widower, Tucci became engaged to Felicity Blunt, an English literary agent. She is the elder sister of actress Emily Blunt, who co-starred with Tucci in The Devil Wears Prada and introduced the couple several years later at her own 2010 wedding to actor John Krasinski.[41] Tucci and Blunt married in a civil ceremony in summer 2012,[42] followed by a larger observance at Middle Temple Hall in London on September 29, 2012.[43] The couple live in Barnes, London,[44] and have a son born in January 2015[45] and a daughter, born in April 2018.[46]

On September 12, 2016, Tucci, with Cate Blanchett, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Peter Capaldi, Douglas Booth, Neil Gaiman, Keira Knightley, Juliet Stevenson, Kit Harington, and Jesse Eisenberg, appeared in a video from the United Nations' refugee agency UNHCR to help raise awareness to the global refugee crisis. The video, titled "What They Took With Them", has the actors reading a poem, written by Jenifer Toksvig and inspired by primary accounts of refugees, and is part of UNHCR's #WithRefugees campaign, of which also includes a petition to governments to expand asylum to provide further shelter, integrating job opportunities, and education.[47][48]

On May 21, 2021 Tucci received a Doctorate Honoris Causa in Humane Letters from the American University of Rome, in Rome, Italy, for his lifelong contribution to the arts and humanities.[49]

Filmography[]

Main article: Stanley Tucci on screen and stage

Selected credits

Awards and nominations[]

Main article: List of awards and nominations received by Stanley Tucci

Published works[]

  • Tucci, Stanley (October 9, 2012). The Tucci Cookbook. Gallery Books. ISBN 978-1451661255.[50]
  • Tucci, Stanley; Blunt, Felicity (2014). The Tucci Table: Cooking With Family and Friends. Gallery Books. ISBN 978-1476738567.

References[]

  1. ^ "The 10 Best Character Actors In Movies Right Now3. Stanley Tucci". Complex. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  2. ^ "Terry talks with character actor STANLEY TUCCI". Npr.org. Retrieved October 22, 2017.
  3. ^ "The 2003 Tony Award nominations". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved May 15, 2020.
  4. ^ "Stanley Tucci". Grammy.com. May 14, 2017. Retrieved August 14, 2017.
  5. ^ "Peekskill > Prominent Peekskill People". Peekskill Arts Council. 2007. Archived from the original on August 14, 2007.
  6. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f g Kahn, Toby (January 22, 1996). "Touch of Evil". People. Archived from the original on September 28, 2013. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  7. ^ Staudter, Thomas (April 2, 2000). "Film Screening to Benefit Peekskill Theater". The New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  8. ^ Tropiano Tucci, Joan; Scappin, Gianni; Shanley Taft, Mimi (1999). Cucina & Famiglia: Two Italian Families Share Their Stories, Recipes, and Traditions. New York City: William Morrow. ISBN 0-688-15902-8.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b c Bruni, Frank (October 2, 2012). "Hollywood Ending, With Meatballs". The New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  10. ^ "Stanley Tucci Biography (1960–)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  11. ^ "A 'Big Night' for Food Fans". The Washington Post. September 25, 1996. Retrieved August 8, 2012.
  12. ^ "Ving Rhames". Biography.com. Archived from the original on October 23, 2016. Retrieved November 8, 2016.
  13. ^ Smart, Jack (July 1, 2016). "Stanley Tucci Shows Off '501 Blues' in '80s Commercial". Backstage. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  14. ^ Clark, Murray (September 5, 2019). "History Forgot About Stanley Tucci's Vest. For Shame". Esquire. Retrieved September 8, 2019.
  15. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on February 7, 2013. Retrieved 2013-03-07.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  16. ^ Stack, Peter (May 14, 1999). "'Dream' Interpretation / Stellar cast adds comic madness to lush, over-the-top 'Midsummer'". The San Francisco Chronicle.
  17. ^ Horwitz, Jane (May 14, 1999). "'A Midsummer Night's Dream' (PG-13)". washingtonpost.com.
  18. ^ "Conspiracy". www.peabodyawards.com. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  19. ^ "Road to Perdition". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  20. ^ "Stanley Tucci". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  21. ^ "Stanley Tucci". TVGuide.com. Retrieved August 15, 2017.
  22. ^ James Donaldson, Susan (December 18, 2009). "The Lovely Bones: Serial Killers Elude as Ordinary Neighbors". ABC News.
  23. ^ Cohen, Patricia (February 17, 2010). "Stanley Tucci, Director". The New York Times. Retrieved May 7, 2010.
  24. ^ "Stanley Tucci joins 'Captain America'". Heatvisionblog.com. October 31, 2012.
  25. ^ "Stanley Tucci Biography". TVGuide.com. New York City: NTVB Media. Retrieved December 10, 2012.
  26. ^ "Kim Kardashian 'American Dad': Reality Star to Play Alien on Comedy". Variety. September 24, 2013. Retrieved September 25, 2013.
  27. ^ Hibberd, James (September 24, 2013). "Kim Kardashian to play alien on 'American Dad'". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  28. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (January 17, 2020). "Facebook Cancels 'Sorry for Your Loss' & 'Limetown' As It Scales Back Scripted Efforts Amid Unscripted Push". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  29. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (March 12, 2018). "Animated Comedy 'Central Park' From 'Bob's Burgers' Creator & Josh Gad Lands 2-Season Pickup By Apple With Star Cast". Deadline. Retrieved June 4, 2020.
  30. ^ "https://twitter.com/chongster62/status/1237417247141851136". Twitter. Retrieved June 4, 2020. External link in |title= (help)
  31. ^ Ramachandran, Naman (February 17, 2020). "Stanley Tucci to Host BBC Radio 4 Series 'The Californian Century'". Variety. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  32. ^ "BBC Radio 4 - The Californian Century". BBC. Retrieved July 5, 2020.
  33. ^ "'Supernova' Review: Colin Firth and Stanley Tucci Gently Smash Your Heart to Smithereens". Variety. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  34. ^ "CNN Cooks Up Culinary Documentary Series With Stanley Tucci From 'Three Identical Strangers' Producer Raw". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  35. ^ "Stanley Tucci Will Host His Own Culinary Travel Show on CNN". Food & Wine. Retrieved February 2, 2021.
  36. ^ "Kathryn Louise Spath-Tucci Obituary". Tributes.com. Archived from the original on June 19, 2013.
  37. ^ "Stanley Tucci's Wife Dies of Cancer". OfficialWire. May 7, 2009. Archived from the original on July 28, 2011. Retrieved May 7, 2009.
  38. ^ "Miss Spath Plans To Marry In Fall". The New York Times. February 27, 1983.
  39. ^ Jump up to: a b "Stanley Tucci Interview". Long Island Press. September 18, 2010. Archived from the original on April 10, 2012.
  40. ^ Green, Jesse (November 7, 2004). "Edie Falco, Unmarried to the Mob". Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  41. ^ "Stanley Tucci Is Engaged to Emily Blunt's Sister Felicity!". Us Weekly. November 2, 2013. Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  42. ^ Schwarz, Alison (August 8, 2012). "Stanley Tucci Marries Felicity Blunt". People. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  43. ^ "Anne Hathaway's Dream Wedding". People. October 15, 2012. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  44. ^ Sexton, David (January 28, 2016). "Stanley Tucci Interview". The Evening Standard. Retrieved July 29, 2018.
  45. ^ "Stanley Tucci Welcomes Son Matteo Oliver". PEOPLE.com. January 29, 2015. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  46. ^ Juneau, Jen; Jordan, Julie (June 12, 2018). "Stanley Tucci and Felicity Blunt Welcome Daughter". People. Retrieved June 24, 2020.
  47. ^ "2016 Stories - #WithRefugees". Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  48. ^ "What They Took With Them - #WithRefugees". September 7, 2016. Retrieved September 14, 2016.
  49. ^ "Watch Stanley Tucci's Honorary Doctorate acceptance speech". The American University of Rome. May 26, 2021. Retrieved August 4, 2021.
  50. ^ Bruni, Frank (October 2, 2012). "Hollywood Ending, With Meatballs". The New York Times.

External links[]

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