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Griffin Dunne

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Griffin Dunne
Dunne in 2010
Born
Thomas Griffin Dunne

(1955-06-08) June 8, 1955 (age 69)
New York City, U.S.
EducationThe Neighborhood Playhouse School of the Theatre
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
  • producer
Years active1975–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1989; div. 1995)​
Anna Bingemann
​
​
(m. 2009; div. 2010)​
ChildrenHannah Dunne
Parent(s)Dominick Dunne
Ellen Griffin
RelativesDominique Dunne (sister)
John Gregory Dunne (uncle)
Joan Didion (aunt)[1]

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.

Early life

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Thomas 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

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Acting

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Dunne 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

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Dunne'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

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Dunne'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

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Dunne 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

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Dunne 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

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Film

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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

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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"

Video games

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Year Title Voice Notes
1996 You Don't Know Jack Volume 2 Himself Gave a trivia question while driving on the freeway

Awards and nominations

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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

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  1. ^ Syme, Rachel (October 24, 2017). "Their Love Letter to Aunt Joan (Didion)". The New York Times. p. 1.
  2. ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths DUNNE, ELLEN GRIFFIN". The New York Times. January 13, 1997. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved April 28, 2022.
  3. ^ "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.
  4. ^ "Paid Notice: Deaths DUNNE, ELLEN GRIFFIN". The New York Times. November 3, 1997.
  5. ^ "Griffin Dunne Biography (1955-)". Filmreference.com.
  6. ^ Nathan, Jean (May 18, 1997). "He's Adding Director to His List of Credits". The New York Times.
  7. ^ "A conversation with Griffin Dunne". Little White Lies. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  8. ^ "Alumni". neighborhoodplayhouse.org. Retrieved April 18, 2021.
  9. ^ 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.
  10. ^ a b c d Atlas, James (October 10, 1982). "How 'Chilly Scenes' Was Rescued". New York Times Books section.
  11. ^ a b Malooley, Jake (August 16, 2023). "AFTER HOURS takeover edition". Expanding Dan Substack. Retrieved September 29, 2023.
  12. ^ a b "Episode 310: Chilly Scenes of Winter (1979)". The Projection Booth. Retrieved February 4, 2023.
  13. ^ "Dunne & Robinson Ink 2-Year Pact With MGM". Variety. March 5, 1986. p. 6.
  14. ^ 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."
  15. ^ "Done and Dunne! Interior Designer Woos New York Royalty with Soho Loft". The New York Observer. June 15, 2010.
  16. ^ Grobar, Matt (September 4, 2024). "Griffin Dunne Joins Darren Aronofsky's Caught Stealing". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 4, 2024.
  17. ^ "Griffin Dunne". IMDb. Retrieved September 16, 2018.
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