Sam Rockwell recently took home the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in his role as a corrupt police officer in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.” His co-star, Frances McDormand, took home an Oscar for Best Actress thanks to her role in the film.
But there is a lot more to this actor than his recent win.
Rockwell has an extensive career as a supporting actor who has starred alongside such Hollywood greats as Tom Hanks, Brad Pitt, Robert De Niro, Robert Downey Jr., Scarlett Johansson, and Daniel Craig, to name a few.
Born on November 5, 1968 in California, Rockwell was raised in the business by two actors, Pete Rockwell and Penny Hess. When he was two, his family moved to New York. But, his parents didn’t stay together and ended up splitting when he was five. His father took him back to San Francisco where he grew up, occasionally spending summers and holidays with his mother.
His first real appearance was in the independent movie “Clownhouse” which followed the story of three mentally-unstable hospital escapees dressed as clowns who followed and tormented three brothers who were left home alone.
NOTABLE ROCKWELL FILMS
Perhaps one of Rockwell’s most known roles is that of Wild Bill in “The Green Mile,” the psychopath prisoner who often spewed looney speeches from his cell. He also played ZaphodBeeblebrox, a two-headed character in the sci-fi comedy “The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy.”
Another notable role was the lover-turned-enemy Eric Knox in “Charlie’s Angels,” where he played a love interest to Drew Barrymore’s character, Dylan Sanders.
Other roles include Justin Hammer in “Iron Man 2,” Filson in “Napoleon Dynamite,” Eric Bowen in “Poltergeist,” Sam on the TV series “Inside Amy Shumer,” Guy Fleegman in “Galazy Quest,” and a thug in “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turles (1990).”
LIFE AND TRIVIA
In 2007, Rockwell began his relationship with Leslie Bibb, which is still thriving today.
Aside from his personal life, Rockwell is one of only 13 actors to win an Academy Award, BAFTA Award, Critic’s Choice Award, Golden Globe Award, and SAG award for the same performance. Other winners include Gary Oldman, Heath Ledger, J.K. Simmons, and Jamie Foxx to name a few.
His best roles are often characters who are evil or turn to a life or immorality, most notable in his roles in “The Green Mile” and “Charlie’s Angels.”
THE OTHER WINNERS
Other winners from the 90th Oscars included Guillermo del Toro, Director, “The Shape of Water.” That film also won Picture, Original Score, and Production Design. “Dunkirk,” won Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, and Film Editing.
Oscar winners included Gary Oldman, Best Actor, “Darkest Hour,” which also won for Makeup and Hair Styling; Allison Janney, Supporting Actress, “I, Tonya;” “Coco,” Original Song and Animated Feature; “Blade Runner 2049,” Cinematography and Visual Effects; “Get Out,” Original Screenplay; “Call Me by Your Name,” Adapted Screenplay; “The Silent Child,” Live Action Short Film; “Heaven Is a Traffic Jam on the 405,” Documentary Short; “Dear Basketball,” Animated Short; “A Fantastic Woman,” Foreign Language Film; “Icarus,” Documentary Feature; and “Phantom Thread,” Costume Design.
