Rainn Wilson

Infobox actor


caption = Wilson at the "Dan in Real Life" premiere, October 2007
birthdate = birth date and age|1966|01|20cite web | title = RainnWilson.net | url = http://www.rainnwilson.net/articles/Biography.aspx]
birthplace = Seattle, Washington, U.S.
birthname = Rainn Dietrich Wilson
sagawards = Best Ensemble - Drama Series
2004 "Six Feet Under"
Best Ensemble - Comedy Series
2007 "The Office"
2008 "The Office"
spouse = Holiday Reinhorn

Rainn Dietrich Wilson (born January 20 1966 [ [http://www.rainnwilson.net/articles/Biography.aspx Biography | Rainn Wilson Fan Site ] ] ) is an Emmy-nominated and Screen Actors Guild Award-winning American actor. He is known for his roles as the egomaniacal Dwight Schrute on the American television comedy "The Office", the leading role in the 2008 comedy "The Rocker", and assistant mortician Arthur Martin in HBO's "Six Feet Under".

Biography

Early life

Wilson was born in Seattle, Washington, the son of Shay Cooper, a yoga teacher and actress, and Robert G. Wilson, a writer and business consultant. He attended Kellogg Middle School and Shorecrest High School in Shoreline, Washington. He transferred to and graduated from New Trier High School after his family moved to Wilmette, Illinois to serve at the Bahá'í National Center. [cite web | title = From Shorecrest "loser" to "The Office" poser | first = Terry | last = Estudillo | publisher = "The Seattle Times" | date = May 22, 2006 | url = http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/television/2003006650_rainnwilson22.html] Wilson has a theatre background from Tufts University and the University of Washington, and has taught acting classes. He holds an MFA from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts and was a member of The Acting Company. [Television Without Pity: [http://www.televisionwithoutpity.com/story.cgi?show=56&story=8897&page=5&sort=&limit= "The B.J. Novak Interview"] Accessed March 16, 2007.] While acting in theatrical productions in New York, he drove a moving van to make ends meet. [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17742095/ MSNBC.com: "Rainn Wilson leaves cubicle for the big screen" (unbylined) March 23, 2007] Accessed March 25, 2007.]

Career

In addition to his starring role on "The Office", Wilson has appeared as the eccentric Arthur Martin, the intern at Fisher & Diaz Funeral Home on HBO's "Six Feet Under". He has also appeared in ", ", "NUMB3RS", and "Entourage", in the latter portraying a sleazy entertainment journalist based on Harry KnowlesFact|date=July 2008 of Ain't It Cool News. Wilson guest-starred as a murderous baseball fan in an episode of "Monk" entitled "Mr. Monk Goes To The Ballgame". He also appeared in the "Coyote Piper" episode of "Charmed" as an alchemist named Kierkan. On February 24, 2007, Wilson hosted "Saturday Night Live", becoming the second cast member from "The Office" to host (after Steve Carell). During the 2007 FIFA Women's World Cup, Wilson appeared in ads for the 2007 United States women's national soccer team as public relations manager "Jim Mike". Wilson has made a guest appearance in two episodes of the Cartoon Network's Adult Swim-bloc series "Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job".

His film credits include "Almost Famous", "America's Sweethearts", "BAADASSSSS!", "Galaxy Quest", "House of 1000 Corpses", "Sahara", "The Last Mimzy", "Juno", in which he played pharmacy owner Rollo, and "My Super Ex-Girlfriend".

Wilson stars in the Fox Atomic comedy "The Rocker", released on August 20 2008. [ [http://www.rockermovie.com/ The Rocker] ] Announced films include "Bonzai Shadowhands", which he co-wrote and co-produced; "Renaissance Men", which he wrote and is co-producing;Fact|date=July 2008 the DreamWorks Animation film "Monsters vs. Aliens", for which voices the villainous alien overlord Gallaxhar;Fact|date=July 2008 and "". [cite news|url=http://justjared.buzznet.com/2008/05/29/megan-fox-rainn-wilson-transformers-2/|title=Rainn Wilson Transforms Into a Professor = "Just Jared"|date=2008-05-29]

Wilson writes in character as Dwight on his NBC blog, "Schrute-Space". [ [http://blog.nbc.com/DwightsBlog/ Schrute-Space] ] However, in June 2008, Wilson confirmed that he no longer writes the "Schrute-Space" blog. [cite web |url= http://entertainment.aol.ca/article/rainn-wilson-moves-from-the-office-to-the-big-screen/319272/ |title= Rainn Wilson Moves From 'The Office' to the Big Screen|date= Aug 20, 2008 |publisher= AOL | accessdate= 2008-08-25]

Personal life

Wilson is married to author Holiday Reinhorn. They met in an acting class in college and married on the Kalama River. The couple have a son, Walter Mckenzie, born in 2004, and they currently reside in Agoura Hills, California. He and his family are members of the Bahá'í Faith. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Rainn Wilson |url= http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1597537,00.html|quote=Did being of the Baha'i faith help you understand the spirituality? As a Baha'i, I believe in all the spiritual beliefs: Buddhism, Hinduism, Christianity. |work=Time Magazine |date=March 8, 2007 |accessdate=2008-08-24 ] [ [http://news.bahai.org/story/548 Bahai.org: "Rainn Wilson talks about Hollywood, his family and the Bahá'í Faith"] ]

On Bill Maher's "Real Time", Wilson described himself as a diverse independent, voting for Republican, Green Party, and Democratic candidates. Wilson's charitable works include fundraising for the educational organization The Mona Foundation. [ [http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22477461/#storyContinued MSNBC.com: "Charity's work aligns with Rainn Wilson's faith" (Q&A interview), January 3, 2008] ]

Wilson and his father, both art collectors, buy and sell fine art and represent contemporary artists on their website, www.rrwilsonart.com.

References

External links

*imdb name|0933988|Rainn Wilson
* Cohen, Andy. "Wilson Finds Himself Suddenly in Demand" Associated Press via "The Record" (Bergen County, New Jersey) March 26, 2007
* [http://everydayyeah.com/content/two-minute-mind-rainn-wilson Interview with Mr. Wilson at everydayyeah.com]

Persondata
NAME= Wilson, Rainn
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Wilson, Rainn Dietrich
SHORT DESCRIPTION= Actor
DATE OF BIRTH= January 20, 1966
PLACE OF BIRTH= Seattle, Washington, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=