Person · Actor

Sam Rockwell

A charismatic actor with a career defined by unforgettable roles, Sam Rockwell navigates the chaotic world of Hollywood and personal demons to cement his legacy as one of independent cinema's most versatile performers.

Born

November 5, 1968

From

Daly City, California, USA

Also:
Producer
Director

Credits on file

Decades active

Awards

In short · Acting since 1989, 5 decades active, 95 credits, 2 Golden Globe Award wins.

Known for

Ranked by community engagement + sustained interest across this person's credits in our database.

Now & next

Jul 14
In the news
Sam Rockwell joins A View from the Bridge revival
“Actor Sam Rockwell has been cast in the upcoming off‑off‑Broadway production of "A View from the Bridge" at LaMaMa's Ellen Stewart Theatre. He will share the stage with Marin Ireland and Alfred Molina in the new staging. The announcement highlights a notable ensemble for the classic Arthur Miller play, set to run at the intimate New York venue.”
Jul 13
In the news
Sam Rockwell’s Quick‑Learning Audition Secured Early Role
“Olivia Wilde recalled on the Smartless podcast how Sam Rockwell used a rapid‑learning tactic to win an early career part. While working as an assistant for casting director Mali Finn, Wilde described Rockwell arriving on the final day of auditions for The Green Mile with the wrong scenes, demanding the correct pages and mastering ten minutes of dialogue in five minutes before delivering a flawless performance that earned him the role of Wild Bill Wharton. Wilde said the incident became legend among the casting team and reinforced her belief that actors must work fearlessly and quickly. She later shared the story with Rockwell himself, noting its lasting impact on how she approaches auditions and acting.”
2018
Award win
Golden Globe Awards — Golden Globe — Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture
2017
Award win
Academy Awards — Oscar — Actor in a Supporting Role

Biography

Sam Rockwell (born November 5, 1968) is an American actor. He is known for playing distressed police officer Jason Dixon in Martin McDonagh's crime drama *Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri* (2017), for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. The following year, he was nominated in the same category for portraying Dick Cheney in Adam McKay's political satire *Vice* (2018). In 2019, he portrayed Bob Fosse in the FX biographical miniseries *Fosse/Verdon*, earning a nomination for a Primetime Emmy Award, and in 2022, he received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in the Broadway revival of David Mamet's *American Buffalo*.

Rockwell's other films include *The Green Mile* (1999), *Galaxy Quest* (1999), *Charlie's Angels* (2000), *Confessions of a Dangerous Mind* (2002), *Matchstick Men* (2003), *The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy* (2005), *The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford* (2007), *Moon* (2009), *Gentlemen Broncos* (2009), *Iron Man 2* (2010), *Seven Psychopaths* (2012), *Jojo Rabbit* (2019), and *See How They Run* (2022).

Filmography · 82 of 82

Sort