John C. Reilly

John Christopher Reilly (born May 24, 1965)<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref name=tvg>Template:Cite magazine</ref> is an American actor. He is known as a character actor taking leading and supporting roles in independent drama films and studio comedies. He gained exposure through his supporting roles in Casualties of War (1989), Days of Thunder (1990), Hard Eight (1996), Boogie Nights (1997), Magnolia (1999), Gangs of New York (2002) and The Aviator (2004). Reilly was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor and the corresponding Golden Globe Award for his role in the musical film Chicago (2002). Reilly's other notable films include The River Wild (1994), The Thin Red Line (1998), and The Hours (2002).

Reilly gained prominence for his roles in comedy films such as Cal Naughton Jr. in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006). He then went on to play the title character in Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), and Dale Doback, one of the two step brothers, in Step Brothers (2008). Meanwhile, Reilly began co-starring as Dr. Steve Brule in the comedic television series Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! (2007–2010), which led to the spin-off series Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule (2010–2016). He voiced the title character in the Wreck It Ralph films (2012–⁠2018). Reilly is also known for his work in the independent films Cyrus, We Need to Talk About Kevin, and Carnage (all in 2011), The Lobster (2015), and The Sisters Brothers (2018). He combined his comedic and dramatic abilities for his portrayal of comedian Oliver Hardy in the biopic Stan and Ollie (2018) earning nominations for the Golden Globe Award and Critics' Choice Award.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reilly is also known for his work on television. He created and starred in a Showtime comedy series Moonbase 8 (2020) and led an ensemble cast for the HBO sports drama series Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty (2022–2023). Reilly performs with his band John Reilly and Friends. For his role in the Broadway revival in Sam Shepard's play True West (2000) he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Early life and education

Reilly was born in Chicago, Illinois,<ref name=tvg /> the fifth of six children.<ref name="Guardian">Template:Cite web</ref> His father was of Irish and Scottish descent, and his mother was of Lithuanian ancestry.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name=Guardian/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> His father ran an industrial linen supply company.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly has described himself as being mischievous during his childhood, highlighting an event when he was 12 in which he and his friends stole 500 boxes of Sugar Corn Pops from a freight train.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly grew up in the Chicago Lawn neighborhood.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Reilly was raised Catholic<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and attended Brother Rice High School.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref name="NYTimes">Template:Cite web</ref> He is an alumnus of The Theatre School at DePaul University in Chicago.<ref name=Guardian/>

Career

1988–1995: Career beginnings

Reilly made his film debut in the Brian De Palma war film Casualties of War as PFC Herbert Hatcher in 1989.<ref name="Guardian1">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Although his role was written as a small one, De Palma liked Reilly's performance so much that the role was significantly expanded.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He played Buck, Tom Cruise's character's NASCAR crew member in Tony Scott's Days of Thunder in June 1990.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That September, he played an Irish hoodlum named Stevie McGuire in the crime film State of Grace, which starred Sean Penn;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly had previously appeared as a monk in the comedy We're No Angels (1989), which also starred Penn.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1992's Hoffa, Reilly played Jimmy Hoffa's (Jack Nicholson) associate who testifies against him at Hoffa's trial.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly appeared in a supporting role in What's Eating Gilbert Grape (1993), playing one of the titular character's (played by Johnny Depp) friends.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> His next role was in The River Wild (1994), in which Reilly appeared alongside Kevin Bacon as a pair of criminals who terrorize a family during a rafting trip.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 1995, Reilly appeared in the psychological thriller Dolores Claiborne as a police constable and in the drama Georgia as a drug-addicted drummer in the band Jennifer Jason Leigh's character joins.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

1996–2003: Critical acclaim

In Paul Thomas Anderson's directorial debut film Hard Eight (1996), Reilly played a near homeless man in Reno, Nevada, who is taken under the wing of a senior gambler (Philip Baker Hall).<ref name="Guardian1"/><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly collaborated with Anderson on other films, playing a pornographic actor in Boogie Nights (1997);<ref name="Guardian1"/> a deeply religious police officer in Magnolia (1999);<ref name="NYTimes"/><ref name="Guardian1"/> and a cameo in the music video for Fiona Apple's single "Across the Universe".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Terrence Malick's ensemble war film, The Thin Red Line (1998) featured Reilly in a supporting role that was written as a larger one, but much of his scenes were deleted along with many other cast members.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 1999, Reilly starred in the independent film The Settlement alongside William Fichtner, which Variety writer Robert Koehler dismissed as a "write-off" despite praising his performance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> That same year, Reilly played one of the newspaper managing editors in the romantic comedy film Never Been Kissed.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In Sam Raimi's sports drama For Love of the Game, released the same year, Reilly played fictional baseball catcher Gus Sinski.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

The box office hit The Perfect Storm was his only release of 2000 and featured Reilly as a veteran crew member on the Andrea Gail fishing vessel which was caught in the 1991 Perfect Storm.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the Jennifer Jason Leigh and Alan Cumming directed comedy The Anniversary Party (2001), he played director Mac Forsyth.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2002, Reilly played a stoner husband in a lackluster marriage to Jennifer Aniston's character, who cheats on him with a younger man played by Jake Gyllenhaal, in Miguel Arteta's comedy-drama The Good Girl.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Later that year, Reilly appeared in three of the year's Academy Award for Best Picture nominees – Chicago, Gangs of New York and The Hours. In Chicago, he played Amos Hart, Roxanne's (Renée Zellweger) trusting husband and was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, as well as the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.<ref name="Guardian1" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Zellweger remarked that "John is so often the best thing about the movies he's in" and critic Roger Ebert praised the "pathetic sincere naivete" that Reilly brought to the role.<ref name="NYT Familiar Face">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Martin Scorsese's Gangs of New York featured Reilly as corrupt 19th-century constable "Happy Jack" Mulraney, while Stephen Daldry's drama The Hours saw him play the husband to Julianne Moore's character.<ref name="NYT Familiar Face" /> Reilly made a brief appearance in the comedy Anger Management (2003) as a monk.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2004–2011: Transition to comedy

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Reilly in February 2007

Reilly appeared in Martin Scorsese's 2004 Howard Hughes biopic, The Aviator, as Noah Dietrich, Howard Hughes's (Leonardo DiCaprio) trusted business partner. Of the role Reilly said, "Noah was almost a father figure to Hughes ... Howard would have a scheme, and it was Noah who had to say, 'We don't have the money.' He was one of his few friends."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He played the lead role in the crime film Criminal (2004), with Diego Luna and Maggie Gyllenhaal. Based on the Argentine film Nine Queens (2000), Stephen Holden of The New York Times felt that "John C. Reilly may be one of our finer character actors, but his portrayal of Richard Gaddis, a gimlet-eyed con man, in Criminal allows too many vestiges of the duped schlub of a husband he played in Chicago to leak into his performance."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly reportedly quit the 2005 Lars von Trier film Manderlay to protest the on-set killing of a donkey.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> He played the lead in one of Miranda July's short films, Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody? (2005).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He was in the Jennifer Connelly-led horror film Dark Water (2005) as the manager of a mysterious hotel.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly co-starred in Adam McKay's comedy about NASCAR drivers entitled Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby in August 2006 as Cal Naughton Jr., the best friend and teammate of the title character, played by Will Ferrell.<ref name="NYTimes"/> The film was successful, grossing $163 million worldwide.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He appeared in Robert Altman's last film A Prairie Home Companion that same year,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> in addition to making an uncredited cameo appearance in Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny as a Sasquatch.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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Reilly at the 2009 Los Angeles Film Festival premiere of Ponyo

Reilly frequently appeared on the sketch comedy program Tim and Eric Awesome Show, Great Job! from 2007 to 2010 as inept doctor and television presenter Dr. Steve Brule. The role led to the spin-off series Check It Out! with Dr. Steve Brule, which aired from 2010 to 2016 and was written and produced by Reilly.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> In 2007, Reilly starred as the title character in parody bio-pic Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, singing various songs, parodying Johnny Cash, Ray Charles and others.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He received two Golden Globe nominations, Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and Best Original Song for the film's title song "Walk Hard".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The next year, Reilly reunited with Ferrell to star in Step Brothers, playing middle-aged step brothers forced to live together.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Also that year, he was among the many notable actors to perform in the online political musical, Proposition 8 – The Musical,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> voiced himself in The Simpsons episode "Any Given Sundance", and co-starred alongside Seann William Scott in The Promotion.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2009, he played vampire Larten Crepsley in the film Cirque du Freak: The Vampire's Assistant and voiced "5" in 9.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly starred in the 2010 film Cyrus as a divorcé beginning a new relationship.<ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref> Reilly received a Satellite Award nomination for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and an Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead nomination for his critically acclaimed performance.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In early 2011, Reilly collaborated with director Miguel Arteta for a second time with the comedy Cedar Rapids, starring Ed Helms. New York Daily News critic Elizabeth Weizxman considered Reilly a stand out in the film and he received an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male nomination.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly co-starred alongside Ezra Miller and Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton in the British-American drama We Need to Talk About Kevin, based on the novel by Lionel Shriver. His character in the film was Franklin, the father of the troubled Kevin;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> his performance was described as being "heartbreakingly sweet" by Slate critic Dana Stevens.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Next, he co-starred in the comedy-drama Terri alongside Jacob Wysocki, playing a school principal who takes an interest in a teenage misfit.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> His last release of 2011 was Roman Polanski's black comedy-drama Carnage, which takes place mostly in a single apartment. It also starred Oscar-winners Jodie Foster as his wife, and Kate Winslet and Christoph Waltz as another married couple who engage in a conflict after their children get into a fight.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly was approached to appear in a production of the play it was based on, God of Carnage, but he couldn't fit it into his schedule and remarked "I think I've spent enough time in that apartment".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

2012–present: Blockbuster films

Reilly voiced the title character in the 2012 animated film Wreck-It Ralph,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> which follows an arcade game villain who is determined to prove himself as the hero. Reilly made contributions to the film's script.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The film was positively received,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> with Los Angeles Times writer Betsy Sharkey saying, "The movie's subversive sensibility and old-school/new-school feel are a total kick."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Wreck-It Ralph not only grossed over $471 million but also a sequel titled Ralph Breaks the Internet was released in November 2018.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Also that year, Reilly appeared in Tim and Eric's Billion Dollar Movie as the dim-witted Taquito and made an uncredited cameo appearance in the comedy The Dictator, starring Sacha Baron Cohen.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He had a cameo in the 2013 comedy sequel Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, playing the ghost of Confederate General Stonewall Jackson in the film's fight scene.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

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Reilly at the 2012 San Diego Comic-Con

In 2014, Reilly narrated the nature documentary Bears.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He played Nova Corps corpsman Rhomann Dey in the Marvel Studios film Guardians of the Galaxy, released in August 2014.<ref name="GotG">Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly began co-starring in the animated television series Stone Quackers on FXX in January 2015.<ref name="Stone Quackers">Template:Cite web</ref> In addition to voicing the inept police officer Barry, Reilly also executive produced the series.<ref name="Stone Quackers" /><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> 2015 saw him appear in five films: the drama Entertainment;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Yorgos Lanthimos' comedy-drama The Lobster as Robert, a man with a lisp who is given 45 days to find a romantic partner or otherwise be turned into an animal;<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> the fantasy horror Tale of Tales, in which he played a king who tries to conceive a child with his queen–played by Salma Hayek–through an unconventional method,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and the English dub of the Studio Ghibli animated film When Marnie Was There.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly also starred in and co-wrote the television special Bagboy, reprising his role as Dr. Steve Brule in a fictional television pilot for a sitcom created by Brule.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> It aired on February 21, 2015, with Vanity Fair writer Melissa Locker saying "If you get it, the show is knockout hilarious, but truthfully, it is not for everyone and Reilly is O.K. with that."<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reilly voiced a sheep in the ensemble cast of the animated musical comedy Sing, which was released in December 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly appeared in the 2017 monster film reboot Kong: Skull Island, as Hank Marlow, a World War II lieutenant who has spent 28 years stranded on the titular island.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The actor, who described his character as "essentially a love-letter to Chicago", was singled out for praise for his performance out of what is generally considered to be an underwhelming ensemble cast.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Film critic Matt Zoller Seitz noted that Reilly "steals the film instantly and never gives it back" in playing the "wisecracking castaway", and Owen Gleiberman praised his performance for being "terrifically dry and sly" in what could have been a cliché character.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reilly co-starred with Steve Coogan in the 2018 biopic Stan & Ollie about the comic double act Laurel and Hardy, with Reilly portraying Oliver Hardy and Coogan Stan Laurel.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Also that year, he played hitman Eli Sisters in The Sisters Brothers, based on the Patrick deWitt Western novel, with Joaquin Phoenix co-starring as his brother Charlie, Jacques Audiard directing, and Reilly as a producer.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly himself optioned the rights in 2011,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> and production took place in the summer of 2017.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2018, Reilly played Dr. Watson in a comedic adaptation of the Sherlock Holmes stories, Holmes & Watson; Will Ferrell played Holmes.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In the same year, Reilly reprised his role as Wreck-It Ralph in Ralph Breaks the Internet,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and again in 2023 for Disney's centenary short film Once Upon a Studio.

He made an uncredited cameo appearance as Munsters star Fred Gwynne in Paul Thomas Anderson's Licorice Pizza (2021).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Music

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Reilly at the 2015 Cannes Film Festival

In 1998, Reilly appeared, along with Giovanni Ribisi and Winona Ryder, as Jon Spencer Blues Explosion in their video "Talk About The Blues".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2002, he played the role of Amos Hart, Roxie Hart's naïve husband, in the musical film Chicago. In 2006, he performed two songs on Rogue's Gallery: Pirate Ballads, Sea Songs, and Chanteys: "Fathom the Bowl" and "My Son John".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2007, Reilly starred in the biopic parody Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. In addition to his acting role, he also performed as a vocalist and songwriter on the movie's soundtrack, for which he was nominated for a Grammy.<ref>The 51st Annual Grammy Awards Winners List Template:Webarchive. Retrieved May 19, 2009.</ref> Reilly went on a concert performance tour in the US, performing as his character Dewey Cox in the Cox Across America 2007 Tour.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2011, he recorded songs produced by Jack White and released as two singles by White's Third Man Records. The first single features two The Delmore Brothers songs: "Gonna Lay Down My Old Guitar" and "Lonesome Yodel Blues #2", both performed with Tom Brosseau. The second single features Ray Price's "I'll Be There If You Ever Want" as well as the country classic "I'm Making Plans", performed with Becky Stark.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> He also appeared as "future Mike D" in the Beastie Boys' video "Make Some Noise".<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2012, his current band, John Reilly & Friends, was slated to perform in the Railroad Revival Tour, alongside Willie Nelson & Family, Band of Horses and Jamey Johnson. However, the event was cancelled.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite magazine</ref>

On April 21, 2011, Reilly appeared at a New LA Folk Festival event to benefit the Japanese Red Cross Society, in response to the devastating earthquake. The event featured material from the Louvin Brothers and included performances by Sean Watkins, and Wimberley Bluegrass Band.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In 2014, Reilly appeared on the music video for Mr. Oizo's song "HAM" in which he played Father. Directed by Eric Wareheim, "HAM" is an excerpt from the television comedy Rubberhead, which displays sketches from various comedians.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In February 2015, John Reilly & Friends performed on NPR Music's Tiny Desk Concert series.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2017, Reilly appeared in Lil Dicky's music video for "Pillow Talking". Additionally in 2017, Reilly appeared on A$AP Mob's album Cozy Tapes Vol. 2: Too Cozy as Principal Daryl Choad.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

In 2022, he sang the Percy French-composed song "Eileen Óg" with singer and button accordion player Séamus Begley on the Irish traditional band Téada's album "Coiscéim Coiligh /As the Days Brighten."<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

On June 13, 2025, Reilly released his debut album What's Not To Love? under the pseudonym Mister Romantic.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> On June 17, he appeared as the titular character in the music video for "Archbishop Harold Homes" by Jack White.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Theatre

Reilly is known as a versatile stage actor. He has participated in numerous Broadway productions and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for the 2000 Broadway production of Sam Shepard's True West. He and co-star Philip Seymour Hoffman (after starring in Hard Eight and Boogie Nights) were both nominated, alternating between the two lead characters during separate performances.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From October to November 2002, Reilly starred as the title character in the musical Marty, a musical adaptation of the Paddy Chayefsky-penned film Marty (1955).<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In 2005, he appeared as Stanley Kowalski in Edward Hall's production of the Tennessee Williams play A Streetcar Named Desire.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Reilly stated in 2010 that he would be very determined to play the lead role of Nathan Detroit if a revival of the musical Guys and Dolls were to occur.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

In March 2012, he was featured in a performance of Dustin Lance Black's play, 8—a staged reenactment of the federal trial that overturned California's Prop 8 ban on same-sex marriage—as David Blankenhorn.<ref name="8 the play">Template:Cite news</ref> The production was held at the Wilshire Ebell Theatre and broadcast on YouTube to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights, a non-profit organization funding the plaintiffs' legal team and sponsoring the play.<ref name="8 play video">Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

Personal life

In 1992, Reilly married Alison Dickey, an independent film producer. They met on the set of Casualties of War (1989) in Thailand.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> They have two sons, the elder of whom, Leo, is a musician, who performs under the name LoveLeo.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

Reilly practices transcendental meditation.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>

External links

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