John Malkovich

John Gavin Malkovich (born December 9, 1953) is an American actor, producer, and director.

Biography

Malkovich was born in Christopher, Illinois, to a Roman Catholic family of Croatian descent (his paternal grandparents are from Ozalj, near Karlovac). As a boy, Malkovich was reportedly heavy set. By high school, he had transformed himself physically and was a star athlete. He attended Illinois State University with an interest in ecology. But he soon changed his major to theater when one professor later said to Malkovich he would never have a career as an actor. Shortly after quitting college, Malkovich took on a series of odd jobs to make ends meet: school bus driver, house painter, office supply store employee, and landscaping.

Related Topics:
Christopher, Illinois - Roman Catholic - Croatia - Karlovac - Illinois State University - Ecology

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In 1976, Malkovich became a charter member of Steppenwolf Theatre in Chicago, Illinois. He moved to New York City, New York in 1983 and appeared in the play True West. He appeared on Broadway with Dustin Hoffman in Death of a Salesman (1984). Malkovich won an Emmy Award for this role when the play became a television movie. One of his first forays into film was as an extra alongside Terry Kinney, George Wendt, Joan Allen, and Laurie Metcalf in Robert Altman's A Wedding (1978). He made his film debut in Places in the Heart (1984) for which he was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. In 1994, he was nominated for an Oscar in the same category for In the Line of Fire (1993). Though he played the title role in the Charlie Kaufman-penned Being John Malkovich, he is playing a slight variation of himself, as indicated by the character's middle name of "Horatio". Malkovich has a cameo in the movie Adaptation.—also written by Kaufman—appearing as himself during the filming of Being John Malkovich. The Dancer Upstairs, Malkovich's directorial debut, was released in 2002.

Related Topics:
1976 - Steppenwolf Theatre - Chicago, Illinois - New York City, New York - 1983 - True West - Broadway - Dustin Hoffman - Death of a Salesman - 1984 - Emmy Award - Television - Terry Kinney - George Wendt - Joan Allen - Laurie Metcalf - Places in the Heart - Academy Award - 1994 - In the Line of Fire - 1993 - Charlie Kaufman - Being John Malkovich - Adaptation.

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Malkovich has been based in France for many years but has recently announced he is ending his residency in that country. He and his French girlfriend, Nicoletta Peyran, have two children, Amandine and Loewy.

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Malkovich caused controversy in the United Kingdom in 2002 by announcing at the Cambridge Union Society his desire to shoot journalist Robert Fisk and politician George Galloway http://www.globalissues.org/Geopolitics/WarOnTerror/Malkovich.asp, both of whom have been accused of sympathizing with Islamic terrorists.

Related Topics:
United Kingdom - Cambridge Union Society - Robert Fisk - George Galloway - Islamic - Terrorist

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On April 4,2005, while speaking at Illinois State University, Malkovich was awarded a diploma in Theatre. When attending the university as a student in the 1970's, he failed to take his last remaining graduation requirement, the U.S. Constitution test. This requirement was waived in order to award him the diploma.

Related Topics:
April 4 - 2005 - Illinois State University - Theatre - 1970's - U.S. Constitution

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Of the many people he has worked with, Malkovich is often associated with Gary Sinise, a fellow Steppenwolf alum. Also, Joan Allen was a fellow drama student at Illinois State University whom Malkovich brought into Steppenwolf. He met actor John Mahoney in a Chicago acting class years later, and advised him to join Steppenwolf.

Related Topics:
Gary Sinise - Joan Allen - John Mahoney

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Malkovich remains faithful to the company that gave him his start, and frequently returns to Steppenwolf whether it be acting or directing.

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