---
name: "Paul Giamatti"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/paul-giamatti"
fi1m_id: "paul-giamatti"
imdb_id: "nm0316079"
tmdb_id: 13242
wikidata_id: "Q208649"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "6 June 1967"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 24
average_fi1m_score: 72
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 23
updated: "2026-10-05T16:01:55.868029+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Paul Giamatti

## Identity

Paul Giamatti

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/paul-giamatti
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** paul-giamatti
- **IMDb ID:** nm0316079
- **TMDB ID:** 13242
- **Wikidata ID:** Q208649
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Giamatti, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q208649, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0316079/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13242

Actor. Born 6 June 1967 in New Haven, Connecticut, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 6 June 1967, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
- **Active:** 1992–present
- **Also known as:** Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 24: 23 acting, 1 other
- **Frequently works with:** [Alexander Payne](https://film.one/person/alexander-payne.md), [Beau Flynn](https://film.one/person/beau-flynn.md), [Dwayne Johnson](https://film.one/person/dwayne-johnson.md), [Emma Stone](https://film.one/person/emma-stone.md), [Laura Linney](https://film.one/person/laura-linney.md)
- **Golden Globes:** 1 Golden Globe (1 won)
- **Average Fi1m score:** 72, as actor, over 23 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 78 (6), 2000s 67 (4), 2010s 69 (9), 2020s 71 (5)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 72 to 68 across 23 titles
- **Score spread:** 9 at 80+, 10 at 60–79, 4 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 4 of 15 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 16, Comedy 11, History 4, Action 3, Adventure 3, Animation 3
- **Screen time:** 36 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $4,350m across 17 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paul_Giamatti, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q208649, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0316079/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/13242

## Coming up

- *The Debut* (2026-12-10), as Jerry — [page](https://film.one/film/the-debut.md)
- *A Sprinkle of History* (2027-12-24), as Sam Born

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Saving Mr. Banks*](https://film.one/film/saving-mr-banks.md) (63), [*Jungle Cruise*](https://film.one/film/jungle-cruise.md) (61), [*The Amazing Spider-Man 2*](https://film.one/film/the-amazing-spider-man-2.md) (54), [*Planet of the Apes*](https://film.one/film/planet-of-the-apes-2001.md) (40)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*The Truman Show*](https://film.one/film/the-truman-show.md) (88), [*The Ides of March*](https://film.one/film/the-ides-of-march.md) (71)
- **Apple TV:** [*Saving Private Ryan*](https://film.one/film/saving-private-ryan.md) (84), [*The Hangover Part II*](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-ii.md) (44)
- **Peacock:** [*The Holdovers*](https://film.one/film/the-holdovers.md) (81)
- **HBO Max:** [*John Adams*](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md) (81)
- **Netflix:** [*Straight Outta Compton*](https://film.one/film/straight-outta-compton.md) (76)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Paul Giamatti

> Paul Giamatti makes clever, disappointed men worth spending time with, even when they are determined to be unpleasant. We rate him most highly with Alexander Payne, who gives the irritability time to become funny and painful.

In *The Holdovers* (2023), Paul Hunham delivers dormitory rules as though he were addressing a jury. Giamatti lets the teacher enjoy his own severity, which makes him funnier and less predictable than a straightforward portrait of bitterness. We laughed aloud at that first address because of the pleasure he takes in laying down the law. He does not ask us to excuse Hunham, and we have time to grow fond of him before the script starts explaining why we should. It is a persuasive performance of a man who considers being correct sufficient compensation for being disliked.

The route to Hunham ran through supporting parts such as Simeon in *The Truman Show* (1998) and Sergeant Hill in *Saving Private Ryan* (1998). *American Splendor* (2003), in which he played Harvey Pekar, brought the breakthrough as a lead; *Sideways* (2004) established the disappointed, articulate man as his particular territory. As Miles Raymond in the latter, he began the collaboration with Alexander Payne that would bring him back to another dissatisfied man in *The Holdovers*. There has been substantial work between those leads, including the sustained television role of Chuck Rhoades in *Billions* (2016). But Payne remains the director to start with if we want to see what Giamatti does particularly well.

Much of Giamatti's skill lies in how he handles speech. Hunham quotes the ancients and fails boys for sport, yet his verbal confidence never makes him seem entirely secure. Giamatti can move from sharp comedy to vulnerability without making the difficult man disappear, and Payne gives that contradiction time to register. The director's fondness for men who have wasted themselves suits an actor who can make disappointment funny without making it trivial.

There is a danger of accepting the familiar sourness too readily, especially when the writing is less exact than the acting. David Hemingson's script for *The Holdovers* spells out its lesson more often than it needs to, and at 133 minutes the film dawdles. Giamatti carries more of it than an actor ought to have to, although the warmth he finds in Hunham makes the extra time easier to forgive. Start there, with the caveat that the dialogue will occasionally explain what his performance has already made clear.

## Biography

Paul Giamatti is an American actor. Born on 6 June 1967 in New Haven, Connecticut, he studied at Yale University and the Yale School of Drama.

He is known for film roles including Simeon in *The Truman Show* (1998), Sergeant Hill in *Saving Private Ryan* (1998), Joe Gould in *Cinderella Man* (2005), Theophilus Freeman in *12 Years a Slave* (2013) and Paul Hunham in *The Holdovers* (2023). He received Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for *Cinderella Man* and Best Actor for *The Holdovers*. On television he played the title role in the 2008 HBO miniseries *John Adams*.

*Sources: movieweb.com, imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (24)

### Performed in (23) — the average rests on these

- *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy* (2026), Fi1m 76, as Nus Braka — [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-starfleet-academy.md)
- *The Debut* (2026), Fi1m 78, as Jerry — [page](https://film.one/film/the-debut.md)
- *Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale* (2025), Fi1m 61, as Harold Levinson — [page](https://film.one/film/downton-abbey-the-grand-finale.md)
- *The Holdovers* (2023), Fi1m 81, as Paul Hunham — [page](https://film.one/film/the-holdovers.md)
- *Jungle Cruise* (2021), Fi1m 61, as Nilo Nemolato — [page](https://film.one/film/jungle-cruise.md)
- *San Andreas* (2015), Fi1m 54, as Dr. Lawrence Hayes — [page](https://film.one/film/san-andreas.md)
- *Straight Outta Compton* (2015), Fi1m 76, as Jerry Heller — [page](https://film.one/film/straight-outta-compton.md)
- *BoJack Horseman* (2014), Fi1m 91, as TV BoJack (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/bojack-horseman.md)
- *The Amazing Spider-Man 2* (2014), Fi1m 54, as Aleksei Sytsevich — [page](https://film.one/film/the-amazing-spider-man-2.md)
- *12 Years a Slave* (2013), Fi1m 91, as Theophilus Freeman — [page](https://film.one/film/12-years-a-slave.md)
- *Rick and Morty* (2013), Fi1m 78, as Storylord (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/rick-and-morty.md)
- *Saving Mr. Banks* (2013), Fi1m 63, as Ralph — [page](https://film.one/film/saving-mr-banks.md)
- *The Hangover Part II* (2011), Fi1m 44, as Kingsley — [page](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-ii.md)
- *The Ides of March* (2011), Fi1m 71, as Tom Duffy — [page](https://film.one/film/the-ides-of-march.md)
- *John Adams* (2008), Fi1m 81, as John Adams — [page](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md)
- *Robots* (2005), Fi1m 62, as Tim the Gate Guard (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/robots-2005.md)
- *Sideways* (2004), Fi1m 86, as Miles — [page](https://film.one/film/sideways.md)
- *Planet of the Apes* (2001), Fi1m 40, as Limbo — [page](https://film.one/film/planet-of-the-apes-2001.md)
- *Saving Private Ryan* (1998), Fi1m 84, as Sergeant Hill — [page](https://film.one/film/saving-private-ryan.md)
- *The Truman Show* (1998), Fi1m 88, as Simeon — [page](https://film.one/film/the-truman-show.md)
- *Donnie Brasco* (1997), Fi1m 84, as FBI Technician — [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md)
- *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), Fi1m 89, as Harry Tjarks — [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md)
- *Singles* (1992), Fi1m 74, as Kissing Man — [page](https://film.one/film/singles.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Doctor Dolittle* (1998), Fi1m 50, as Blaine (uncredited) — [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-dolittle-1998.md)

## Complete filmography (126)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *A Sprinkle of History* (2027), as Sam Born
- *The Debut* (2026), as Jerry — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/film/the-debut.md)
- *A Statement* (2026), as David Slade
- *Star Trek: Starfleet Academy* (2026), series, as Nus Braka — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-starfleet-academy.md)
- *The American Revolution* (2025), series, as John Adams (voice)
- *Downton Abbey: The Grand Finale* (2025), as Harold Levinson — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/downton-abbey-the-grand-finale.md)
- *Old Time Radio: The Specter of Christmas* (2025), as Narrator
- *The Holdovers* (2023), as Paul Hunham — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/the-holdovers.md)
- *The American Buffalo* (2023), series, as (voice)
- *The U.S. and the Holocaust* (2022), series, as Madison Grant (voice)
- *A Mouthful of Air* (2021), as Dr. Sylvester
- *Teenage Euthanasia* (2021), series, Actor
- *Jungle Cruise* (2021), as Nilo Nemolato — Fi1m 61, [page](https://film.one/film/jungle-cruise.md)
- *Gunpowder Milkshake* (2021), as Nathan
- *30 Coins* (2020), series, as Christian Barbrow
- *Wax Paul Now* (2019), Thanks
- *Private Life* (2018), as Richard Grimes
- *I Think We're Alone Now* (2018), as Patrick
- *Lodge 49* (2018), series, as Executive Producer
- *The Catcher Was a Spy* (2018), as Sam Goudsmit
- *Sex, Lies and Butterflies* (2018), as Narrator (voice)
- *At Home with Amy Sedaris* (2017), series, as Olgilvey
- *Big Mouth* (2017), series, as Andrew’s Shit (voice)
- *Morgan* (2016), as Dr. Alan Shapiro
- *The Phenom* (2016), as Dr. Mobley
- *Ratchet & Clank* (2016), as Chairman Drek (voice)
- *The New Yorker Presents* (2016), series, as Honoré de Balzac
- *Outsiders* (2016), series, Executive Producer
- *Billions* (2016), series, as Charles 'Chuck' Rhoades Jr.
- *Breakthrough* (2015), series, Director
- *Straight Outta Compton* (2015), as Jerry Heller — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/film/straight-outta-compton.md)
- *The Little Prince* (2015), as The Academy Teacher (voice)
- *Madame Bovary* (2015), as Monsieur Homais
- *Love & Mercy* (2015), as Dr. Eugene Landy
- *San Andreas* (2015), as Dr. Lawrence Hayes — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/san-andreas.md)
- *Goldfish* (2015), as Goldfish (voice)
- *Giant Sloth* (2015), as Gordon Boonewell
- *The Roosevelts: An Intimate History* (2014), series, as Theodore Roosevelt (voice)
- *BoJack Horseman* (2014), series, as TV BoJack (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/bojack-horseman.md)
- *The Amazing Spider-Man 2* (2014), as Aleksei Sytsevich — Fi1m 54, [page](https://film.one/film/the-amazing-spider-man-2.md)
- *River of Fundament* (2014), as Ptah-Nem-Hotep
- *Hoke* (2014), as Hoke Mosely
- *Rick and Morty* (2013), series, as Storylord (voice) — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/rick-and-morty.md)
- *Saving Mr. Banks* (2013), as Ralph — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/film/saving-mr-banks.md)
- *12 Years a Slave* (2013), as Theophilus Freeman — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/film/12-years-a-slave.md)
- *Parkland* (2013), as Abraham Zapruder
- *Romeo & Juliet* (2013), as Friar Laurence
- *All Is Bright* (2013), as Dennis Girard
- *Turbo* (2013), as Chet (voice)
- *The Congress* (2013), as Dr. Barker
- *John Dies at the End* (2013), as Arnie Blondestone · Executive Producer
- *PBS Nature - An Original DUCKumentary* (2012), as Narrator
- *Rock of Ages* (2012), as Paul Gill
- *Cosmopolis* (2012), as Benno Levin
- *Black Mirror* (2011), series, as Phillip — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/black-mirror.md)
- *Too Big to Fail* (2011), as Ben Bernanke
- *The Ides of March* (2011), as Tom Duffy — Fi1m 71, [page](https://film.one/film/the-ides-of-march.md)
- *Prohibition* (2011), series, as Reader / George Remus (voice)
- *The Hangover Part II* (2011), as Kingsley — Fi1m 44, [page](https://film.one/film/the-hangover-part-ii.md)
- *Win Win* (2011), as Mike Flaherty
- *Ironclad* (2011), as King John
- *Barney's Version* (2010), as Barney Panofsky
- *The Haunted World of El Superbeasto* (2009), as Dr. Satan (voice)
- *The Last Station* (2009), as Vladimir Chertkov
- *Cold Souls* (2009), as Paul
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of Amy Poehler* (2009), as Uncle Chaz (archive footage)
- *Duplicity* (2009), as Richard Garsik
- *Pretty Bird* (2008), as Rick Honeycutt
- *John Adams* (2008), series, as John Adams — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/john-adams.md)
- *Fred Claus* (2007), as Nick (Santa) Claus
- *Too Loud a Solitude* (2007), as Hanta (voice)
- *The Nanny Diaries* (2007), as Mr. X
- *Shoot 'Em Up* (2007), as Hertz
- *The Hawk Is Dying* (2007), as Georges Gattling
- *30 Rock* (2006), series, as Ritchie — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)
- *The Amazing Screw-On Head* (2006), as Screw-On Head (voice)
- *The Illusionist* (2006), as Inspector Uhl
- *The Ant Bully* (2006), as Stan Beals (voice)
- *Amazing Screw-On Head* (2006), series, as Screw-On Head (voice)
- *Lady in the Water* (2006), as Cleveland Heep
- *Cinderella Man* (2005), as Joe Gould
- *The Fan and the Flower* (2005), as Narrator (voice)
- *Robots* (2005), as Tim the Gate Guard (voice) — Fi1m 62, [page](https://film.one/film/robots-2005.md)
- *Sideways* (2004), as Miles — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/film/sideways.md)
- *Paycheck* (2003), as Shorty
- *American Splendor* (2003), as Harvey Pekar
- *The True Story of the 3 Little Pigs!* (2003), as Narrator
- *Confidence* (2003), as Gordo
- *The Pentagon Papers* (2003), as Anthony Russo
- *Thunderpants* (2002), as Johnson J. Johnson
- *Big Fat Liar* (2002), as Marty Wolf
- *Storytelling* (2001), as Toby Oxman
- *Planet of the Apes* (2001), as Limbo — Fi1m 40, [page](https://film.one/film/planet-of-the-apes-2001.md)
- *Duets* (2000), as Todd Woods
- *Big Momma's House* (2000), as John
- *If These Walls Could Talk 2* (2000), as Ted Hedley
- *1961* (2000), as Ted Hedley
- *Man on the Moon* (1999), as Bob Zmuda
- *Cradle Will Rock* (1999), as Carlo
- *Winchell* (1998), as Herman Klurfeld
- *Safe Men* (1998), as Veal Chop
- *The Negotiator* (1998), as Rudy
- *Saving Private Ryan* (1998), as Sergeant Hill — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/saving-private-ryan.md)
- *Doctor Dolittle* (1998), as Blaine (uncredited) — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/doctor-dolittle-1998.md)
- *The Truman Show* (1998), as Simeon — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/the-truman-show.md)
- *Tourist Trap* (1998), as Jeremiah Piper
- *Deconstructing Harry* (1997), as Professor Abbott — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/film/deconstructing-harry.md)
- *My Best Friend's Wedding* (1997), as Bellman
- *Private Parts* (1997), as Kenny
- *Donnie Brasco* (1997), as FBI Technician — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/film/donnie-brasco.md)
- *Arresting Gena* (1997), as Detective Wilson
- *King of the Hill* (1997), series, as Mr. McKay (voice) — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/king-of-the-hill-1997.md)
- *A Further Gesture* (1997), as Hotel Clerk
- *Breathing Room* (1996), as George
- *Before and After* (1996), as Courtroom Audience (uncredited)
- *Sabrina* (1995), as Scott
- *New York News* (1995), series, as Dr. Wargner
- *Mighty Aphrodite* (1995), as Extras Guild Researcher
- *Homicide: Life on the Street* (1993), series, as Harry Tjarks — Fi1m 89, [page](https://film.one/tv/homicide-life-on-the-street.md)
- *Singles* (1992), as Kissing Man — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/singles.md)
- *Past Midnight* (1992), as Larry Canipe
- *She'll Take Romance* (1990), as Heckler #2
- *Nature* (1982), series, as Narrator (voice)
- *Untitled DJ Art Bell Biopic*, as DJ Art Bell
- *Scholastic Storybook Treasures: The Classic Collection*, series, Actor
- *Boutique*, as Calvin · Producer

## Gallery

- ![Paul Giamatti](https://film.one/media/person/514/gallery-db682c3fab5a.jpg) Paul Giamatti — Montclair Film, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/41/Paul_Giamatti_MFF_2024.jpg/1280px-Paul_Giamatti_MFF_2024.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Paul Giamatti](https://film.one/media/person/514/gallery-df88005bf931.jpg) Paul Giamatti — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Academy Awards — 0 won, 2 nominated

- 2024: Best Actor (nominated), for *The Holdovers*
- 2006: Best Supporting Actor (nominated), for *Cinderella Man*

### Golden Globes — 1 won

- 2023: Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy (won), for *The Holdovers*

### Primetime Emmy Awards — 1 won

- 2008: Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie (won), for *John Adams*

### Other awards — 1 won

- Indiana Film Journalists Association Award for Best Actor 2011: Indiana Film Journalists Association Award for Best Actor (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/paul-giamatti