Nathaniel Wales Faxon (born October 11, 1975)[1][2] is an American actor and comedian. A frequent presence on comedic films and TV series, he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing The Descendants (2011). He starred in the Fox comedy series Ben and Kate (2012–2013) and the FX comedy series Married (2014–2015), and voices Elfo in the Netflix adult animated television series Disenchantment (2018–2023). He also co-wrote and co-directed The Way, Way Back (2013) and Downhill (2020) with writing partner Jim Rash.[3]
Nat Faxon | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Faxon at the series premieres of You're the Worst and Married in July 2014 | |
| Born | Nathaniel Wales Faxon October 11, 1975 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Hamilton College |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, comedian, screenwriter, director |
| Years active | 1999–present |
| Spouse |
Meaghan Gadd (m. 2007) |
| Children | 3 |
Early life
editFaxon's early years were spent in the seaside community of Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, where he attended the Brookwood School. He later graduated from the Holderness School near Plymouth, New Hampshire, and then Hamilton College in 1997.
Career
editActing
editFaxon is an alumnus of the Los Angeles-based improvisational and sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings, where he began performing in 2001.[4]
He may be best known for his appearances in comedic films such as Orange County (2002), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story (2007), Bad Teacher (2011), and several Broken Lizard films including Beerfest (2006). He co-starred in Darren Star's semi-autobiographical satire Grosse Pointe and had recurring roles in several television series, including The Cleveland Show, Joey, Up All Night and Reno 911!. Also stars as Neville in the Conners on Netflix.
Faxon has been featured in a series of prominent Holiday Inn commercials featuring Joe Buck, as well as an ad by Blockbuster. However, he did not get a significant lead role until 2012 when he was cast as Ben in Ben and Kate,[5] for which he received many positive reviews.[citation needed] He starred with Judy Greer in the FX comedy series Married, which ran for two seasons.
Writing and directing
editFaxon and writing partner Jim Rash, whom he met while performing with The Groundlings, co-wrote the screenplay for the film The Descendants, starring George Clooney and directed by Alexander Payne. On February 26, 2012, the screenplay for The Descendants won an Oscar, with Faxon, Rash, and Payne sharing the award.[6] The duo made their directorial debut with The Way, Way Back (2013), based on their original screenplay, and starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette and Sam Rockwell.[7] It premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired it for $10 million;[8] it was released domestically to positive reviews that July.
Personal life
editFaxon is married to Meaghan Gadd. They have three children.[9]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2002 | Orange County | Kip | |
| Slackers | Karl, the Grad Student | ||
| 2004 | Club Dread | Manny | |
| 2006 | The TV Set | Reporter | |
| Beerfest | Rolf | ||
| 2007 | Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story | Awards Show Stage Manager | |
| 2008 | Hamlet 2 | Glenn from Copy Shop | |
| Lower Learning | Turner Abernathy | ||
| 2009 | The Slammin' Salmon | Carl the Manager | |
| 2011 | Freeloaders | Fritz | |
| Bad Teacher | Mark | ||
| Zookeeper | Dave | ||
| The Descendants | None | Co-screenwriter only; Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay | |
| 2012 | The Babymakers | Zig-Zag | |
| 2013 | The Way, Way Back | Roddy | Also co-screenwriter and co-director |
| 2014 | Tammy | Greg | |
| Sex Tape | Max | ||
| 2016 | Operator | Gregg | |
| 2017 | Thoroughbreds | None | Producer |
| A Happening of Monumental Proportions | Paramedic #2 | ||
| 2018 | Life of the Party | Lance | |
| Father of the Year | Mardy | ||
| 2019 | Ready or Not | Justin (voice) | |
| Charlie's Angels | Peter Fleming | ||
| 2020 | Downhill | None | Co-director and co-screenwriter |
| 2021 | Yes Day | Mr. Deacon | |
| 2022 | Beavis and Butt-Head Do the Universe | Jim Hartson (voice) | |
| 2024 | Orion and the Dark | Worrisome Insomnia (voice) |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Rude Awakening | Slackula | Episode: "Slackula" |
| 2000–2001 | Grosse Pointe | Kevin the P.A. | 17 episodes |
| 2003–2004 | Reno 911! | Milk Shake | 6 episodes |
| 2004 | Significant Others | Breck | Episode: "A Breck, a Brother & a Funeral" |
| 2004–2005 | Joey | Bodie | 3 episodes |
| 2005 | Romy and Michele: In the Beginning | Chad | TV movie |
| NCIS | Carter Finch | Episode: "The Voyeur's Web" | |
| Reba | Elder Care Worker | Episode: "Grannies Gone Wild" | |
| 2005–2014 | American Dad! | Various voices | 4 episodes |
| 2006–2008 | Happy Hour | Brad Cooper | 14 episodes |
| 2008 | Mad Men | Flatty | Episode: "The Benefactor" |
| 2009 | DJ & the Fro | The Fro (voice) | 12 episodes |
| Glenn Martin DDS | Trailer Park Teen (voice) | Episode: "Halloween Hangover" | |
| The Big D | Brady | Pilot | |
| The Burr Effect | Dale | ||
| 2009–2012 | The Cleveland Show | Raymond the Bear (voice) | 10 episodes |
| 2010 | Party Down | Garlan Greenbush | Episode: "Party Down Company Picnic" |
| 2011 | Allen Gregory | Jeremy (voice) | 7 episodes |
| Happy Endings | Chef Leslie | Episode: "Bo Fight" | |
| 2012 | Are You There, Chelsea? | Tim Kornick | Episode: "How to Succeed in Business Without Really Crying" |
| Up All Night | Lawrence | Episode: "Couple Friends" | |
| 2012–2013 | Ben and Kate | Ben Fox | Main role |
| 2013 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Earl of Crathmore | Episode: "Jessica Alba Wears a Jacket with Patent Leather Pumps" |
| Spy | Alan | Pilot | |
| 2013–2014 | Trophy Wife | Sad Steve | 3 episodes |
| 2014 | Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja | Sinjin Knightfire (voice) | Episode: "Julian's Birthday Surprise/True Bromance" |
| Marry Me | Scooby | Episode: "Win Me" | |
| Benched | Harold | Episode: "Solitary Refinement" | |
| 2014–2015 | Married | Russ Bowman | Main role |
| 2014–2016 | TripTank | Various voices | 8 episodes |
| 2014–2022 | Robot Chicken | Various voices | 6 episodes |
| 2014–present | Blaze and the Monster Machines | Pickle (voice),Joe (voice) | Main role |
| 2015 | Community | None | Director, 2 episodes |
| The Grinder | Lyle | Episode: "Little Mitchard No More" | |
| 2015–2018 | SuperMansion | Ivan Whiff (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2015–2019 | Family Guy | Various voices | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | Black-ish | Joseph Everton | Episode: "Super Rich Kids" |
| 2016 & 2020 | Mike Tyson Mysteries | Will / Nat O'Sullivan (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Jeff & Some Aliens | Farmer (voice) | Episode: "Jeff & Some Energy Trading |
| Speechless | Undercover Boss | Episode: "J-J'S D-R-- DREAM" | |
| Dogs In A Park | Various Dogs (voice) | 8 episodes | |
| 2017–2018 | Nobodies | Himself | 3 episodes |
| 2017–2019 | Friends from College | Nick | Main role |
| 2018 | Great News | Anthony Lyon | Episode: "Early Retirement" |
| Dallas & Robo | Clark (voice) | 3 episodes | |
| Summer Camp Island | Popular Banana Split (voice) | Episode: "Popular Banana Split" | |
| The Guest Book | Derek | Episode: "Finding Reality" | |
| The Kids Are Alright | Tom | Episode: "Christmas 1972" | |
| 2018–2020 | The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants | Captain Underpants/Mr. Krupp (voice) | Main role |
| 2018-2023 | Disenchantment | Elfo (voice) | |
| 2019 | Harvey Street Kids | Stu (voice) | 3 episodes |
| Catastrophe | Pat | Episode #4.6 | |
| Life in Pieces | Hayes | Episode: "Jungle Push Resort Anniversary" | |
| Euphoria | Rick | Episode: "The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed" | |
| 2019–2020 | Harvey Girls Forever! | Stu (voice) | 5 episodes |
| 2019–2021 | Tacoma FD | Frenchie Willikers | 2 episodes |
| 2020 | Narcos: Mexico | Ted Faye | |
| Solar Opposites | Bryson (voice) | Episode: "The Lavatic Reactor" | |
| It's Pony | Mr. Underwood (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| 2020–present | The Conners | Neville Goldufskyi | Recurring role |
| 2021 | The Great North | Calvin Prescott (voice) | Episode: "Avocado Barter Adventure" |
| Archibald's Next Big Thing Is Here! | Randy (voice) | Episode: "A Star is Hatched/Say Cheese" | |
| The Chicken Squad | Endicott (voice) | 2 episodes | |
| 2021–2023 | HouseBroken | Chief (voice) | Main role |
| 2022 | Our Flag Means Death | The Swede | Recurring role |
| Gaslit | Bob Haldeman | 4 episodes | |
| 2022–present | Loot | Arthur | Main role |
| 2023–present | Frog and Toad | Frog (voice) | |
| Mulligan | Matty Mulligan (voice) |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Title of work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | The Descendants | Won |
| Toronto Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Satellite Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| San Diego Film Critics Society Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Southeastern Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Florida Film Critics Circle Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Dallas-Fort Worth Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Chicago Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| National Board of Review | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| 2012 | Writers Guild of America | Adapted Screenplay | Won | |
| Vancouver Film Critics Circle | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| USC Scripter Award | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Online Film Critics Society Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| London Critics Circle Film Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Independent Spirit Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| Golden Globe | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Central Ohio Film Critics Association | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| BAFTA Awards | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Australian Film Institute | Adapted Screenplay | Nominated | ||
| Academy Award | Adapted Screenplay | Won | ||
| 2013 | Newport Beach Film Festival Audience Award | Feature Film | The Way Way Back | Won |
| Filmfest Hamburg | Art Cinema Award | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | St. Louis Gateway Film Critics Association | Best Comedy | Nominated | |
| Critics' Choice Movie Awards[10] | Best Comedy | Nominated | ||
| 2022 | Peabody Awards[11] | Entertainment | Our Flag Means Death | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Today in History". Associated Press. 5 October 2020. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
- ^ "Nat Faxon - Biography". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
- ^ "Nat Faxon". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
- ^ Faxon Archived 2014-05-17 at the Wayback Machine at Groundlings.com
- ^ Adams, Erik (25 September 2012). "Nat Faxon ascends to leading man on Ben And Kate". The A.V. Club. Archived from the original on 4 November 2013. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ Goldberg, Lesley (28 February 2012). "Descendents Oscar Winner to Star in Fox Comedy Pilot". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 2012-05-01. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ Itzkoff, Dave (24 August 2012). "The Writers Nat Faxon and Jim Rash Direct The Way, Way Back". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2012-09-06. Retrieved 2012-09-06.
- ^ "The Way, Way Back". Sundance Institute. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
- ^ "Biography of Nat Faxon". FaxonRash.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-23.
- ^ "19th Annual Critics' Choice Movie Awards Nominations". CriticsChoice.com. The Broadcast Films Critics Association. 16 December 2013. Archived from the original on 8 June 2018. Retrieved December 31, 2013.
- ^ Voyles, Blake (September 20, 2023). "83rd Peabody Award Nominees". Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.
