Lewis Pullman
Lewis Pullman during an interview for the 2018 film "Bad Times at the El Royale"
Pullman in 2018
Alma materWarren Wilson College
OccupationActor
Years active2017–present
Parent

Lewis James Pullman is an American actor. A son of actor Bill Pullman, he began his acting career with the film The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017), starring his father. His subsequent film credits include The Strangers: Prey at Night (2018), Bad Times at the El Royale (2018), and Top Gun: Maverick (2022). On television, he has played Major Major Major Major in Catch-22 (2019) and starred in Outer Range (2022) and Lessons in Chemistry (2023). For playing a chemist in the last of these, he was nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Awards and Independent Spirit Awards.

Life and career

Pullman is the son of actor Bill Pullman and modern dancer Tamara Hurwitz. He has a sister, Maesa, who is a singer-songwriter, and a brother, Jack, who is a puppet-maker.[1] His mother is of Norwegian and Jewish descent.[2][3]

Pullman plays the drums in the band Atta Boy alongside Eden Brolin, Freddy Reish, and Dashel Thompson. They released their first album, Out of Sorts, in 2012 as a "whimsical experiment."[4] Their second album, Big Heart Manners, was released in 2020 after an eight-year hiatus.[5]

Pullman began his acting career with several short films, starting with The Tutor in 2013.[6] He had to split his time between living in Los Angeles and Montana. He said he was "on the tractor division [in college]. I figured if acting didn't work out I could be on the road crew, working the back hoe."[7] In 2015, he graduated from Warren Wilson College in Swannanoa, North Carolina, with a bachelor's degree in Social Work.[8] That same year, he was asked by filmmakers Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris to audition for Highston, a television series from Sacha Baron Cohen and Amazon Studios.[7] In September 2015, his casting was confirmed and the series was given a six-episode order.[9] The series starred Pullman in the lead role as a 19-year-old whose imaginary friends were real-life celebrities. The pilot episode, guest-starring Flea and Shaquille O'Neal, was well received by critics.[10] In December 2017, however, Highston was canceled after only one episode.[11]

Pullman made his feature film acting debut in 2017 with The Ballad of Lefty Brown, a Western starring his father in the titular lead role.[12] His additional roles in 2017 include the Arnold Schwarzenegger-led Aftermath,[13] the British drama Lean on Pete,[14] and the critically acclaimed film Battle of the Sexes, the latter also starring his father.[15][16]

In 2018, Pullman had a leading role in the slasher film The Strangers: Prey at Night.[13] Though the film received mixed reviews when compared to its predecessor,[17] it was a box-office success, grossing $32.1 million against a $5 million production budget.[18] That same year, he starred alongside Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, Dakota Johnson, Jon Hamm, Cailee Spaeny, and Chris Hemsworth in Bad Times at the El Royale.[19][20] On casting Pullman, writer and director Drew Goddard said "it was one of those good old-fashioned casting searches. After meeting with lots and lots and lots of actors, Lewis came in and you just felt that immediately. The last time that happened, quite honestly, was when Chris Hemsworth walked in for The Cabin in the Woods. You're just looking for actors who inherently fit the role — and then also transcend the role. Lewis had that sort of magic."[21] Upon release, the film received generally positive reviews from critics,[22] and his performance was also singled out, with Den of Geek calling it a "standout" and The Seattle Times writing that he "shines as the troubled desk clerk, who serves as the film's (very) late-arriving moral conscience."[23][24]

In 2019, Pullman had a recurring role as Major Major Major Major in Catch-22, the Hulu adaptation of the 1961 novel of the same name starring George Clooney.[25][26] That same year, he starred in the thriller film Them That Follow.[27] In 2022, Pullman played Rhett Abbott in the Amazon series Outer Range,[28] Lieutenant Robert "Bob" Floyd in the Tom Cruise-led sequel Top Gun: Maverick,[29][30] and the romantic lead in Press Play.[31]

In 2023, Pullman starred alongside Brie Larson in the Apple TV+ miniseries Lessons in Chemistry.[32] He will next star in the James Wan-produced horror film Salem's Lot, an adaptation of the 1975 novel of the same name by Stephen King,[33] and as Robert Reynolds / Sentry in the Marvel Cinematic Universe film Thunderbolts, scheduled to be released on July 25, 2025.[34]

Filmography

Film

Lewis Pullman's film credits
Year Title Role Notes
2017 The Ballad of Lefty Brown Billy Kitchen
Aftermath Samuel Credited as Lewis James Pullman
Lean on Pete Dallas
Battle of the Sexes Larry Riggs
2018 The Strangers: Prey at Night Luke
Bad Times at the El Royale Miles Miller
2019 Them That Follow Garret
2020 Pink Skies Ahead Ben
2022 Top Gun: Maverick Lt. Robert "Bob" Floyd
Press Play Harrison
2023 The Starling Girl Owen Taylor
The Line Todd Stevens
The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial Lt. Thomas Keefer
2025 Thunderbolts † Robert Reynolds / Sentry Pre-production
TBA Salem's Lot † Ben Mears Post-production
Skincare† TBA Post-production[35]
Riff Raff † TBA Filming

Television

Lewis Pullman's television credits
Year Title Role Notes Ref.
2019 Catch-22 Major Major Major Major Miniseries; 4 episodes [25]
2022 Outer Range Rhett Abbott Main role, 8 episodes [28]
2023 Lessons in Chemistry Calvin Evans Miniseries [32]
Key
† Denotes projects that have not yet been released

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result Ref.
2019 Saturn Awards Best Supporting Actor Bad Times at the El Royale Nominated [36]
2024 Critics' Choice Awards Best Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Made for Television Lessons in Chemistry Nominated [37]
Independent Spirit Awards Best Supporting Performance in a New Scripted Series Pending [38]

References

  1. ^ Barrera, Sandra (June 2, 2017). "Cornerstone Theater honors Tamara and Bill Pullman for community involvement". Los Angeles Daily News. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  2. ^ "Q&A with Bill Pullman on The Fruit Hunters and His Orchard Obsession". Bon Appétit. November 26, 2012. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  3. ^ "Helen Hurwitz Taught Art, Loved Nature". Vineyard Gazette. February 19, 2010. Retrieved August 22, 2022.
  4. ^ "Atta Boy". We Are Atta Boy. Archived from the original on April 11, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  5. ^ Weiss, Suzannah (June 30, 2020). "Atta Boy Reunite After Eight Years for Sophomore Album Big Eight Manners". Audiofemme. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  6. ^ "Lewis Pullman". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Sandberg, Bryn; Ford, Rebecca; Galuppo, Mia (November 6, 2019). "Next Gen Talent 2019: Hollywood's Rising Young Stars Revealed". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  8. ^ "Warren Wilson College alumnus stars in new Amazon pilot Highston". Warren Wilson College. November 19, 2015. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  9. ^ Lewis, Hilary (September 23, 2015). "Amazon's New Pilot Season Includes Good Girls Revolt, Patriot, Louis C.K.-Executive Produced One Mississippi". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  10. ^ Multiple sources:
  11. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (January 23, 2017). "Sacha Baron Cohen Comedy Series Highston Scrapped at Amazon". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  12. ^ Dick, Jeremy (August 28, 2021). "Lewis Pullman Is Ben Mears in Stephen King's Salem's Lot Remake". MovieWeb. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  13. ^ a b Knapp, JD (May 11, 2017). "Christina Hendricks, Bailee Madison, Lewis Pullman Join Strangers 2". Variety. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  14. ^ Rooney, David (September 1, 2017). "Lean on Pete: Film Review | Venice 2017". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  15. ^ Deckelmeier, Joe (October 11, 2018). "Jeff Bridges, Cynthia Erivo, and Lewis Pullman Interview: Bad Times at El Royale". Screen Rant. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  16. ^ "Battle of the Sexes". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  17. ^ "The Strangers: Prey at Night". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  18. ^ "The Strangers: Prey at Night". The Numbers. Nash Information Services, LLC. Archived from the original on October 8, 2020. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  19. ^ Marotta, Jenna (September 22, 2018). "Fox Heavy Hitters Celebrate Drew Goddard's Bad Times at the El Royale". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 13, 2021. Retrieved March 13, 2021.
  20. ^ Feldberg, Issac (May 28, 2018). "Meet a shirtless Chris Hemsworth and other rogues in exclusive Bad Times at the El Royale photos". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved March 11, 2021.
  21. ^ Fischer, Russ (October 13, 2018). "How Director Drew Goddard Brought Out Chris Hemsworth's Dark Side in Bad Times at the El Royale". Variety. Archived from the original on March 11, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  22. ^ "Bad Times at the El Royale". Rotten Tomatoes. Fandango Media. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  23. ^ Kaye, Don (October 11, 2018). "Bad Times at the El Royale Review". Den of Geek. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  24. ^ Kinnard, J.R. (October 8, 2018). "Bad Times at the El Royale: First-rate cast checks in, but plot twists fizzle out". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  25. ^ a b Petski, Denise (May 3, 2018). "Catch-22: George Clooney's Hulu Limited Series Casts Its Merry Band". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  26. ^ Petski, Denise (February 11, 2019). "Catch-22 Gets Premiere Date & First-Look Trailer On Hulu – TCA". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  27. ^ Aguilar, Carlos (July 31, 2019). "Them That Follow Film Review: Talented Cast Exposes the Venom in Old-Time Religion". TheWrap. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  28. ^ a b Kroll, Justin (December 4, 2020). "Amazon's Outer Range Series Starring Josh Brolin Adds Four To Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on August 29, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  29. ^ Hipes, Patrick; Fleming, Mike Jr. (August 22, 2016). "Jon Hamm, Ed Harris & Lewis Pullman Join Top Gun: Maverick Team". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 26, 2020. Retrieved August 30, 2021.
  30. ^ "Bill Pullman Thinks His Son, Top Gun: Maverick's Lewis Pullman, Is 'a Better Actor' Than He Is". People. June 17, 2019. Archived from the original on August 6, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2021.
  31. ^ Brzeski, Patrick (October 7, 2019). "Busan: CJ Entertainment to Produce Romantic Drama Press Play With Clara Rugaard, Lewis Pullman (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 28, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  32. ^ a b Petski, Denise (August 12, 2022). "Lessons In Chemistry: Brie Larson's Apple Series Adds Seven To Cast Including Lewis Pullman, Beau Bridges, Ana Naomi King, Kevin Sussman". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 12, 2022.
  33. ^ Kit, Borys (August 27, 2021). "Stephen King Adaptation Salem's Lot Finds Its Lead in Lewis Pullman (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on August 27, 2021. Retrieved August 28, 2021.
  34. ^ Kroll, Justin (January 29, 2024). "'Thunderbolts': Geraldine Viswanathan Joins Marvel Studios Pic Stepping In For Ayo Edebiri Who Departs Project Due To Scheduling". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
  35. ^ Grobar, Matt (June 26, 2023). "Elizabeth Banks To Topline Austin Peters' Thriller 'Skincare'; Lewis Pullman, Michaela Jaé Rodriguez, Luis Gerardo Méndez & Nathan Fillion Also Set". Deadline. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  36. ^ Mancuso, Vinnie (July 16, 2019). "'Avengers: Endgame', 'Game of Thrones' Lead the 2019 Saturn Awards Nominations". Collider. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  37. ^ Pedersen, Erik (December 5, 2023). "'The Morning Show' & 'Succession' Lead Critics Choice Awards TV Nominations". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 8, 2023.
  38. ^ Nordyke, Kimberly (December 5, 2023). "Film Independent Spirit Awards: Full List of Nominees". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 8, 2023.

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