Nat Faxon
Faxon at the series premieres of You're the Worst and Married in July 2014
Born (1975-10-11) October 11, 1975 (age 48)
Boston, Massachusetts
Alma materHamilton College
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian, screenwriter, director
Years active1999–present
Spouse
Meaghan Gadd
​
(m. 2007)​
Children3

Nat Faxon (born October 11, 1975)[1][2] is an American actor, comedian, director, and screenwriter. A frequent presence on comedic films and TV series, he won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay for co-writing The Descendants (2011) and starred in the Fox comedy series Ben and Kate (2012–2013), 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]

Early life

Faxon'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

Acting

Faxon is an alumnus of the Los Angeles-based improvisational and sketch comedy troupe The Groundlings, where he began performing in 2001.[4]

Faxon 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 such as The Cleveland Show, Joey, Up All Night and Reno 911!.

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 the titular Ben in Ben and Kate,[5] for which he received many positive reviews.[citation needed] Faxon starred alongside Judy Greer in the FX comedy series Married, which ran for two seasons.

Writing and directing

Faxon and writing partner Jim Rash, whom he met while performing at 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 all receiving Oscars for their efforts.[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, among others.[7] The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival, where Fox Searchlight Pictures acquired it for $10 million,[8] and was released domestically to positive reviews that July.

Personal life

Faxon is married to Meaghan Gadd and they have three children: Ruthie, Otis and Beatrice.[9]

Filmography

Film

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) Post-production

Television

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 Pilot
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 Series lead, 16 episodes
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 Lead role, 23 episodes
2014–2016 TripTank Various voices 8 episodes
2014–2022 Robot Chicken Various voices 6 episodes
2014–present Blaze and the Monster Machines Pickle (voice) Main cast; 113 episodes
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 cast; 16 episodes
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 cast; 39 episodes
2018-2023 Disenchantment Elfo (voice) Main cast; 39 episodes
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 2 episodes
Solar Opposites Bryson (voice) Episode: "The Lavatic Reactor"
It's Pony Mr. Underwood (voice) 2 episodes
2020–2022 The Conners Neville 13 episodes
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–present 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) Main role
Mulligan Matty Mulligan (voice) Main role[10]

Awards and nominations

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[11] Best Comedy Nominated
2022 Peabody Awards[12] Entertainment Our Flag Means Death Nominated

References

  1. ^ "Today in History". Associated Press. Archived from the original on January 3, 2024. Retrieved January 2, 2024.
  2. ^ "Nat Faxon - Biography". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on April 22, 2023. Retrieved June 30, 2022.
  3. ^ "Nat Faxon". IMDb. Archived from the original on 2023-04-22. Retrieved 2023-03-23.
  4. ^ Faxon Archived 2014-05-17 at the Wayback Machine at Groundlings.com
  5. ^ 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.
  6. ^ 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.
  7. ^ 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.
  8. ^ "The Way, Way Back". Sundance Institute. Archived from the original on 30 December 2012. Retrieved 15 April 2015.
  9. ^ "Biography of Nat Faxon". FaxonRash.com. Archived from the original on 2013-10-23.
  10. ^ Petski, Denise (2023-04-11). "'Mulligan': Nat Faxon, Chrissy Teigen, Tina Fey, Sam Richardson, Dana Carvey, Phil LaMarr Lead Cast For Netflix Animated Series; Premiere Date, Teaser". Deadline. Archived from the original on 2023-05-20. Retrieved 2023-05-13.
  11. ^ "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.
  12. ^ Voyles, Blake (September 20, 2023). "83rd Peabody Award Nominees". Archived from the original on September 26, 2023. Retrieved September 20, 2023.

External links

Awards for Nat Faxon
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