Christopher Abbott

Christopher Abbott

Christopher Abbott outside the Signature Theatre in 2015
Born Christopher Jacob Abbott
February 1986 (age 30)
Greenwich, Connecticut, U.S.
Residence New York City, New York, U.S.
Education HB Studio
Occupation Actor
Years active 2008–present

Christopher Jacob Abbott (born February 1986)[1][2] is an American actor. He made his feature film debut in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011). His other notable films include Hello I Must Be Going (2012), The Sleepwalker (2014) and A Most Violent Year (2014). In 2015, he starred as the title character in the critically acclaimed film James White.

Abbott is mostly known for his role as Charlie Dattolo in the HBO comedy-drama series Girls. He has also had an extensive career on stage, having performed in both Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.

Early life and education

Abbott was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, the son of Anna (née Servidio) and Orville Abbott.[3][4][5] He has an older sister, Christina.[6] Abbott is of Italian and Portuguese descent.[7][8][9] He spent his early years in Chickahominy, a working-class, heavily Italian-American neighborhood in Greenwich, and grew up in Stamford. He worked at a local video store and at his friend's wine store.[10][11] He attended Norwalk Community College shortly before he began studying acting at HB Studio.[12][13] He moved to New York City in 2006 to be closer to school.[14]

Career

2008–2012: Early career

After moving to New York, Abbott began going to big open calls for plays while in school. This is how he got his two first acting jobs, Off-Broadway. The first play, Good Boys and True, opened in the Spring of 2008 and was written by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and directed by Scott Ellis. It followed a scandal at a prep school. Abbott played the lead character's (Brian J. Smith) gay best friend, Justin.[15] The second play, Mouth to Mouth, opened in the Fall of 2008. The mordant and mournful play about the limits of friendship and family was written by Kevin Elyot and directed by Mark Brokaw. Abbott played the sympathetic 15-year-old son of Laura (Lisa Emery). Abbott received positive reviews for both productions.[16] He followed this with guest-starring roles in the comedy series Nurse Jackie and the police procedural series Law & Order: Criminal Intent .[10] In 2010, Abbott co-starred opposite Cristin Milioti and Laila Robins in the play That Face at the Manhattan Theatre Club.[17]

He made his feature film debut in the 2011 drama thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene opposite Elizabeth Olsen. Written and directed by Sean Durkin, the filmed premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in January,[18] and had a limited release in the United States on October 21, 2011. It was met with positive reviews.[19] The same year, Abbott made his Broadway debut in the revival of the play The House of Blue Leaves opposite Ben Stiller and Edie Falco. Directed by David Cromer, the play opened in April 2011. Abbott played the part of the sullen, recently drafted son, Ronnie Shaughnessy, for which he received positive reviews.[20][21]

2012–present: Girls and film roles

In 2012, Abbott co-starred opposite Melanie Lynskey in the comedy-drama film Hello I Must Be Going. The film premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival,[22] and was released theatrically in the United States on September 7, 2012. Critic Roger Ebert praised the film and Abbott's performance.[23] He gained public recognition for his role as the sweet, docile boyfriend of Marnie (Allison Williams), Charlie Dattolo in the HBO comedy-drama series Girls. Created by Lena Dunham, the series premiered on April 15, 2012. He decided to quit the series after season-two's finale which left the fans of the series in shock. Abbott stated that the reason why he left was because of the fact that he couldn't relate to the character.[24] Before leaving Girls, Abbott starred in a series of short films opposite model-actress Sheila Márquez for Free People[25] and guest-starred in an episode of the comedy-drama series Enlightened opposite Luke Wilson.[26]

After leaving the series, he returned to the theatre in the fall of 2013 in the play Where We're Born by Lucy Thurber at the Rattlestick Playwrights Theater. The Jackson Gay-directed play featured Abbott opposite a cast that included Betty Gilpin. Abbott received positive reviews for his role as Tony.[27] In 2014, he co-starred in the drama film The Sleepwalker, co-written by his good friend Brady Corbet.[10] It premiered in-competition in the US Dramatic Category at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2014.[28][29] It was met with mixed to positive reviews.[30][31] He also co-starred opposite Sam Rockwell and Nina Arianda in the 2014 production of Sam Shepard's play Fool for Love at the Williamstown Theatre Festival. Abbott received positive reviews for his performance in the Daniel Aukin-directed play.[32] In his second film of 2014, Abbott played the supporting role of Louis Servidio in J. C. Chandor's crime drama film A Most Violent Year. Starring Oscar Isaac and Jessica Chastain, the film had its world premiere at the AFI Fest on November 6, 2014 at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood and received a limited release on December 31, 2014.[33]

In the Fall of 2015, he played Elias Schreiber-Hoffman in the Annie Baker play John opposite Georgia Engel and Lois Smith. Directed by Sam Gold, the play took place at the Signature Theatre. Abbott's performance received positive reviews[34] and the play was chosen as one of the best plays of 2015 by The New York Times.[35] Abbott starred as the title character in the drama James White opposite Cynthia Nixon, directed by Josh Mond. The film premiered at the Sundance Film Festival on January 23, 2015[36][36] and received a theatrical limited release on November 13, 2015.[37] It was met with positive reviews[38] and Abbott received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.[39]

In 2016, Abbott co-starred in the comedy war film Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, opposite Tina Fey and Martin Freeman, released on March 4, 2016.[40][41] He also returned for an episode of Girls, in the series fifth season. The episode was critically acclaimed and lauded as one of the series best episodes ever.[42]

Upcoming projects

Abbott will co-star opposite Olivia Cooke in the upcoming American independent drama film Katie Says Goodbye (2016).[43] He will also star in the crime-thriller, FULL-DRESS.[44] In the summer of 2016, Abbott will co-star opposite Marisa Tomei in the Trip-Cullman production of Tennessee Williams' play The Rose Tattoo at the Williamstown Theatre Festival.[45]

Personal life

Abbott lives in New York.[12] Since 2015, he has been dating British actress Olivia Cooke.[46][47] He considers John Cassavetes to be the model for the type of creative life he would like to emulate.[48]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2011 Martha Marcy May Marlene Max
2012 Hello I Must Be Going Warren
2012 Father/Son Oliver Short film
2012 Art Machine Cap’n Tar
2013 Roshambo Chris Video short
2013 All That I Am Christian
2013 The Exit Room Joseph Short film
2014 The Sleepwalker Andrew
2014 A Most Violent Year Louis Servidio
2015 James White James White
2015 The Girlfriend Game Henry (voice) Short film
2015 Criminal Activities Warren
2016 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Fahim Ahmadzai
2016 Katie Says Goodbye TBA Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Nurse Jackie Andy Singer Episode: "Pill-O-Matix"
2010 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Kyle Wyler Episode: "Lost Children of the Blood"
2013 Enlightened Travis Episode: "Higher Power"
2012-2013; 2016 Girls Charlie Dattolo 13 episodes

Theatre

Year Title Role Theater Notes
2008 Good Boys and True Justin Second Stage Theatre [15]
2008 Mouth to Mouth Phillip Acorn Theatre [16]
2010 That Face Henry Manhattan Theatre Club [17]
2011 The House of Blue Leaves Ronnie Shaughnessy Walter Kerr Theatre [20]
2013 Where We're Born Tony Rattlestick Playwrights Theater [49]
2014 Fool for Love Martin Williamstown Theatre Festival [32]
2015 John Elias Schreiber-Hoffman Signature Theatre [34]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2011[50] Gotham Award Best Ensemble Cast Martha Marcy May Marlene Shared with Elizabeth Olsen, Brady Corbet, Hugh Dancy, Maria Dizzia, Julia Garner, John Hawkes, Louisa Krause, Sarah Paulson Nominated
2013[51] SXSW Film Festival Ensemble Cast All That I Am Shared with Gaby Hoffmann, Christopher McCann, Dan Bittner, Emily Fleischer, Jacinta Puga, Carlos Puga Won
2013[52] Chlotrudis Award Breakout Award Won
2015[53] Chicago Film Critics Association Best Actor James White Nominated
2015[54] Chicago International Film Festival Emerging Artist Award Won
2015[55] Detroit Film Critics Society Best Actor Nominated
2015[56] Gotham Award Best Actor Nominated
2015[57] Hamptons International Film Festival Breakthrough Performer Won
2016[58] Independent Spirit Awards Best Male Lead Nominated
2016[59] International Cinephile Society Awards Best Actor Nominated
2016[60] Chlotrudis Award Best Actor Won

References

  1. ↑ Lavallee, Eric (February 7, 2015). "2015 Sundance Trading Card Series: #34. Christopher Abbott (James White)". ioncinema.com. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
  2. ↑ Bernard, Katherine. "Straight from the Set: Christopher Abbott talks Girls and a New Role" (Vogue, September 12, 2012)
  3. ↑ "Hello I Must Be Going — Sunday March 24 4pm at Town Hall". Westport Cinema. February 8, 2013. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  4. ↑ "Anna Servidio". Ancestry.com. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Orville Barnwell Abbott". Ancestry.com. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Angelo Servidio". Legacy. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Christopher Abbott". Ethnicelebs. Retrieved October 24, 2015.
  8. ↑ Ortved, John (May 28, 2010). "12 OF BROADWAY'S BRIGHTEST YOUNG STARS SHOW OFF THEIR STYLE". Fashionista. Retrieved October 29, 2015.
  9. ↑ "Angelina Servidio". Legacy. Retrieved November 6, 2015.
  10. 1 2 3 Chang, Kee (August 5, 2012). "Christopher Abbott". Institute Magazine. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  11. ↑ Bennett, Laura (September 23, 2013). "Back to His Working-Class Roots". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  12. 1 2 "Conversations with Christopher Abbott of JAMES WHITE". YouTube. October 7, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  13. ↑ "alumni". HB Studio. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  14. ↑ Laura Bennett (September 23, 2013). "Back to His Working-Class Roots". New York Times.
  15. 1 2 Isherwood, Charles (May 20, 2008). "Sex, School and Videotape (Hold the Tea and Sympathy, Please)". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  16. 1 2 Brantley, Ben (November 7, 2008). "Help! Stranded on the Outer Fringes of Your Lives". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  17. 1 2 Brantley, Ben (May 18, 2010). "Do You Have a Mother? Then You Have Someone to Blame". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  18. ↑ "2011 Sundance Film Festival Announces Films in Competition". Sundance.org. December 1, 2010. Retrieved January 21, 2011.
  19. ↑ "Martha Marcy May Marlene". Metacritic. Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  20. 1 2 Brantley, Ben (April 25, 2011). "A Papal Visit Has Dreamers Dreaming". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  21. ↑ Grier, Thom (April 27, 2011). "The House of Blue Leaves". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 21, 2015.
  22. ↑ "2012 Todd Louiso: “Hello I Must Be Going”". Sundance.org. September 5, 2012.
  23. ↑ Ebert, Roger (September 19, 2012). "Hello I Must Be Going". rogerebert.com. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  24. ↑ Lewis, Hilary (September 24, 2013). "'Girls' Alum Christopher Abbott Reveals Why He Left the Show". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  25. ↑ Levinson, Lauren (January 31, 2013). "CHRISTOPHER ABBOTT FROM HBO'S 'GIRLS' STARS IN NEW FREE PEOPLE VIDEO". Elle. Retrieved October 26, 2015.
  26. ↑ Bloomer, Jeffrey; Haglund, David. "How does Levi afford posh Hawaii rehab?". Slate. Retrieved November 4, 2015.
  27. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (September 5, 2013). "A Small-Town Girl Who Wants Out Thurber’s Hill Town Plays". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  28. ↑ "Sundance 2014: U.S. Dramatic Competition". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  29. ↑ "‘The Sleepwalker’ Sundance Trailer". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  30. ↑ "Sundance Review: ‘The Sleepwalker’ Starring Brady Corbet Is An Unsettling Look At Family Dysfunction & Secrets'". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  31. ↑ "The Sleepwalker: Sundance Review". Retrieved April 14, 2014.
  32. 1 2 Brantley, Ben (July 28, 2014). "To Attract and Repel, in Perpetuity". The New York Times. Retrieved October 31, 2015.
  33. ↑ "J.C. Chandor Pic ‘A Most Violent Year’ Gets New Year’s Eve Release: Video". deadline.com. September 18, 2014. Retrieved September 19, 2014.
  34. 1 2 Isherwood, Charles (August 11, 2015). "Review: In ‘John,’ Pondering Life’s Mysteries From Gettysburg". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  35. ↑ Brantley and Isherwood, Ben & Charles (December 8, 2015). "The Best Theater of 2015". The New York Times. Retrieved December 10, 2015.
  36. 1 2 Scott Foundas (January 23, 2015). "‘James White’ Review: Josh Mond’s Raw Family Drama". Variety. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  37. ↑ Lincoln, Ross A. "James White, Sundance Hit Gets November Theatrical Release". Deadline. Retrieved August 30, 2015.
  38. ↑ "James White". Metacritic. Retrieved November 16, 2015.
  39. ↑ "'Carol,' 'Spotlight,' 'Beasts of No Nation' Lead Spirit Awards Nominations". Variety. November 24, 2015. Retrieved November 24, 2015.
  40. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (November 9, 2015). "Tina Fey’s Untitled Movie Based on ‘Taliban Shuffle’ Lands Release Date". TheWrap. Retrieved November 10, 2015.
  41. ↑ Truitt, Brian (November 26, 2015). "Sneak peek: Tina Fey goes to war in 'Whiskey Tango Foxtrot'". USA Today. Retrieved November 27, 2015.
  42. ↑ Dowling, Amber (March 28, 2016). ""Girls" devotes an entire episode to Marnie and a special guest star in Central Park". IndieWire. Retrieved March 30, 2016.
  43. ↑ Borys Kit. "Olivia Cooke to Star in Indie Drama 'Katie Says Goodbye' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  44. ↑ "{EXCLUSIVE} “GIRLS” ALUM CHRISTOPHER ABBOTT SET TO STAR IN CRIME THRILLER “FULL-DRESS”". Tracking Board. April 19, 2016. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  45. ↑ "The Rose Tattoo". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Retrieved April 25, 2016.
  46. ↑ Mulkerrins, Jane (June 8, 2015). "Olivia Cooke: 'Mysterious and quirky characters are more alluring'". Retrieved December 1, 2015.
  47. ↑ Lombard, Amy. "Helen Mirren, Robert De Niro and More at the Gotham Independent Film Awards". The New York Times. Retrieved December 2, 2015.
  48. ↑ Ryzik, Melena (January 13, 2013). "And in this Corner, the Boys of 'Girls'". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  49. ↑ Isherwood, Charles (September 5, 2013). "A Small-Town Girl Who Wants Out Thurber’s ‘Hill Town Plays’ Are Produced by Rattlestick". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2015.
  50. ↑ Ellwood, Gregory (November 28, 2011). "2011 Gotham Awards Winners And Nominees". HitFix. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  51. ↑ Billington, Alex (March 18, 2013). "SXSW 2013 Awards: 'Short Term 12' Wins Both Grand Jury & Audience". firstshowing.net. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  52. ↑ "CHLOTRUDIS SOCIETY HONORS BREAKOUT CHRISTOPHER ABBOTT". Chlotrudis Society. March 3, 2013. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  53. ↑ ZWECKER, BILL (December 14, 2015). "MAD MAX’ LEADS PACK WITH MOST NOMINATIONS FROM CHICAGO CRITICS". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved December 14, 2015.
  54. ↑ Anielski, Ryan (October 5, 2015). "Exclusive: 'James White' Director Josh Mond and Star Christopher Abbott to Receive Emerging Artist Awards at Chicago International Film Festival". IndieWire. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  55. ↑ "The 2015 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards Nominations". CinemaNerdz. December 10, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  56. ↑ "Gotham Awards Nominations: ‘Diary of a Teenage Girl,’ ‘Carol’ Lead the Pack". Variety. October 22, 2015. Retrieved October 22, 2015.
  57. ↑ "Variety and Hamptons International Film Festival Host 10 Actors to Watch Brunch". Variety. October 10, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  58. ↑ "'Carol,' 'Spotlight,' 'Beasts of No Nation' Lead Spirit Awards Nominations". Variety. November 24, 2015. Retrieved December 13, 2015.
  59. ↑ "'Carol' Named Best Picture by Intl. Cinephile Society". Variety. February 21, 2016. Retrieved February 22, 2016.
  60. ↑ "‘TANGERINE’ RISES TO THE TOP AT 22nd CHLOTRUDIS AWARDS". Chlotrudis Society. March 23, 2016. Retrieved April 1, 2016.

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