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Michael Wincott

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Michael Wincott
Born
Michael Anthony Claudio Wincott

(1958-01-21) January 21, 1958 (age 66)
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
EducationUniversity of Toronto (BA)
Juilliard School (GrDip)
OccupationActor
Years active1976–present
FamilyJeff Wincott (brother)
Websitemichaelwincott.org

Michael Anthony Claudio Wincott (born January 21, 1958)[1][2] is a Canadian actor. His deep, raspy voice[2][3][4][5] has often led to his being cast in villainous roles.[3][4][6][7][8][9]

Some of his best-known roles include Guy of Gisbourne in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991); Top Dollar, the main antagonist in The Crow (1994); music mogul Philo Gant in Strange Days (1995); mercenary Frank Elgyn in Alien Resurrection (1997); hacker Adrian Cross on the TV miniseries 24: Live Another Day (2014); and cinematographer Antlers Holst in Nope (2022).[3][5][6][10][11] He has frequently worked with directors Oliver Stone and Julian Schnabel, and appeared in films by Ridley Scott, Terrence Malick, Michael Cimino and Jim Jarmusch.

Early life and education

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Wincott was born on January 21, 1958, in Toronto and grew up in an east-end suburb.[12][13] His father is English while his mother was from Piacenza, Italy.[13] Wincott also has two brothers,[13] one of whom is actor and martial artist Jeff Wincott, a star of the late-1980s TV series Night Heat.[14]

In a 2014 interview with L'Uomo Vogue (the Italian edition of Men's Vogue), Wincott said he fell in love with cinema as a young child and took drama classes in high school.[13] He was educated at the Victoria University, a college of the University of Toronto. Then, in 1982, he enrolled at the Juilliard School in New York City, graduating in 1986.[1][15] Wincott credited director Des McAnuff, as well as his father, with encouraging him to enroll at the prestigious acting school.[15]

Career

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In 1976, Wincott starred in his first film, titled Earthbound, as Cole Buckley, a troubled teenager living in a small Saskatchewan town.[16][17][18] Kate Reid and Gerard Parkes played his parents in the film.[16][17][18] The film aired on CBC-TV's Front Row Centre series in January 1977.[16][17][18]

In 1979, Wincott starred in the Canadian adventure drama film Wild Horse Hank alongside Linda Blair.[2] In 1981, he appeared in the Canadian drama film Circle of Two starring Richard Burton.[2] He also appeared on two episodes of the Canadian TV Series, The Littlest Hobo in 1979 and 1981.[19]

After graduating from Juilliard, Wincott was cast in the 1987 film, The Sicilian in the role of Corporal Silvestro Canio.[15] That same year he was also cast in the Eric Bogosian play Talk Radio as a stoned heavy metal fan named Kent.[1][15][20] The following year Wincott appeared in Oliver Stone's film based on the play.[1][12] In the 1980s he also appeared on such American TV series as Miami Vice, Crime Story and The Equalizer,[1][3] as well as Canadian police drama series Night Heat[19]—a series starring his brother Jeff.

Wincott's stage performances include the off-Broadway productions Road (1988) starring Joan Cusack and Kevin Bacon,[2][20] and the Sam Shepard play, States of Shock (1991), starring John Malkovich.[2][21] He appeared on Broadway starring in the play Serious Money (1988) alongside Kate Nelligan, Alec Baldwin and John Pankow,[1][2][22] as well as appearing in The Secret Rapture (1989) starring Blair Brown.[2][23]

Wincott again worked with Oliver Stone in 1989, appearing in the film Born on the Fourth of July as a bedridden Vietnam veteran,[12] then yet again in 1991 in the film The Doors where he played the role of Paul Rothchild, the producer of The Doors' first five albums.[1][6] In 1991, he played Guy of Gisborne in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, a henchman of the Sheriff of Nottingham (Alan Rickman) who is also the Sheriff's cousin in the film.[4][6]

In 1993, he appeared in the film Romeo Is Bleeding as Sal, a mafioso,[24] and also played the part of Rochefort in the Disney film The Three Musketeers starring Kiefer Sutherland, Charlie Sheen and Chris O'Donnell.[7] The following year Wincott starred as kingpin Top Dollar opposite Brandon Lee in The Crow.[6] In 1995 he appeared in Dead Man with Johnny Depp.[1] He played poet Rene Ricard in the 1996 biographical film Basquiat.[6] He also played the role of mercenary Frank Elgyn in the 1997 film Alien Resurrection.[1]

Wincott starred as a psychopathic kidnapper opposite Morgan Freeman in the 2001 film Along Came a Spider.[6][8] The following year he played Armand Dorleac, a sadistic prison warden in the 2002 film version of The Count of Monte Cristo starring Jim Caviezel.[25] In 2004 he played Julius Bicke, the brother of Samuel J. Bicke (played by Sean Penn) in The Assassination of Richard Nixon.[26]

In 2006, Wincott appeared in the western film Seraphim Falls starring Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson.[27] He also appeared in The Diving Bell and the Butterfly and What Just Happened in 2007 and 2008 respectively.[26]

In 2009, he starred in A Lonely Place for Dying as CIA project manager Anthony Greenglass.[28] In early 2012 he was cast as notorious serial killer Ed Gein in the biographical drama film Hitchcock.[5]

In 2014, Wincott played hacker Adrian Cross in the miniseries 24: Live Another Day.[29] The following year he starred in the Canadian western drama film Forsaken alongside Kiefer and Donald Sutherland.[30] In 2016 he also played the role of Old Bill in two episodes in season 1 of the science fiction western TV series Westworld.[31]

In 2017, he appeared in the MTG drama series Veni Vidi Vici.[3][32] The Swedish series stars Danish actor Thomas Bo Larsen and centers around the porn industry.[32] Wincott plays the part of Georgina, a transgender former porn director.[3] The show was selected as one of the top new European series at the MIPDrama Screenings held annually in Cannes.[32] The series was also streamed on Hulu in 2017.[32] Wincott starred in Jordan Peele's 2022 thriller, Nope, as Antlers Holst, a renowned cinematographer. In preparation for the role, Wincott shadowed the film's director of photography, Hoyte van Hoytema.[11]

Wincott has also lent his voice to several characters in video games and animated features: In 2002 he provided the voice of Scroop, a malevolent spider/crab-like creature in the Disney animated film Treasure Planet;[2] he also provided the voice of Scroop in the accompanying Sony PlayStation video game of the same name.[19] In 2004 he provided the voice for the Prophet of Truth in the video game Halo 2.[33] He also provided the voice of Mr. Big in the 2005 re-launch of the video game Narc.[34] In 2012 he provided the voices for several video game characters: Jules Merit in the game Syndicate, Griffin in the interactive graphic novel Infex, and Death in the game Darksiders II.[19][33][35]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Title Shot Robber
1980 Nothing Personal Peter
Wild Horse Hank Charlie Connors
1981 Ticket to Heaven Gerry
Circle of Two Paul
1983 Curtains Matthew
1987 The Sicilian Cpl. Silvestro Canio
1988 Talk Radio Kent/Michael/Joe
1989 Suffering Bastards Chazz
Bloodhounds of Broadway Soupy Mike
Born on the Fourth of July Veteran
1991 The Doors Paul A. Rothchild
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves Guy of Gisbourne
1992 1492: Conquest of Paradise Adrián de Moxica
1993 Romeo Is Bleeding Sal
The Three Musketeers Rochefort
1994 The Crow Top Dollar
1995 Dead Man Conway Twill
Strange Days Philo Gant
Panther Tynan
1996 Basquiat Rene Ricard
Dead Girl Mark in the Park
1997 Alien Resurrection Captain Frank Elgyn
Metro Michael Korda
1998 Gunshy Frankie McGregor
1999 Hidden Agenda Larry Gleason
2000 Before Night Falls Herberto Zorilla Ochoa
2001 Along Came a Spider Gary Soneji
2002 The Count of Monte Cristo Armand Dorléac
Treasure Planet Scroop Voice
2004 The Assassination of Richard Nixon Julius Bicke
2006 Seraphim Falls Hayes
2007 The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Fashion Photographer
2008 What Just Happened Jeremy Brunell
2009 A Lonely Place for Dying Anthony Greenglass
2012 Hitchcock Ed Gein
2013 The Girl from Nagasaki Goro
2014 Grand Street Reuben
2015 Knight of Cups Herb
Forsaken Dave Turner
2017 Ghost in the Shell Dr. Osmond Uncredited
2022 Nope Antlers Holst

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1976 Earthbound Cole Buckley Television film directed by Mike Newell
1979 An American Christmas Carol Choir Leader Television film
The Family Man Charlie Television film
1979–81 The Littlest Hobo Charlie, Jeff 2 episodes
1981 Clown White Peter Television film
1985 Night Heat Jack Tenelli Episode: "Mother's Day"
1987–88 Crime Story Bobby Meeker 3 episodes
1987–89 The Equalizer Jarrow, Jordan 2 episodes
1988 Miami Vice Wilson Cook Episode: "Blood & Roses"
1990 The Tragedy of Flight 103: The Inside Story Ulrich Weber Television film
1996 Strangers Arnaud Episode: "Leave"
2002 The Red Phone: Manhunt Hans Peter Van Eyck Television film
2014 24: Live Another Day Adrian Cross 8 episodes
2016 Westworld Old Bill 2 episodes
2017 Veni Vidi Vici Georgina Series for Viaplay (Scandinavia) and Hulu (Australia and United States)

Self

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Year Title Role Notes
1993 The Making of The Three Musketeers Himself
2001 The Making of Along Came a Spider Himself
2005 Me and Graham: The Soundtrack of Our Lives Himself
2007 Behind the Scenes of Seraphim Falls Himself
2014 Jack is Back Himself The 'Making of' documentary
2016 The Making of Forsaken Himself

Short film

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Year Title Role Notes
2008 Sketches from Great Gull Narrator Voice
2011 The Iceman Mr. Softee Test scene for The Iceman (2012)
2011 The Farewell He

Video shorts

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Thanks

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Video games

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Year Title Role Notes
2002 Treasure Planet Scroop Voice
2004 Halo 2 The Prophet of Truth Voice
2005 Narc Mr. Big[34] Voice
2012 Infex Griffin Voice
Syndicate Jules Merit Voice
Darksiders II Death Voice

Theatre

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i Welsh, James Michael; Whaley, Donald M. (2013). The Oliver Stone Encyclopedia. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 277. ISBN 9780810883529. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i Hischak, Thomas S. (2011). Disney Voice Actors: A Biographical Dictionary. McFarland. p. 227. ISBN 9780786486946. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Morris, Anthony (January 5, 2018). "Hollywood's Michael Wincott is Veni Vedi Vici's secret weapon". SBS. Australia. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  4. ^ a b c Keeling, Robert (August 20, 2017). "Why I'll always love Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves". MetroUK. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  5. ^ a b c "Oh, That Guy: 15 Character Actor Villains You Love To Hate". IndieWire. Penske Business Media. July 3, 2013. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g "There's no doubt about it: Toronto-born Michael Wincott is best known to movie fans as the villain". Edmonton Journal. Edmonton, Alberta. September 19, 2012. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  7. ^ a b Travers, Peter (November 12, 1993). "The Three Musketeers". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  8. ^ a b Schwarzbaum, Lisa (April 13, 2001). "Along Came a Spider". Entertainment Weekly. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  9. ^ Sacks, Ethan (June 10, 2014). "'24: Live Another Day' Hour Seven Recap: Jack Bauer kicks it into second gear in drone vs. car chase". New York Daily News. New York City: Tronc. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  10. ^ Keslassy, Elsa (October 12, 2017). "Hulu Nabs Exclusive Streaming Rights to 'Veni Vidi Vici'". Variety. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  11. ^ a b Meenan, Devin (July 23, 2022). "Nope Star Michael Wincott Played A Cinematographer By Shadowing The Film's Actual Cinematographer". Slashfilm. Static Media. Retrieved August 17, 2022.
  12. ^ a b c Gabriel, Alice (March 23, 1989). "Michael Wincott, 'Serious Actor'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  13. ^ a b c d Croci, Roberto (November 12, 2014). "Michael Wincott: An impeccable cinephile". L'Uomo Vogue (in Italian). Milan, Italy: Condé Nast. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  14. ^ Brown, Barry (August 1, 1987). "Tidy Toronto Yields Gritty 'Night Heat'". Chicago Tribune. Chicago, Illinois. Retrieved October 1, 2018.
  15. ^ a b c d Nemy, Enid (July 3, 1987). "BROADWAY: Lucky Breaks for Michael Wincott". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  16. ^ a b c Peterson, Maureen (January 5, 1977). "Earthbound yo-yos from tragedy to comedy". Ottawa Journal. Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. p. 45. Retrieved August 4, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ a b c "Earthbound on Front Row". Richmond Review. Richmond, British Columbia, Canada. December 30, 1976. p. 10. Retrieved August 4, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ a b c Irwin, Joan (January 8, 1977). "'Bit of the Big Apple' series follows show to Broadway". Montreal Gazette. Montreal, Quebec, Canada. p. 38. Retrieved August 4, 2018 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ a b c d Michael Wincott at IMDb
  20. ^ a b Rich, Frank (July 29, 1988). "Review/Theater; A 'Road' to Lives That Go Nowhere". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  21. ^ Rich, Frank (May 17, 1991). "Review/Theater; Sam Shepard Returns, On War and Machismo". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  22. ^ Rich, Frank (February 25, 1988). "Critic's Notebook; Fixing the Blame for 'Serious Money'". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  23. ^ Rich, Frank (October 27, 1989). "Review/Theater; Bad Sister vs. Good Sister In Hare's 'Secret Rapture'". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  24. ^ Johnson, Malcolm (February 4, 1994). "Surreal 'Romeo Is Bleeding' Pulses With Evil, Dark Humor". Hartford Courant. Hartford, Connecticut. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  25. ^ Nichols, Peter M. (February 1, 2002). "The Count Of Monte Cristo". The New York Times. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  26. ^ a b Rehlin, Gunnar (December 2, 2008). "Michael Wincott joins Swedish project - Rafael Edholm to direct untitled project". Variety. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  27. ^ Schager, Nick (January 18, 2007). "Seraphim Falls". Slant Magazine. Brooklyn, New York. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  28. ^ Morris, Anthony (February 15, 2013). "Interview With A Lonely Place for Dying Director Justin Eugene Evans". Huffington Post. Australia. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  29. ^ Hibberd, James (November 19, 2013). "'24' return casts infamous hacker character". Entertainment Weekly. New York City: Meredith Corporation. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  30. ^ Leydon, Joe (September 15, 2015). "Toronto Film Review: 'Forsaken". Variety. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  31. ^ Ro, Crystal (October 5, 2016). "This is what Old Bill from "Westworld" looks like IRL, and FYI he's a veteran actor". Yahoo.com. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  32. ^ a b c d Roxborough, Scott (October 12, 2017). "Mipcom: Hulu Takes Scandi Drama 'Veni Vidi Vici' for U.S." The Hollywood Reporter. Los Angeles, California: Lynne Segall. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  33. ^ a b Douglas, Ana (July 26, 2012). "Why I'll always love Robin Hood: Prince Of Thieves". Business Insider. New York City, New York. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  34. ^ a b "NARC; God of War; Heritage of Kings: The Settlers". The Washington Post. Washington, D.C. March 27, 2005. Archived from the original on 2007-08-08. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
  35. ^ Carter, James (August 8, 2013). "Keith Arem Discusses His Interactive Graphic Novel "Infex"". Vice. Retrieved June 1, 2018.
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