Christopher Abbott

Early life

Abbott was born in Greenwich, Connecticut, the son of Anna (née Servidio) and Orville Abbott. He has an older sister, Christina. Abbott's father was born in the Caribbean and his maternal grandmother Angelina was born in Rosà, a town in the province of Vicenza in Italy. He has described himself as being a "Euro-mutt", with distant Portuguese and Eastern European ancestry. He spent his early years in Chickahominy, a working-class, heavily Italian-American neighborhood in Greenwich, and grew up in Stamford. Abbott worked at a local video store and at his friend's wine store. He attended Norwalk Community College shortly before he began studying acting at HB Studio. He moved to New York City in 2006 to be closer to school.

Career

2008–2012: Early career

After moving to New York, Abbott began going to large open calls for plays while in school, which is how Abbott 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. The second play, Mouth to Mouth, opened in the fall of 2008. The play depicted the limits of friendship and family, and 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. He followed this with guest-starring roles in the comedy series Nurse Jackie and the police procedural series Law & Order: Criminal Intent . In 2010, Abbott co-starred opposite Cristin Milioti and Laila Robins in the play That Face at the Manhattan Theatre Club.

Abbott made his feature film debut in the 2011 drama thriller Martha Marcy May Marlene opposite Elizabeth Olsen. Written and directed by Sean Durkin, the film premiered at the 2011 Sundance Film Festival in January, and had a limited release in the United States on October 21, 2011. It was met with positive reviews. 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 Abbott received positive reviews.

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, and was released theatrically in the United States on September 7, 2012. Critic Roger Ebert praised the film and Abbott's performance. Abbott gained public recognition for his role as the 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. Abbott quit the series after the show’s season-two finale, stating that the reason why he left was because he couldn't relate to the character. He returned to the series for the season 5 episode "The Panic in Central Park". Before leaving Girls in 2013, Abbott starred in a series of short films opposite model-actress Sheila Márquez for Free People and guest-starred in an episode of the comedy-drama series Enlightened opposite Luke Wilson.

After leaving the series, Abbott 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. In 2014, Abbott co-starred in the drama film The Sleepwalker, co-written by his good friend Brady Corbet. It premiered in-competition in the US Dramatic Category at 2014 Sundance Film Festival on January 20, 2014. It was met with mixed to positive reviews. Abbott 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. 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.

In the fall of 2015, Abbott 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 and the play was chosen as one of the best plays of 2015 by The New York Times. 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 and received a theatrical limited release on November 13, 2015. It was met with positive reviews and Abbott received a nomination for the Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead.

In 2016, Abbott co-starred in the comedy war film Whiskey Tango Foxtrot, opposite Tina Fey and Martin Freeman, released on March 4, 2016. Abbott 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. In the summer of 2016, Abbott co-starred opposite Marisa Tomei in the Trip Cullman production of Tennessee Williams' play The Rose Tattoo at the Williamstown Theatre Festival, for which Abbott received positive reviews. Abbott co-starred opposite Olivia Cooke in the American independent drama film Katie Says Goodbye, which premiered at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival.

Abbott starred alongside Joel Edgerton and Riley Keough in Trey Edward Shults's horror film It Comes at Night, which was released on June 9, 2017. He co-starred in Jamie M. Dagg's 2017 thriller Sweet Virginia, opposite Jon Bernthal, Imogen Poots and Rosemarie DeWitt. He also co-starred opposite Jessica Biel and Bill Pullman in the television series The Sinner, which debuted in 2017. Abbott also starred opposite Mia Wasikowska in Nicolas Pesce's film Piercing (2018), based on the novel of the same name. In 2021, Abbott starred in John Michael McDonagh's The Forgiven, followed by Zachary Wigon's second feature film Sanctuary in 2022 and Yorgos Lanthimos' Poor Things in 2023*.* In 2023, he also returned to TV in the role of Stan in the Apple TV+ anthology series The Crowded Room, alongside Tom Holland and Amanda Seyfried.

Recent projects

In March 2022, he joined Aaron Taylor-Johnson in Kraven the Hunter as the film's main villain, which was reported to be the Foreigner. Principal photography began on March 20, 2022.

In February 2022, it was announced that Abbott would reteam with John Michael McDonagh in Fear Is The Rider, co-starring Abbey Lee. However, he would later dropped out of the project. In May 2022, he signed to star in Justin Anderson's directorial debut Swimming Home, an adaptation of the Booker Prize-nominated novel of the same name by Deborah Levy. He has also voiced Reed, an art dealer, in the adult animated music television series Entergalactic, based on the album of the same name by American musician and actor Kid Cudi. The series premiered September 30, 2022, on Netflix.

In July 2023 it was announced that Abbott would return to the stage playing Danny in the Off-Broadway revival of the John Patrick Shanley play Danny and the Deep Blue Sea. He starred opposite Aubrey Plaza in the Sam Rockwell production, which ran from October 20, 2023, to January 13, 2024. After an injury, he performed one show on crutches.

In September 2023, it was reported that Abbott would join Florence Pugh in the Netflix adaptation of John Steinbeck's novel East of Eden, in the role of Adam Trask.https://deadline.com/2024/09/christopher-abbott-florence-pugh-east-of-eden-netflix-1236077011/

Personal life

Abbott lives in New York. Abbott considers John Cassavetes to be the model for the type of creative life he would like to emulate.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

References

1. (2023-10-30). "Christopher Abbott On Stage".
2. (February 8, 2013). "Hello I Must Be Going — Sunday March 24 4pm at Town Hall". Westport Cinema.
3. "Anna Servidio". [[Ancestry.com]].
4. "Orville Barnwell Abbott". [[Ancestry.com]].
5. "Angelo Servidio". Legacy.
6. "Ep. 94: Airplane Mode with Christopher Abbott {{!}} The Ion Pack".
7. Harding, Michael-Oliver. (25 November 2015). "CHRIS ABBOTT ON HIS GRUELING, STAR-MAKING PERFORMANCE IN 'JAMES WHITE'". [[Nylon (magazine).
8. Ortved, John. (May 28, 2010). "12 OF BROADWAY'S BRIGHTEST YOUNG STARS SHOW OFF THEIR STYLE". Fashionista.
9. Chang, Kee. (August 5, 2012). "Christopher Abbott". Institute Magazine.
10. (October 7, 2015). "Conversations with Christopher Abbott of JAMES WHITE". [[YouTube]].
11. "alumni". [[HB Studio]].
12. Laura Bennett. (September 23, 2013). "Back to His Working-Class Roots". The New York Times.
13. Isherwood, Charles. (May 20, 2008). "Sex, School and Videotape (Hold the Tea and Sympathy, Please)". The New York Times.
14. Brantley, Ben. (November 7, 2008). "Help! Stranded on the Outer Fringes of Your Lives". The New York Times.
15. Brantley, Ben. (May 18, 2010). "Do You Have a Mother? Then You Have Someone to Blame". The New York Times.
16. (December 1, 2010). "2011 Sundance Film Festival Announces Films in Competition". Sundance.org.
17. "Martha Marcy May Marlene". [[Metacritic]].
18. Brantley, Ben. (April 25, 2011). "A Papal Visit Has Dreamers Dreaming". The New York Times.
19. Grier, Thom. (April 27, 2011). "The House of Blue Leaves".
20. (September 12, 2012). "Bernard, Katherine. "Straight from the Set: Christopher Abbott talks Girls and a New Role" (''Vogue'', September 12, 2012)".
21. (September 5, 2012). "2012 Todd Louiso: "Hello I Must Be Going"". Sundance.org.
22. Ebert, Roger. (September 19, 2012). "Hello I Must Be Going". [[rogerebert.com]].
23. Lewis, Hilary. (September 24, 2013). "'Girls' Alum Christopher Abbott Reveals Why He Left the Show". [[The Hollywood Reporter]].
24. Bacle, Ariana. "'Girls' star Allison Williams goes behind the scenes of Charlie's return".
25. Levinson, Lauren. (January 31, 2013). "CHRISTOPHER ABBOTT FROM HBO'S 'GIRLS' STARS IN NEW FREE PEOPLE VIDEO".
26. "How does Levi afford posh Hawaii rehab?".
27. Isherwood, Charles. (September 5, 2013). "A Small-Town Girl Who Wants Out Thurber's Hill Town Plays". The New York Times.
28. (January 10, 2014). "Sundance 2014: U.S. Dramatic Competition".
29. (December 24, 2013). "'The Sleepwalker' Sundance Trailer".
30. "Sundance Review: 'The Sleepwalker' Starring Brady Corbet Is An Unsettling Look At Family Dysfunction & Secrets'".
31. (January 24, 2014). "The Sleepwalker: Sundance Review".
32. Brantley, Ben. (July 28, 2014). "To Attract and Repel, in Perpetuity". The New York Times.
33. (September 18, 2014). "J.C. Chandor Pic 'A Most Violent Year' Gets New Year's Eve Release: Video".
34. Isherwood, Charles. (August 11, 2015). "Review: In 'John,' Pondering Life's Mysteries From Gettysburg". The New York Times.
35. Brantley and Isherwood, Ben & Charles. (December 8, 2015). "The Best Theater of 2015". The New York Times.
36. Scott Foundas. (January 23, 2015). "'James White' Review: Josh Mond's Raw Family Drama".
37. Lincoln, Ross A.. (August 27, 2015). "James White, Sundance Hit Gets November Theatrical Release".
38. "James White".
39. (November 24, 2015). "'Carol,' 'Spotlight,' 'Beasts of No Nation' Lead Spirit Awards Nominations".
40. Sneider, Jeff. (November 9, 2015). "Tina Fey's Untitled Movie Based on 'Taliban Shuffle' Lands Release Date". [[TheWrap]].
41. Truitt, Brian. (November 26, 2015). "Sneak peek: Tina Fey goes to war in 'Whiskey Tango Foxtrot'". [[USA Today]].
42. Dowling, Amber. (March 28, 2016). ""Girls" devotes an entire episode to Marnie and a special guest star in Central Park". [[IndieWire]].
43. Isherwood, Charles. (July 10, 2016). "Review: Marisa Tomei, in Extremis, in 'The Rose Tattoo'". The New York Times.
44. Borys Kit. (March 23, 2015). "Olivia Cooke to Star in Indie Drama 'Katie Says Goodbye' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
45. "It Comes at Night".
46. Busch, Anita. (August 22, 2016). "Jon Bernthal, Imogen Poots & Others Join Thriller 'Sweet Virginia'".
47. Blickley, Leigh. (February 17, 2017). "Jessica Biel Returns To TV In Creepy New Crime Thriller 'The Sinner'". [[The Huffington Post]].
48. Petski, Denise. (October 31, 2016). "'The Sinner': Chris Abbott, Abby Miller & Dohn Norwood Join USA Network Pilot".
49. Acevedo, Yoselin. (February 8, 2017). "Mia Wasikowska and Christopher Abbott Starring in Nicolas Pesce's Upcoming Thriller 'Piercing'". [[IndieWire]].
50. Grobar, Matt. (November 11, 2021). "Roadside Attractions And Vertical Entertainment Acquire John Michael McDonagh Film 'The Forgiven' Starring Jessica Chastain & Ralph Fiennes". [[Deadline Hollywood]].
51. Keslassy, Elsa. (September 4, 2021). "Margaret Qualley, Christopher Abbott to Star in New York-Lensed Thriller 'Sanctuary'". [[Variety (magazine).
52. (September 2, 2021). "Christopher Abbott Joins Emma Stone In Yorgos Lanthimos' Adaptation of 'Poor Things' For Searchlight And Film4".
53. (February 22, 2022). "''The Crowded Room'': Sasha Lane, Christopher Abbott, Emma Laird Round Out Cast Of Apple TV+ Anthology Series".
54. Kroll, Justin. (March 9, 2022). "''Kraven The Hunter'': Christopher Abbott To Play The Foreigner In Sony's Marvel Pic".
55. Dick, Jeremy. (March 20, 2022). "Sony's Kraven the Hunter Movie Starts Filming, First Set Footage Revealed".
56. Grobar, Matt. (February 9, 2022). "Abbey Lee & Christopher Abbott To Lead John Michael McDonagh Thriller 'Fear Is The Rider'; The Exchange Launches Sales".
57. Tutt, Louise. (May 13, 2022). "AAriane Labed, Christopher Abbott, Mackenzie Davis to star in 'Swimming Home' for Bankside".
58. Petski, Denise. (2022-06-08). "'Entergalactic': Jessica Williams, Timothée Chalamet, Vanessa Hudgens, Macaulay Culkin & More Join Kid Cudi In Voice Cast Of Netflix Animated Series".
59. (July 26, 2023). "Aubrey Plaza & Christopher Abbott To Star In Off Broadway Revival Of 'Danny And The Deep Blue Sea'; Sam Rockwell Among Producers".
60. Lang, Brent. (2024-01-11). "'Danny and the Deep Blue Sea,' Off-Broadway Play Starring Aubrey Plaza and Christopher Abbott, Recoups Investment (EXCLUSIVE)".
61. Masseron, Meg. (December 8, 2023). "Christopher Abbott Performed in Danny and the Deep Blue Sea on Crutches".
62. Ryzik, Melena. (January 13, 2013). "And in this Corner, the Boys of 'Girls'". The New York Times.
63. Green, Jesse. (August 11, 2015). "Theater Review: A Bed-and-Breakfast Weekend Gone Awkward, in Annie Baker's John". [[Vulture (website).
64. Ellwood, Gregory. (November 28, 2011). "2011 Gotham Awards Winners And Nominees". [[HitFix]].
65. Billington, Alex. (March 18, 2013). "SXSW 2013 Awards: 'Short Term 12' Wins Both Grand Jury & Audience". firstshowing.net.
66. ZWECKER, BILL. (December 14, 2015). "MAD MAX' LEADS PACK WITH MOST NOMINATIONS FROM CHICAGO CRITICS". [[Chicago Sun-Times]].
67. 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]].
68. (December 10, 2015). "The 2015 Detroit Film Critics Society Awards Nominations". CinemaNerdz.
69. (October 22, 2015). "Gotham Awards Nominations: 'Diary of a Teenage Girl,' 'Carol' Lead the Pack". [[Variety (magazine).
70. (October 10, 2015). "Variety and Hamptons International Film Festival Host 10 Actors to Watch Brunch".
71. (November 24, 2015). "'Carol,' 'Spotlight,' 'Beasts of No Nation' Lead Spirit Awards Nominations". Variety.
72. (February 21, 2016). "'Carol' Named Best Picture by Intl. Cinephile Society". Variety.
73. (October 11, 2016). "Berkshire Theatre Award Nominations Announced". [[The Berkshire Eagle]].
74. "Winners & Nominees 2020". Golden Globe Awards.
75. (April 4, 2024). "2024 Lucille Lortel Awards nominations: 'Hell's Kitchen,' 'Stereophonic' get Tony Awards boost for their Off-Broadway productions". GoldDerby.