Spencer Breslin

Early life

Breslin was born in New York City, New York, to Michael Breslin, a telecommunications consultant of Irish and Austrian-Jewish heritage, and Kim Breslin (née Walsh), a talent manager of predominantly Irish and English heritage. He has two siblings: older brother Ryan (b. 1985) and younger sister Abigail (b. 1996), who are both actors. They were raised on the Lower East Side, where they were homeschooled by their mother.

Personal life

Breslin married Australian activist Grace Tame in 2017; they divorced in 2021 after four years of marriage.

Acting career

Early career (1997–2004)

Breslin was discovered by a talent scout at a New York City playground at the age of three and went on to star in more than 50 commercials for McDonald's, Life cereal, Pampers, and other products. He made his TV debut at age four and was a series regular in the first season of ABC's 1997 sitcom Soul Man, in which he played the youngest child of Dan Aykroyd's character. He later guest-starred in several shows, including Law & Order, before appearing in Stephen King's Storm of the Century in 1999.

At eight years old, Breslin starred in the 2000 fantasy comedy-drama film Disney's The Kid as Rusty alongside Bruce Willis, who played the adult version of the same character, Russ.

For that role, Breslin won the 2000 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film by a Young Actor Age Ten or Under at the 22nd Young Artist Awards presented by the Young Artist Association. He was also nominated for the 2001 Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor, awarded by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy and Horror Films, and the 2000 Young Star Award for Best Young Actor in a Comedy Film, presented by The Hollywood Reporter.

He played a little boy in the 2000 comedy film Meet the Parents. Later that year, he played Joey in the Disney Channel Original Movie The Ultimate Christmas Present, and was nominated for the 2000 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy or Drama) Young Actor Age 10 or Under.

A young Breslin played Curtis the Elf in the 2002 Christmas comedy-fantasy film The Santa Clause 2, the first of four films in which he co-starred alongside Tim Allen. He also appeared in the 2002 TV movie Mom's on Strike; and as a pesky younger brother in the 2003 film You Wish!.

Breslin was nominated for a 2003 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role at the 24th Young Artist Awards for his work in 2002's Return to Neverland voicing the role of Cubby the lost boy. That same year, he also played the voice of Captain Crandall/Cap in the Disney animated television series Teamo Supremo.

In 2003, Breslin starred alongside Dakota Fanning and Mike Myers in the 2003 fantasy comedy film The Cat in the Hat as Conrad, the older brother of Fanning's character. The film was critically panned and grossed $134 million worldwide.

Breslin played on-screen siblings with his real-life younger sister Abigail Breslin in the 2004 comedy drama Raising Helen, starring Kate Hudson as their aunt and guardian. The two siblings worked together again in the 2004 romantic comedy The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement, in which Breslin at the age of 12 played a prince and Abigail made a cameo as a girl at an orphanage. The film made $134.8 million at the worldwide box office. In 2004, Breslin was a regular on the short-lived CBS sitcom Center of the Universe starring John Goodman. He appeared in the Wonderfalls episode "Lovesick Ass."

Also in 2004, Breslin was asked to read alongside Alyson Stoner, Dylan and Cole Sprouse, and Hailey Anne Nelson when Dr. Seuss won his Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

Mid-career (2005–2009)

In 2006, Breslin reprised his role as Curtis the Elf in The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause. He also appeared in the superhero action-adventure comedy Zoom and the comedy The Shaggy Dog that same year.

Breslin went on to star as the titular character in the 2007 comedy Harold, about a teen who starts prematurely balding at an early age. He also appeared as Josh in M. Night Shyamalan's doomsday thriller The Happening.

Later career (2010–present)

Breslin lent his voice as Anthony to the 2010 animated 3-D educational sci-fi adventure film Quantum Quest: A Cassini Space Odyssey. In 2010, MTV listed Breslin as one of "The 17 Coolest 17 Year-Olds from Around the World".

Breslin appeared as Max in the 2011 film Born to Race. He then played Jason in the 2012 romantic comedy drama Stuck in Love. Breslin appeared alongside Abigail as Cousin Derek in the 2012 crime drama Perfect Sisters. Breslin also began to work in other aspects of film making, serving as an executive producer on the animated Really Bad Movie! in 2013, as well as writing and directing his own short films.

Breslin starred as Isaac in the 2016 horror film Some Kind of Hate, which starred Grace Phipps and Sierra McCormick and played at the Stanley Film Festival, the Fantasia International Film Festival, and Fright Fest.

As of July 2016, Breslin was co-hosting the Spencer & Lara's Vomitorium weekly podcast, dedicated to "complaining about the unbearable, insufferable, and aggravating."

Music

Breslin finished recording his folk-indie debut album Labor Day in October 2009; the album was released in August 2012. It was recorded by Ladybug Transistor's Gary Olson and produced by James William Hindle.

Breslin has founded his own record label, Acadian Recording Company.

As of July 2016, he was playing in his rock 'n roll, indie folk band; Broken Machine. Breslin writes all of his own music.

Discography

''Labor Day''

Labor Day is Breslin's debut album, released under his own label, Acadian Recording Co., on August 14, 2012.

Written and composed by 16-year-old Breslin, Labor Day was recorded by Gary Olson — known for his engineering work for acts such as Cold Cave, Jens Lekman, and The Essex Green — over three, week-long sessions in Brooklyn from 2008 to 2009. The album was produced by James William Hindle, whose own music has been featured in The O.C., One Tree Hill, and other shows. Musicians featured include, among others, Kevin Barker (Joanna Newsom, Vetiver, and Antony and the Johnsons), Isobel Knowles (Architecture in Helsinki), Kyle Forester (Crystal Stilts), and Eric Farber (Ladybug Transistor). The record also features a spoken word cameo by actor Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network, The Squid and the Whale).

Track listing

Filmography

Awards and nominations

Breslin won the 2000 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film by a Young Actor Age Ten or Under. He was also nominated for the 2000 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a TV Movie (Comedy or Drama) - Young Actor Age 10 or Under, the 2000 YoungStar Award for Best Young Actor in a Comedy Film, the 2001 Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor, the 2003 Young Artist Award as Best Performance in a Voice-Over Role, and the 2007 Young Artist Award for Best Performance in a Feature Film by a Young Ensemble Cast.

List of awards

References

References

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