Paul Schneider

Paul Andrew Schneider (born March 16, 1976) is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Dick Liddil in the epic western film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and his lead role as Mark Brendanawicz on the first and second seasons of the NBC political satirical sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–10). He also appeared in lead roles in the romantic drama film All the Real Girls (2003) and the comedy film The Babymakers (2012), the former of which he co-wrote with David Gordon Green and was nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer.

He has since appeared in supporting roles in films such as Elizabethtown (2005), Lars and the Real Girl (2007), Away We Go (2009), Water for Elephants (2011), Hello Carter (2013), Rules Don't Apply (2016), Brothers by Blood (2020), and American Murderer (2022). For his portrayal of Charles Armitage Brown in the biographical romantic drama film Bright Star (2009), Schneider won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was also awarded Best Actor in a Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival for his performance in the romantic comedy drama film Goodbye to All That (2014).

Early life Schneider was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina. He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

Career In 2000, Schneider made his film debut in David Gordon Green's George Washington and starred in All the Real Girls. As research for his role as Jesse Baylor in Elizabethtown, director Cameron Crowe suggested that Schneider tour with the band My Morning Jacket for five days. Schneider accompanied the band to concerts held in such locations as Irving Plaza, the Webster Theater, the Theater of the Living Arts, and Stone Pony Landing.

After Elizabethtown, Schneider had supporting roles in The Family Stone and Live Free or Die. In 2007, he portrayed Gus Lindstrom in Lars and the Real Girl and Dick Liddil in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. In 2008, he made his directorial debut with the independent film Pretty Bird. Also in 2008, Schneider played President William Henry Harrison in an episode of the Comedy Central series Drunk History Vol. 4.

In 2009, Schneider appeared as Charles Armitage Brown in Bright Star, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Award from the National Society of Film Critics. The award was shared with Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds. He portrayed Courtney Farlander in Away We Go. In an April 2014 interview with ScreenCrush, Schneider said that he had felt sidelined:

In 2018, Schneider made his Broadway debut in Young Jean Lee's play Straight White Men as Matt. Schneider's performance earned praise, with The New York Times critic Jesse Green singling him out as one of the highlights of the production.

Personal life On April 16, 2016, Schneider married Theresa Avila, an occupational therapist and co-founder of The World Lens Foundation, of which Schneider is a board member. The two have two daughters, Lou and Rae. Schneider is an Innocence Project Ambassador.

Filmography Film

Television

Awards and nominations Year Award Category Work Result 2003 Gotham Awards Breakthrough ActorAll the Real Girls 2004 Chlotrudis Awards Best Original Screenplay (shared with David Gordon Green) 2008 Sundance Film Festival Dramatic Pretty Bird 2009 Alliance of Women Film Journalists Best Supporting Actor Bright Star Hollywood Film Awards Spotlight Award Indiewire Critics' Poll Best Supporting Performance Bright Star San Diego Film Critics Society Awards Dramatic Pretty Bird Village Voice Film Poll Best Supporting ActorBright Star 2010 National Society of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actor 2012 RiverRun International Film Festival Emerging Master 2014 Tribeca Film Festival Best Actor in a Narrative Feature Goodbye to All That 2017 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best TV Actor Channel Zero: Candle Cove