Vince Vaughn

Vincent Anthony Vaughn (born March 28, 1970) is an American actor. He is known for starring as a leading man in numerous comedy films during the late 1990s and 2000s. He has won a Critics' Choice Award and earned nominations for a Actors Award and a Emmy Award.

Vaughn made his acting debut in the sports drama film Rudy (1993). He had his career breakthrough with the comedy Swingers (1996). He starred in a string of successful comedy films such as Old School (2003), Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story (2004), Wedding Crashers (2005), The Break-Up (2006), Fred Claus (2007), Four Christmases (2008), Couples Retreat (2009), The Dilemma (2011), The Internship (2013), and Delivery Man (2013).

He is also known for his dramatic roles playing Nick Van Owen in The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), and Norman Bates in Psycho (1998). He acted in other drama films such as The Locusts (1997), Return to Paradise (1998), The Cell (2000), South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000), Domestic Disturbance (2001), Hacksaw Ridge (2016), Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017), Dragged Across Concrete (2018), and Freaky (2020).

On television, he starred as career criminal Frank Semyon in the second season of the HBO anthology crime drama television series True Detective (2015), and as a detective turned restaurant inspector in the Apple TV+ drama series Bad Monkey (2024). He also took recurring roles in the animated Netflix sitcom F Is for Family (2018), and in the HBO comedy series Curb Your Enthusiasm (2020–2024).

Early life Vaughn was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His mother, Sharon Eileen (née DePalmo), is a real estate agent and stockbroker who was once ranked one of the top U.S. money managers by Bloomberg Wealth Manager magazine. His father, Vernon Lindsay Vaughn, worked as a salesman for a toy company. Vincent's Catholic mother and Protestant father raised him in both the Protestant and Catholic faiths. He has Italian, Irish, English, Lebanese, and German ancestry.

Vaughn lived in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, until he was eight years old. After moving to Lake Forest, he graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1988 where he played football and baseball and wrestled, although he has called himself "unathletic" and "very average" at high school sports. At a young age, he had been introduced to musical theater and, in 1987, decided to become an actor. He has credited his mother as the inspiration for his career, saying, "I saw her overcome stuff, and I thought if you worked hard at something you'd give yourself a chance".

Career 1988–2002: Career beginnings

In 1988, Vaughn was cast in a Chevrolet commercial and subsequently moved to Hollywood. He appeared in the 1989 season of the television series China Beach and in three CBS Schoolbreak Specials in 1990. His first film role was 1993's Rudy as Notre Dame football tailback Jamie O'Hara. He struck up a friendship with Jon Favreau, who was also a first-time actor. Two years later, he was cast in a lead role in a proposed revival of 77 Sunset Strip that was to air on the fledgling WB Television Network, but the project ceased development after initial testing.

Vaughn gained wider success with his role in 1996's Swingers with Favreau. Afterward, Steven Spielberg cast Vaughn as Nick Van Owen in the 1997 blockbuster The Lost World: Jurassic Park, which gave him increased exposure. He followed that up with the lead role in The Locusts the same year. In 1998, he starred in the critically acclaimed drama Return to Paradise with Anne Heche, and starred in Clay Pigeons with Janeane Garofalo and Joaquin Phoenix. In 2000, he starred in The Cell with Jennifer Lopez and in 2001, appeared in Made, another film penned by Favreau. Vaughn also appeared in Dwight Yoakam's directorial debut, South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000). He also starred with John Travolta in the thriller Domestic Disturbance (2001).

2003–2014: Comedic stardom

Vaughn's performance in the 2003 comedy Old School increased his popularity, establishing him as a leading man in comedic films. Vaughn starred opposite Will Ferrell and Luke Wilson. The film was a commercial and critical success. In 2004, Vaughn appeared alongside Ben Stiller in the buddy cop action-comedy Starsky & Hutch and the sports comedy Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story. Both films were commercial hits. Film critic Rob Mackie of The Guardian compared the satirical nature within the film Dodgeball to that of the Rob Reiner directed comedy film This Is Spinal Tap (1984) and added that the film "stays consistently funny".

After this series of roles, he was dubbed one of the Hollywood "Frat Pack", alongside Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson. The name refers to the group of actors who frequently co-star in film comedies. He appeared in 2005's independent film Thumbsucker, crime-comedy film Be Cool, and action-comedy film Mr. & Mrs. Smith. Also in 2005, Vaughn starred alongside Owen Wilson in Wedding Crashers, which grossed over $200 million at the U.S. box office. The film also starred Rachel McAdams, Bradley Cooper, Isla Fisher, and Christopher Walken. Critics J.R. Jones of The Chicago Reader praised both Vaughn and Wilson on their chemistry describing them as "enormously funny" adding the film is a "rich send-ups of wedding culture".

In 2006, Vaughn starred in the comedy-drama The Break-Up opposite Jennifer Aniston. Rosie Wash of The Guardian wrote that the film, "subverts the love-conquers-all formula of traditional rom-com to arrive at the more satisfying conclusion". In 2007, Vaughn starred in the Christmas comedy film Fred Claus as a sarcastic, wild-at-heart older brother of Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti). The film was directed by David Dobkin, who had directed Vaughn in Wedding Crashers, and co-starred Elizabeth Banks and Kevin Spacey. Next, he moved from comedy to drama in Sean Penn's Into the Wild, a film about the adventures of Christopher McCandless, based on the best-selling book by Jon Krakauer. In 2008, Vaughn starred in his second Christmas comedy, Four Christmases, with Reese Witherspoon. The film portrays a couple who struggle to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas.

In 2009, he starred in Couples Retreat, a comedy chronicling four couples who undergo therapy sessions at a tropical island resort. Malin Åkerman played his wife. Vince's father, Vernon, portrayed his father in the film. In February 2010, Vaughn was among the nearly 80 musicians and actors to sing the charity-single remake of We Are the World. Vaughn starred in Ron Howard's comedy The Dilemma, released in January 2011. It was produced by Wild West Picture Show Productions, his production company. On July 31, 2012, it was announced that Vaughn would be developing a reboot produced by CBS to the sitcom The Brady Bunch, which was taken off the air in 1974. In 2013, Vaughn co-wrote and starred alongside Owen Wilson in The Internship.

2015–present: Dramatic roles and TV work

In 2015, he starred in Unfinished Business, which grossed $4.8 million in its opening weekend, a career low for Vaughn. He also starred in the second season of True Detective alongside Colin Farrell, which premiered on June 21. In 2016, he starred in the crime thriller Term Life, which featured Favreau in a supporting role and was directed by Peter Billingsley. Also in 2016, he played a drill sergeant in the war film Hacksaw Ridge.

In 2018, Vaughn co-starred alongside Mel Gibson in Dragged Across Concrete, his second collaboration with S. Craig Zahler, whom he worked with the year before on Brawl in Cell Block 99. In 2020, he starred with Kathryn Newton in the horror-comedy film Freaky, in which they play a serial killer and a teenage girl who switch bodies. On January 20, 2022, it was announced that Vaughn would produce a sequel to the 1983 film A Christmas Story titled A Christmas Story Christmas with Peter Billingsley (who reprised his role as Ralphie) through his production company Wild West Picture Show Productions for Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max.

In March 2022, Vaughn, Greg Olsen, and Ryan Kalil launched a podcast network and production company named Audiorama. The first podcast available from the network, Youth, Inc., focuses on youth sports. In 2024, he starred in the Apple TV+ drama series Bad Monkey playing a detective turned restaurant inspector. The show is created by Bill Lawrence and debuted on August 14, 2024.

In August 2024, Vaughn received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures.

Personal life

In 2005, Vaughn began dating Jennifer Aniston, his co-star in The Break-Up. In late 2006, he sued three tabloid magazines for reporting that he had been unfaithful to Aniston. They broke up in November 2006. They married on January 2, 2010, in the Armour House at Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois. Their two children were born in 2010 and 2013.

Vaughn is a fan of the Chicago Bears.

Vaughn describes himself as a libertarian. He supported Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul in both the 2008 and 2012 elections, and Rand Paul in the 2016 election. In June 2015, Vaughn expressed his opposition to gun control.

In 2016, Vaughn began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California. He received his blue belt in 2018.

On June 10, 2018, Vaughn was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and resisting arrest in Manhattan Beach, California, after failing a sobriety test at a police checkpoint. In May 2019, he was convicted of a reduced charge of reckless driving after he entered a no contest plea. Vaughn was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to undergo a three-month alcohol abuse program.

In 2019, Vaughn received the Meritorious Public Service Medal from the U.S. Army for his contributions to service members’ morale.

He is the majority shareholder of the Coachella Valley Scorpions, a team of the National Pickleball League (NPL), launched in 2023, for players aged 50 and up.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1991 For the Boys Cheering Soldier in Crowd Uncredited 1993 Rudy Jamie O'Hara Credited as Vincent Vaughn 1994 At Risk Max Nolan 1996 Just Your Luck Barry Direct-to-video Swingers Trent Walker 1997 Nick Van Owen Clay Hewitt 1998 Russell Durrell Return to Paradise John "Sheriff" Volgecherev Clay Pigeons Lester Long Psycho Norman Bates 2000 South of Heaven, West of Hell Taylor Henry FBI Agent Peter Novak Pendelton "Penny" Wise 2001 Made Ricky Slade Also producer Zoolander Luke Zoolander Uncredited cameo Domestic Disturbance Rick Barnes / Jack Parnell 2003 Old School Bernard "Beanie" Campbell I Love Your Work Stiev Blackball Rick Schwartz 2004 Starsky & Hutch Reese Feldman Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story Peter La Fleur Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy Wes Mantooth Uncredited Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie Paparazzi Actor 2005 Thumbsucker Mr. Geary Be Cool Roger "Raji" Lowenthal Mr. & Mrs. Smith Eddie Wedding Crashers Jeremy Grey 2006 Gary Grobowski Also writer and producer 2007 Into the Wild Wayne Westerberg Fred Claus Frederick "Fred" Claus Also producer 2008 Wild West Comedy Show Himself Four Christmases Brad / Orlando McVie 2009 Couples Retreat Dave Also writer and producer 2011 The Dilemma Ronny Valentine Also producer 2012 Art of Conflict: The Murals of Northern Ireland Narrator Documentary; also producer The Watch Bob McAllister Lay the Favorite Rosie 2013 The Internship Billy McMahon Also writer and producer A Case of You Alan Delivery Man David Wozniak Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Wes Mantooth Cameo2015 Unfinished Business Daniel "Dan" Trunkman 2016 Term Life Nick Barrow Also producer Hacksaw Ridge Sgt. Howell 2017 Brawl in Cell Block 99 Bradley Thomas 2018 Dragged Across Concrete Anthony Lurasetti 2019 Fighting with My Family Hutch Morgan Seberg Carl Kowalski 2020 Arkansas Frog The Binge Principal Carleson Freaky Blissfield Butcher / Millie Kessler 2021 North Hollywood Oliver Queenpins Simon Kilmurray 2025 Broke Producer Nonnas Joe Scaravella Also executive producer Easy's Waltz Easy 2026 Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice Nick 2027 Animal Friends Post-production TBA The Bookie & the Bruiser Boscolo Filming

Television Year Title RoleNotesRef. 1989 China Beach Motor Pool Driver Episode: "The Unquiet Earth" 21 Jump Street Bill Peterson Episode: "Mike's P.O.V." 1990 ABC Afterschool Specials Jason Episode: "A Question About Sex" CBS Schoolbreak Special Steve Episode: "Malcom Takes a Shot" Steve Guarino Episode: "The Fourth Man" 1991 Richard Episode: "Lies of the Heart" 1992 Doogie Howser, M.D. Mark Episode: "Sons of the Desert" 1998 Mr. Show with Bob and David Sheep Dog Episode: "It's Perfectly Understandishable" Hercules Loki (voice) Episode: "Hercules and the Twilight of the Gods" The Larry Sanders Show Himself Episode: "The Interview" Saturday Night Live Himself (host) Episode: "Vince Vaughn/Lauryn Hill" 2000 Sex and the City Keith Travers Episode: "Sex and Another City" 2001 Going to California Gavin Toe Episode: "This Year's Model" 2013 Pursuit of the Truth Himself (host) 10 episodes; also producer Saturday Night Live Episode: "Vince Vaughn/Miguel" 2015 True Detective Frank Semyon 8 episodes 2018 F Is for Family Chet Stevenson (voice) 8 episodes; also executive producer 2020–2024 Curb Your Enthusiasm Freddy Funkhouser 11 episodes 2022 A Christmas Story Christmas Television movie; producer only 2024–present Bad Monkey Andrew Yancy Main role; also executive producer 2025 Tires Mike Episode: "The Tri-State Mid Market Tire Expo" 2026 Life, Larry and the Pursuit of Unhappiness Jacob Donner Episode: "Lawrence"

Music videos Year Title Artist(s) 1998 "These Arms" Dwight Yoakam 2010 "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" Artists for Haiti 2016 "Don't Wanna Know" Maroon 5

Video games Year Title Voice role Notes 1997 Chaos Island: The Lost World Nick Van Owen

Awards and nominations Organizations Year Category Work Result Actor Awards 2008 Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Into the Wild Australian Film Critics Association 2017 Best Supporting Actor Hacksaw Ridge Blockbuster Entertainment Awards 2001 Favorite Actor – Science Fiction The Cell CinemaCon Awards 2013 Comedy Duo of the Year The Internship Critics' Choice Super Awards 2021 Best Actor in a Horror Movie Freaky Gold Derby Awards 2008 Ensemble Cast Into the Wild Golden Schmoes Awards 2005 Favorite Celebrity of the Year MTV Movie & TV Awards 2003 Best On-Screen Team Old School 2005 Best On-Screen Team (with the cast of Dodgeball) DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story 2006 Best Comedic Performance Wedding Crashers Best On-Screen Team 2021 Most Frightened Performance Freaky People's Choice Awards 2006 Favorite On-Screen Match-Up Wedding Crashers 2007 Favorite Leading ManThe Break-Up Favorite On-Screen Match-Up 2010 Favorite Comedy Star Couples Retreat Primetime Emmy Awards 2025 Outstanding Television Movie Nonnas Saturn Awards 2018 Best Actor Brawl in Cell Block 99 ShoWest Convention Awards 2006 Comedy Star of the Year Teen Choice Awards 2005 Choice Movie – Sleazbag Be Cool 2006 Choice Movie Actor – ComedyThe Break-Up Choice Movie – Chemistry 2010 Choice Movie – Hissy Fit Couples Retreat