Jeff Goldblum Biography / Pictures

Jeff Goldblum (born October 22, 1952) is an American actor. He often portrays quirky, intense, or eccentric characters.

Biography

Jeff was born in the Pittsburgh suburb of West Homestead, Pennsylvania, the son of Shirley, a radio broadcaster who later ran a kitchen equipment sales firm, and Harold Goldblum, a doctor. Jeff Goldblum has a sister, Pamela and an older brother, Lee. Another older brother, Rick, lived to age 23. His family is Jewish and belonged to an Orthodox synagogue; Jeff's paternal grandfather emigrated from Russia and his maternal grandfather from Austria. Jeff's parents were interested in show business. Jeff moved to New York City at 17 to become an actor. Jeff worked on the stage and studied acting at the renowned Neighborhood Playhouse under the guidance of acting coach Sanford Meisner. He made his Broadway debut in a production of The Two Gentlemen of Verona. He is also an accomplished jazz pianist and declared that if he did not act, he would have become a professional musician. He made his film debut as a thug in the 1974 Charles Bronson film Death Wish. He briefly appeared as a protester in the TV movie Columbo: A Case of Immunity (1975).

In 1974, Jeff appeared in Death Wish as Freak # 1. Later in his career, as "Lacey Party Guest" in Annie Hall (1977), Jeff is seen saying into the telephone at a Hollywood party, "I forgot my mantra." Jeff has had leading roles in films such as The Fly, Independence Day, The Lost World (1997), Earth Girls Are Easy and The Tall Guy. Goldblum's strong supporting roles include those in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), The Big Chill (1983), Into the Night (1985), Jurassic Park (1993), and He also had strong supporting roles in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004) and the cult films The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension (1984) and Igby Goes Down (2002).

For several years, Jeff was the voice for most U.S. Apple commercials, including advertisements for the iMac and iBook. He also voices some U.S. Toyota commercials as well as Procter & Gamble's facial cream line. He has recently appeared on Irish TV in commercials for the National Lottery.

Jeff taught acting at Playhouse West in North Hollywood with Robert Carnegie. It was with several actors from this acting company that he improvised and directed the live action short film Little Surprises, which was nominated for an Academy Award in 1996. According to gossip columnist Caffeinated Clint (as of September 2006), Jeff Goldblum will retain his role as Ian Malcom in Jurrasic Park IV.

Jeff got the role of Adam in the upcoming film Adam Resurrected, a film adaptation of the Yoram Kaniuk novel. Jeff is a German entertainer who becomes the ringleader to a group of Holocaust survivors in an asylum after World War II.

In September 2006, it was announced that Jeff was one of the founding members of a new theater company in New York called The Fire Dept. According to press materials, "The Fire Dept is made up of established and emerging writers, directors, actors and designers who have come together to create and produce work that cannot be replicated inside a television box or on a movie screen...The work of The Fire Dept combines the rigor and structure of great narrative storytelling with the vitality of formal experimentation to immerse audiences in a total experience that leaves them awake, alive and transformed." The company will devote energy into developing new live theater works as well as interpreting old favorites.

Jeff Goldblum's guest appearance was on Sesame Street in 1990 as Bob's long-lost brother Minneapolis (parody of Indiana Jones) where Big Bird's friend Snuffleupagus had "the golden cabbage of Snuffertiti" hidden in his cave. Jeff Goldblum has also appeared on Tom Goes to the Mayor and Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job!.

Jeff replaced Chris Noth as a Senior Detective on Law & Order: Criminal Intent. In the series, Jeff plays the role of Detective Zach Nichols.

Jeff has been married twice, to Patricia Gaul from 1980 to 1986, then to Geena Davis, his co-star in three films (including the comedy Earth Girls Are Easy and the science fiction/horror film The Fly) from November 1, 1987 to October 1990. He claims to have maintained a good friendship with Davis, saying "she's a wonderful person and a wonderful actress."

Jeff Goldblum was reportedly engaged to Laura Dern, his co-star in Jurassic Park, and later to Canadian dancer Catherine Wreford, according to the mockumentary/documentary Pittsburgh. Jeff Goldblum is reported to be currently dating 21-year-old television actress Tania Raymonde.