Zachary Quinto

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Zachary Quinto
Zachary Quinto 2011.jpg
Quinto at a Midtown Comics signing in 2011
Born Zachary John Quinto
(1977-06-02) June 2, 1977 (age 35)
Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 2000–present
Website
www.zacharyquinto.com

Zachary John Quinto (born June 2, 1977) is an American actor and film producer. Quinto grew up in Pennsylvania and was active in high school musical theater. In the early 2000s, he guest starred in television series and appeared in a recurring role in the serial drama 24 from 2003 to 2004. In 2006, Quinto acted in the sitcom So NoTORIous and portrayed series antagonist Sylar in the science fiction drama Heroes from 2006 to 2010. He played Spock in the 2009 reboot Star Trek, and its 2013 sequel, Star Trek Into Darkness.

Contents

Early life [edit]

Quinto was born in Pittsburgh, and grew up in Green Tree, Pennsylvania. His mother, Margaret J. "Margo" (née McArdle), worked at an investment firm and later at a magistrate's office. His father, John Quinto, who was a barber, died of cancer when Quinto was seven years old.[1][2] Quinto and his brother, Joe, were subsequently raised by their mother.[3][4] His father was of Italian descent, while his mother is of Irish ancestry.[5][6] Quinto graduated from Central Catholic High School in 1995, where he participated in their musicals and won the Gene Kelly Award for Best Supporting Actor, and then attended Carnegie Mellon University's School of Drama, from which he graduated in 1999.[7][8]

Career [edit]

Quinto first appeared on television in the short-lived television series The Others, and appeared as a guest star on shows including CSI, Touched by an Angel, Charmed, Six Feet Under, Lizzie McGuire, and L.A. Dragnet. In 2003, he landed a recurring role as computer expert Adam Kaufman on the Fox series 24; Quinto appeared in 23 episodes of the third season.

Quinto at the premiere party of Heroes' third season in 2008

In 2006, Quinto played the role of Sasan: the haughty, gay Iranian-American best friend of Tori Spelling on her VH1 series So NoTORIous. Later that year, he joined the cast of Tim Kring's Heroes as Gabriel Gray, better known as the serial killer Sylar.[9] He worked on the series until its cancellation in 2010 after four seasons.

His casting as a young Spock in the J. J. Abrams-directed reboot of the Star Trek film franchise was officially announced at the 2007 Comic-Con.[10][11] Speaking alongside Leonard Nimoy at a press conference to promote the new Star Trek film, Quinto revealed that Nimoy had been given casting approval over who would play the role of the young Spock. "For me Leonard's involvement was only liberating, frankly,"[12] says Quinto. "I knew that he had approval over the actor that would play young Spock, so when I got the role I knew from the beginning it was with his blessing."

In a September 2008 interview, Abrams said of Quinto's performance as Spock: "Zachary brought a gravity and an incredible sense of humor, which is a wonderful combination because Spock's character is deceivingly complicated. The revelation for me watching the movie, when I finally got to watch the whole thing after working on sequences, was that he is extraordinary. He was doing things I didn't even realize while we were shooting – these amazing things to track his story."[13] Quinto also made references to Star Trek's historical record for diversity and inclusiveness in its casting and storylines, and said that he hoped the looming election of Barack Obama would build that dynamic towards the film's May 2009 release date.

Following Star Trek, he appeared in the comedy short Boutonniere (2009). It "...was a movie written and directed by my former landlady and friend, [actress Coley Sohn]. She called up and said, 'Would you do me a favor and be in my short film?'"[14]

Karl Urban, Quinto, J. J. Abrams, and Chris Pine at the Star Trek Into Darkness Australian movie premiere in Sydney, April 2013

Quinto has joined with Corey Moosa and Neal Dodson to form Before the Door Pictures.[15] The company is working on projects in film, television, new media, and the graphic novel arena. It announced a three-book publishing deal with comic book publisher Archaia at the 2009 San Diego Comic-Con. The first project from the partnership is expected to be a 100-page graphic novel called Mr. Murder is Dead, created by writer Victor Quinaz. It will be followed by the comic book series LUCID: A Matthew Dee Adventure written by writer/actor Michael McMillian.[16]

Quinto's theatre experience includes roles in a variety of productions, including Much Ado About Nothing at the Los Angeles Shakespeare Festival and Intelligent Design of Jenny Chow at the Old Globe Theatre. Baseline Studio Systems announced in January 2010 that Steven Spielberg may direct a biopic about George Gershwin, which is scheduled for release in 2012, with Quinto confirmed for the lead role.[17][18] From October, 2010 to February 2011, Quinto played the lead role of Louis Ironson in an Off-Broadway revival of Tony Kushner's Angels in America at the Signature Theatre, New York City.[19][20] For this role, Quinto received the Theatreworld Outstanding Debut Performance award.[21] He has modeled for magazines including GQ and August.[22][23]

In 2010, Quinto's company Before the Door Pictures produced Margin Call, an independent film about the financial crisis. Quinto played the role of Peter Sullivan in the film, in a cast that included Jeremy Irons, Kevin Spacey, Stanley Tucci, Penn Badgley and Demi Moore. Margin Call premiered in January 2011 at the Sundance Film Festival.[24] In October 2011, Quinto began his recurring role on the FX series, American Horror Story, as Chad, former owner of the house. Quinto returned for the second season in one of the lead roles, as Dr. Oliver Thredson.[25]

In 2013, Quinto played the role of Tom Wingfield in the American Repertory Theatre's production of The Glass Menagerie by Tennessee Williams.[26] He is set to reprise the role in the Broadway production of the play, in a 17-week run that has previews scheduled to begin on September 5 and and opening on September 26.[27]

Personal life [edit]

Quinto publicly came out as gay in October 2011.[28] He explained that, after the suicide of bisexual teenager Jamey Rodemeyer, he realized "that living a gay life without publicly acknowledging it is simply not enough to make any significant contribution to the immense work that lies ahead on the road to complete equality."[29] Prior to his coming out, Quinto had long been an active supporter of gay rights and organizations, for instance the Trevor Project.[30] In 2009, he appeared in the one-night production Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays, a benefit stage reading in response to the passing of Proposition 8,[31] as well as in the play The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later, about the 1998 murder of Matthew Shepard.[32] In 2010, Quinto contributed a video to the It Gets Better Project, an Internet-based campaign that aims to prevent suicide among LGBT youth.[29] In 2012 Quinto campaigned on behalf of Barack Obama, including appearing in the video Obama Pride: LGBT Americans For Obama.[33]

In September 2012, Quinto confirmed that he is in a relationship with actor Jonathan Groff.[34]

Filmography [edit]

Quinto at the 84th Academy Awards, Red Carpet 2012
Roles in film and television
Year Title Role Notes
2000 Others, TheThe Others Tony Television series (1 episode: "Unnamed")
2001 Touched by an Angel Mike Television series (1 episode: "When Sunny Gets Blue")
2001 American Town, AnAn American Town Bennett
2002 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Mitchell Sullivan Television series (1 episode: "Anatomy of a Lye")
2002 Off Centre Smudge Television series (1 episode: "Diddler on the Roof")
2002 Lizzie McGuire Director Television series (1 episode: "Party Over Here")
2002 Haunted Paul Kingsley Television series (1 episode: "Grievous Angels")
2002 Agency, TheThe Agency Jay Lambert Television series (1 episode: "Air Lex")
2003 Six Feet Under Hip Student Television series (1 episode: "The Eye Inside")
2003 Charmed Warlock Television series (1 episode: "Cat House")
2003 Miracles Messenger Television series (1 episode: "Battle at Shadow Ridge")
2003 24 Adam Kaufman Television series (23 episodes)
2004 Dragnet Howard Simms Television series (1 episode: "Frame of Mind")
2004 Hawaii Loomis Television series (1 episode: "No Man Is an Island")
2004 Joan of Arcadia Pretentious Filmmaker God Television series (1 episode: "P.O.V.")
2005 Blind Justice Scott Collins Television series (1 episode: "In Your Face")
2006 Crossing Jordan Leo Fulton, Jr. Television series (1 episode: "Code of Ethics")
2006 Twins Jason Television series (1 episode: "When I Move, You Move")
2006 So NoTORIous Sasan Television series (10 episodes)
2006 Heroes Gabriel Gray/Sylar Television series (60 episodes)
2008 Robot Chicken Archimedes Q. Porter / Sylar (voice) Television series (1 episode)
2009 Star Trek Spock
2009 Boutonniere Michael Paul David Short film
2009 Hostage: A Love Story Gunman "Stew" Short film
Producer
2010 Before After II Short film
Executive producer
2011 Margin Call Peter Sullivan Producer
2011 Girl Walks Into a Bar Nicolas "Nick"
2011 Dog Eat Dog: A Short Tale Short film
Producer
2011 What's Your Number? Rick
2011 American Horror Story Chad Warwick Television series (4 episodes)
2012 American Horror Story: Asylum Dr. Oliver Thredson Television series (12 episodes)
2013 Star Trek Into Darkness Spock

Video games [edit]

Video Games
Year Title Role Notes
2006 24: The Game Adam Kaufman Voice and likeness
2013 Star Trek Spock Voice and likeness

Awards and nominations [edit]

Year Award Work Result
2007 TV Land Award for Future Classic Award Heroes Won
Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Villain Nominated
2008 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Villain Nominated
2009 Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Villain Nominated
Teen Choice Award for Best Rumble (shared with Chris Pine) Star Trek Nominated
Critics' Choice Award for Best Cast Nominated
Boston Society of Film Critics Award for Best Cast Won
Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association for Best Ensemble Nominated
2010 People's Choice Award for Favorite Breakout Movie Actor Nominated
SFX Award for Best Actor Heroes, Star Trek Nominated
2011 Theatre World Award Angels in America Won
Tina Award for Best Actor (Play) Won
Tina Award for Best Ensemble (Play) Won
Tina Award for Best Stage Duo (shared with Christian Borle) Won
Gotham Award for Best Ensemble Performance Margin Call Nominated
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Best Ensemble Acting Nominated
2012 Central Ohio Film Critics Association Award for Best Ensemble Nominated
AACTA International Award for Best Film (as producer) Nominated
Independent Spirit Award for Best First Feature (as producer) Won
Robert Altman Award Won
Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role on Television American Horror Story Nominated
2013 Elliot Norton Award for Outstanding Ensemble The Glass Menagerie Won

References [edit]

  1. ^ Keck, William (August 24, 2007). "Celeb Watch: For Quinto, the next step is the final frontier". USA Today. Retrieved March 16, 2013. 
  2. ^ "Obituaries - McArdle, Joseph A.". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved March 16, 2013. 
  3. ^ "Zachary Quinto Biography". Tvguide.com. Retrieved December 18, 2009. 
  4. ^ "Zachary Quinto". Hollywood.com. Retrieved March 13, 2012. 
  5. ^ Rob Owen (April 2, 2006). "The Insiders: 4/2/06". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. 
  6. ^ Keegan, Rebecca (October 20, 2011). "Zachary Quinto rides a wave of professional, personal growth". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved March 16, 2013. 
  7. ^ "Margin Call". Carnegie Mellon University. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 
  8. ^ "Pittsburgh CLO Education – Gene Kelly Awards Alumni". Pittsburghclo.org. Retrieved March 13, 2012. 
  9. ^ "Sylar coming back next season on 'Heroes'". Access Hollywood on MSNBC. July 13, 2007. Retrieved July 10, 2007. 
  10. ^ "Comic-Con: Zachary Quinto Is Spock". Empire Online. July 26, 2007. Retrieved July 16, 2012. 
  11. ^ Pascale, Anthony (July 23, 2007). "Quinto as Spock deal almost done". Trekmovie.com. 
  12. ^ "Leonard Nimoy and Zachary Quinto: The Two Faces of Spock". SuicideGirls.com. May 3, 2009. Retrieved March 4, 2009. 
  13. ^ "J.J. Abrams on TV's Fringe". SuicideGirls.com. September 5, 2008. Retrieved January 8, 2009. 
  14. ^ Lovece, Frank. "Zachary Quinto is 'Spock' in new 'Star Trek'", Newsday.com, May 6, 2009. Extended online version of print article, p. B4
  15. ^ Owen,Rob . "A Stars Trek'", April, 2009.
  16. ^ Before The Door Pictures official website, July 2009.[dead link]
  17. ^ Holden, Stephen. "Gershwin". The New York Times. 
  18. ^ Bio. "Zachary Quinto Official Website – Bio". Zacharyquinto.com. Retrieved December 18, 2009. 
  19. ^ Brantley, Ben (October 28, 2010). "‘Angels in America' at Peter Norton Space – Review". The New York Times. 
  20. ^ Dziemianowicz, Joe (October 29, 2010). "'Angels in America' review: Zachary Quinto flies high in perfect revival of Tony Kushner play". Daily News (New York). 
  21. ^ "Playbill". Retrieved September 2011. 
  22. ^ "GQ TV". Gq-magazin.de. Retrieved December 18, 2009. 
  23. ^ "Zachary Quinto". Joequinto.com. Retrieved December 18, 2009. 
  24. ^ "Sundance Institute". Retrieved September 2011. 
  25. ^ Goldberg, Lesley (March 2, 2012). "Zachary Quinto Returning to FX's 'American Horror Story'". The Hollywood Reporter. 
  26. ^ "Cherry Jones, Zachary Quinto & Celia Keenan-Bolger to Lead THE GLASS MENAGERIE at A.R.T. in February". broadwayworld.com. October 18, 2012. Retrieved March 16, 2013. 
  27. ^ "Zachary Quinto, Cherry Jones & More to Lead THE GLASS MENAGERIE on Broadway this Fall!". broadwayworld.com. April 25, 2013. Retrieved April 25, 2013. 
  28. ^ "Zachary Quinto on His Financial Crisis Movie Margin Call, Playing the Villain, and Occupy Wall Street". New York. October 16, 2011. Retrieved October 17, 2011. 
  29. ^ a b Zakarin, Jordan (October 16, 2011). "Zachary Quinto Comes Out As Gay In New York Magazine". Huffington Post. Retrieved October 17, 2011. 
  30. ^ "Zachary Quinto Quiet on Gay Rumors". The Advocate. October 25, 2010. Retrieved October 17, 2011. 
  31. ^ Wells, Duane (September 10, 2009). "Wed Alert". The Advocate. Retrieved October 19, 2011. 
  32. ^ "Zachary Quinto Comes Out as an Activist". The Advocate. October 19, 2009. Retrieved October 19, 2011. 
  33. ^ Alex Godfrey (2012-10-26). "Zachary Quinto on American Horror Story, Spock, and filthy slash fiction". The Guardian. Retrieved 22 November 2012. 
  34. ^ Strecker, Erin (September 12, 2012). "Zachary Quinto on dating Jonathan Groff: 'I'm incredibly happy'", CNN.com. Retrieved September 12, 2012.

External links [edit]

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