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Cary Elwes

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Cary Elwes
Elwes in July 2013.
Born
Ivan Simon Cary Elwes

(1962-10-26) 26 October 1962 (age 61)
Westminster, London, England
OccupationActor
Years active1979–present
Spouse
Lisa Marie Kurbikoff
​
​
(m. 2000)​
ChildrenDominique (b. 2007)
Parent(s)Dominick Elwes
Tessa Georgina Kennedy
RelativesCassian Elwes (brother)
Damian Elwes (brother)

Ivan Simon Cary Elwes (/ˈɛlwɪs/; born 26 October 1962),[1][2] known professionally as Cary Elwes, is an English actor and voice actor. The son of painter Dominick Elwes and designer Tessa Georgina Kennedy, Elwes acted in off-Broadway plays during college and moved to the United States in the early 1980s. He is known for his roles as Westley in the classic film The Princess Bride, Arthur Holmwood in Francis Ford Coppola's Bram Stoker's Dracula, Robin Hood in Robin Hood: Men in Tights, and Dr. Lawrence Gordon in Saw and Saw 3D: The Final Chapter.

He has also appeared in box office hits such as Days of Thunder, Hot Shots!, Twister, Liar, Liar and New Year's Eve.[3] He has had recurring roles in television series such as The X-Files playing Brad Follmer and Psych playing Pierre Despereaux.

Early life and education

Elwes was born in Westminster, London. He is the third and youngest son of portrait-painter Dominick Elwes[4] and interior designer Tessa Georgina Kennedy, who has Serbian, Croatian-Jewish, Anglo-Irish, and Scottish ancestry. His paternal grandfather was painter Simon Elwes,[5] whose father was the diplomat and tenor Gervase Elwes (1866–1921).[6] His brothers are Damian Elwes, an artist,[5] and Cassian Elwes, a producer and agent.[4] He was the stepson of Elliott Kastner, an American film producer.[4] One of his ancestors is John Elwes, who is believed to be the inspiration for Ebenezer Scrooge in Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol (1843)[7] (Elwes played five roles in the 2009 film adaptation of the novel).[7]

He was brought up as a Roman Catholic.[8] His parents divorced when he was four years old, and in 1975 when Elwes was thirteen his father committed suicide.[9] Elwes attended Harrow School in London[5] and then the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.[10] In 1981 Elwes moved to the United States to study acting at Sarah Lawrence College in Bronxville, New York.[11] While living in New York, Elwes studied acting at both the Actors Studio[11] and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.[10]

Elwes also was a production assistant on the films Octopussy and Superman, where he worked for a week assigned to Marlon Brando. When Elwes introduced himself, Brando told him he was lying and that his (Elwes') name was actually Rocky.[12]

Career

Film

Elwes made his acting debut in 1984 with Marek Kanievska's film Another Country. He played James Harcourt, a young and sentimental homosexual student from an English boarding school.[5] He went on to play Guilford Dudley in the British film Lady Jane, co-starring Helena Bonham Carter. He was cast as a stable boy turned swashbuckler Westley in Rob Reiner's fantasy-comedy The Princess Bride, based on the novel of the same name by William Goldman. It was a modest box office success,[13] but received critical acclaim, earning a score of 96% on the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes.[14] Since being released on home video and television it has become a cult classic.[13] In an interview around the film's DVD release in 2001, Elwes said, "The studio didn't know how to sell it – as an adventure, fantasy, comedy or love story, it had to rely on word of mouth". He also acknowledged the film's cult following saying, "Many people tell me they have it in their video collection, it's a family film but also a cult film in a way, being passed down to other generations".[15]

Elwes in 2010.

He continued working steadily, varying between dramatic roles, as in The Bride (1985) with Sting and Jennifer Beals, to the Academy Award-winning Glory (1989), and comedic roles, as in Hot Shots! (1991). In 1993, he starred as Robin Hood in Mel Brooks's comedy, Robin Hood: Men in Tights. Elwes also appeared in such films as Francis Coppola's adaptation of Bram Stoker's Dracula, The Crush, Rudyard Kipling's The Jungle Book, Twister, Liar Liar, Cradle Will Rock, The Cat's Meow and Kiss the Girls.

In 2004, he starred in the horror–thriller Saw which, at a budget of a little over $1 million, grossed over $100 million worldwide.[16] Entertainment Weekly critic Owen Gleiberman gave him a negative review, describing his performance as overacting.[17] The same year he appeared in Ella Enchanted, portraying the villain rather than the hero. He made an uncredited appearance as Sam Green, the man who introduced Andy Warhol to Edie Sedgwick, in the 2006 film Factory Girl. In 2007, he appeared in Garry Marshall's Georgia Rule with Jane Fonda. He also starred in the mystery thriller Shadows.[18]

Elwes portrayed Dr. Clement in the psychological thriller Psych 9 (2010).[19] Elwes returned to the Saw franchise in Saw 3D (2010), the seventh and final film in the series, as Dr. Lawrence Gordon.[20] Elwes was set to portray George Harrison in Zemeckis's 3D performance capture re-telling of Yellow Submarine;[21] however in May 2011, Disney withdrew from the project, leaving its fate uncertain.[22] He played Bobbly Wobbly in The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure; filming was completed in late 2009 and the film was released on 29 August 2012.[23] Elwes filmed a film adaptation of Camilla Dickinson in late 2010 where he played Rafferty Dickinson. It is awaiting release.[24] In 2012, Elwes will appear in the independent drama The Citizen (2012 film).[25]

Elwes attending a premiere of Saw 3D

On 23 October 2011, Variety reported that Elwes will make his directorial debut with an independent film, Elvis & Nixon. Eric Bana and Danny Huston signed on to portray Elvis Presley and Richard Nixon, respectively. Elwes wrote the script with Joey Sagal and Hanala Sagal, which is "inspired by a true historical event". Michael Benaroya will finance the film (through Benaroya Pictures) and will be shot in Los Angeles and Shreveport, Louisiana on an unspecified date.[26]

Television

In 1996, Elwes made his first television appearance as David Lookner on the sitcom Seinfeld. In 1998, he played astronaut Michael Collins in the Golden Globe Award-winning HBO miniseries From the Earth To the Moon. In 1999, he guest starred as Dr. John York in an episode of the television series The Outer Limits. He earned two Golden Satellite Award nominations for his performances in the television films The Pentagon Wars and Uprising. Elwes had a recurring role in the final season (from 2001 to 2002) of The X-Files as FBI Assistant Director Brad Follmer. In 2004, he played serial killer Ted Bundy in the A&E Network television film The Riverman, which was based on the book The Riverman: Ted Bundy and I Hunt for the Green River Killer written by Robert D. Keppel. In 2005, Elwes played the young Pope John Paul II in the CBS television film Pope John Paul II.

In 2007, he made a guest appearance on the Law & Order: Special Victims Unit episode "Dependent" as a Mafia lawyer. In 2009, he played the role of Pierre Despereaux, an international art thief, in the fourth season premiere of Psych.[27] In 2010, he returned to Psych, reprising his role in the second half of the fifth season, and again in the show's sixth season.[28] In March 2011, Elwes was selected to appear as Henry Detmer in the pilot episode of NBC's Wonder Woman.[29] However, the show was never picked up for a series.[30]

Voiceovers

Elwes' voice-over work includes the narrator in James Patterson's audio book The Jester,[31] as well as characters in film and television animations such as Quest for Camelot, Pinky and The Brain, Batman Beyond, and the English versions of the Studio Ghibli films Porco Rosso, Whisper of the Heart and The Cat Returns. For the 2004 video game The Bard's Tale, he served as scriptwriter, improviser, and voice actor of the main character The Bard. In 2011, Elwes performed the English voice over for Indian film, Delhi Safari.[32] He appeared in Robert Zemeckis's motion capture adaption of A Christmas Carol, which was released to mixed reviews. In 2012, Elwes will play the part of Gremlin Gus in Epic Mickey 2: The Power of Two.

Elwes appeared in Steven Spielberg's adaptation of Belgian artist Hergé's popular comic strip The Adventures of Tintin.

Theatre

While still in college in the 1980s, Elwes acted in off-Broadway plays.[5] In 2003 he performed in Bob Balaban-directed Off-Broadway dramatic stage play The Exonerated in New York during its 18–23 March, week run.[33]

Personal life

Elwes met still photographer Lisa Marie Kurbikoff in 1991 at a Malibu chili cook-off and became engaged in 1997.[34] They married in 2000 and have one child together, a daughter named Dominique born on 24 April 2007.[35]

In August 2005, Elwes filed a lawsuit against Evolution Entertainment, his management firm and producer of Saw. He said he was promised a minimum of one percent of the producers' net profits of the film and did not receive the full amount.[36] The case eventually settled out of court. In 2010, he went on to reprise his role in Saw 3D.[37]


Film
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Yesterday's Hero Disco Dancer
1984 Another Country James Harcourt
Oxford Blues Lionel
1985 The Bride Captain Josef Schoden
1986 Lady Jane Guilford Dudley
1987 Maschenka Ganin
The Princess Bride Westley/The Dread Pirate Roberts
1988 Never on Tuesday Tow Truck Driver Uncredited
1989 Glory Major Cabot Forbes
1990 Days of Thunder Russ Wheeler
1991 Hot Shots! Lieutenant Kent Gregory
1992 Bram Stoker's Dracula Lord Arthur Holmwood
Kurenai no buta Curtis aka Porco Rosso
Voice English version
Leather Jackets Dobbs
1993 Robin Hood: Men in Tights Robin Hood
The Crush Nick Eliot
1994 The Jungle Book Captain William Boone
The Chase Steve Horsegroovy
1995 Whisper of the Heart Baron Humbert von Jikkingen Voice English version
1996 Twister Dr. Jonas Miller
1997 Kiss the Girls Detective Nick Ruskin/Casanova Nominated – Blockbuster Entertainment Awards Best Supporting Actor
The Informant Lieutenant David Ferris
Liar Liar Jerry
1998 Quest for Camelot Garrett Voice
The Pentagon Wars Lieutenant Colonel James Burton
1999 Cradle Will Rock John Houseman
2000 Shadow of the Vampire Fritz Arno "Firtzy" Wagner
2001 The Cat's Meow Thomas H. Ince
2002 Wish You Were Dead Mac "Macbeth" Wilson
The Cat Returns Baron Humbert von Gikkingen Voice English version
Comic Book Villains Carter Direct-to-video
2004 Saw Dr. Lawrence Gordon Nominated – MTV Movie Award for Best Frightened Performance
Ella Enchanted Sir Edgar
The River Man Ted Bundy
American Crime Albert Bodine Direct-to-video
2005 Edison Reigert aka Edison Force
Neo Ned Dr. Magnuson
National Lampoon's Pucked Norman aka National Lampoon's The Trouble with Frank
2006 Factory Girl Sam Green Uncredited
2007 Walk the Talk Erik
Georgia Rule Arnold
2008 The Alphabet Killer Capt. Kenneth Shine
2009 A Christmas Carol Portly Gentleman #1/Dick Wilkins/Mad Fiddler/Guest #2/Business Man #1
2010 Psych 9 Dr. Clement
Flying Lessons Steven Jennings
As Good as Dead Ethan Belfrage
Shadows Jeff Mathews
Little Murder Barry Fitzgerald
Saw 3D Dr. Lawrence Gordon
2011 No Strings Attached Dr. Metzner
Delhi Safari English voiceover
The Adventures of Tintin Pilot
New Year's Eve Stan's doctor Nominated – Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Ensemble
The Story of Luke Uncle Paul Released
Camilla Dickinson Rafferty Dickinson Post-production
2012 The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure Bobby Wobbly
The Citizen (2012 film) Post-production
2013 Reach Me
2013 Justice League: The Flashpoint Paradox Orin/Athur Curry/Aquaman voice
Television
Year Title Role Notes
1996 Seinfeld David Lookner Episode: "The Wait Out"
1998 The Pentagon Wars Lt. Col. James Burton HBO television film
From the Earth to the Moon Michael Collins Episodes: "Can We Do This"
"1968"
"Mare Tranquilitatis"
Pinky and the Brain Director / Hamlet Voice
Episodes:
"Brainie the Poo/Melancholy Brain"
"Whatever Happened to Baby Brain/Just Say Narf"
Hercules Paris of Troy Voice
Episode: "Hercules and the Trojan War"
1999 The Outer Limits Dr. John York Episode: "Ripper"
Batman Beyond Paxton Powers Episode: "Ascension"
2000 Race Against Time Burke Television film
2001 Night Visions Gerald Episode: "Quiet Please"
Uprising Dr. Fritz Hippler Television film
2001–2002 The X-Files FBI Assistant Director Brad Follmer Episodes:
"Nothing Important Happened Today"
"Nothing Important Happened Today II"
"4-D"
"Provenance"
"Providence"
"Release"
2004 The Riverman Ted Bundy Television film
2005 Pope John Paul II Young Karol Wojtyla TV mini-series
2006 Haskett's Chance Television film
2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Sidney Truex Episode: "Dependent"
2009–2012 Psych Pierre Despereaux Episodes:
"Extradition: British Columbia"
"Extradition II: The Actual Extradition Part"
"Indiana Shawn and the Temple of the Kinda Crappy, Rusty Old Dagger"
2011 Wonder Woman Henry Detmer Pilot episode (Unsold pilot)
2012 Leverage Scott Roemer Episode: "The (Very) Big Bird Job"
2012 Perception French Intelligence Officer Episode: "Cipher"
2013 The Anna Nicole Story E. Pierce Marshall Television Film

References

  1. ^ "The almanac". UPI. 26 October 2008. Retrieved 29 July 2012.
  2. ^ "World Almanac". Kent County Daily Times. 26 October 2010. Today's Birthdays: Cary Elwes (1962 -)
  3. ^ "Cary Elwes Movie Box Office Results". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 27 September 2011.
  4. ^ a b c Cerio, Gregory (6 February 1995). "A Hero to the Hilt". People. 43 (5). Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite journal}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  5. ^ a b c d e Kim, Jae-Ha (12 January 1990). "British actor takes turn as American in 'Glory'". Chicago Sun-Times: p. 25. {{cite journal}}: |page= has extra text (help)
  6. ^ Thompson, Damian (22 June 2004). Loose Canon: A Portrait of Brian Brindley. Continuum. p. 134. ISBN 0-8264-7418-7.
  7. ^ a b "Disney's A Christmas Carol Production Notes". Cinematic Intelligence Agency. 21 October 2009. p. 6. Archived from the original (152KB .DOC file; HTML version) on 9 October 2010. {{cite web}}: External link in |format= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Guthrie, Marisa (4 December 2005). "The spirit moved him". Daily News. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 13 September 2010. Elwes, who grew up a Catholic, ... {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  9. ^ Roger Wilkes (9 September 2000). "Inside story: Stewart's Grove". The Telegraph. Retrieved 23 April 2012.
  10. ^ a b "Dr Gordon is back in Saw – Cary Elwes' character from the first Saw film is back by popular demand". The Straits Times. 5 January 2011.
  11. ^ a b Tam Jr, Henry (13 August 1993). "The 'Robin' Who Has Sherwood Forest Chuckling". San Francisco Chronicle: C6.
  12. ^ "Mark & Brian w/Cary Elwes on Marlon Brando". YouTube. 5 August 2008. Retrieved 23 June 2013.
  13. ^ a b Gray Streeter, Leslie (9 December 2007). "'The Princess Bride' Turns 20". The Palm Beach Post: 6J. [w]as a modest hit. But it became a raging cult classic after being released on video and shown on cable.
  14. ^ "Prince Bride (1987)". Rotten Tomatoes. Retrieved September 2011 27. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  15. ^ Westbrook, Bruce (6 September 2001). "'Bride' basks in glow of video". Houston Chronicle.
  16. ^ "Saw (2004)". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved 16 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |accessdate= (help)
  17. ^ Gleiberman, Owen (27 October 2004). "Saw Review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 17 August 2011. Retrieved 17 August 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  18. ^ Miska, Brad (29 October 2009). "AFM '09: Carey Elwes in 'Shadows', First Hi-Res Stills". Bloody Disgusting. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |archiveurl= value (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  19. ^ "Cary Elwes checks into Psych 9". Total Film. 20 December 2006. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  20. ^ "Cary Elwes Confirmed for 'Saw 3D', Full Synopsis and Cast". Bloody Disgusting. 25 April 2010. Archived from the original on 25 April 2010. Retrieved 25 April 2010. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  21. ^ Messer, Ron (31 October 2010). "Cary Elwes Exclusive Interview: The Saw 3D Star on Bookending the Franchise, Tintin & Yellow Submarine". Collider.com. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  22. ^ Kit, Borys (14 May 2011). "Disney torpedoes Zemeckis' "Yellow Submarine"". The Hollywood Reporter. Reuters. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  23. ^ Heritage, Stuart (2 May 2012). "The Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventure: stand by for PR perfection | Film | guardian.co.uk". Guardian. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  24. ^ Kit, Borys (9 November 2010). "Exclusive: Four Actors Board Madeleine L'Engle Adaptation". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  25. ^ Sneider, Jeff (13 July 2011). "4 thesps apply for 'The Citizen'". Variety. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  26. ^ Sneider, Jeff (23 October 2011). "Bana to rock & role in 'Elvis & Nixon'". Variety. Archived from the original on 24 October 2011. Retrieved 24 October 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  27. ^ "First Two Teaser Clips Psych: 9". DreadCentral. CraveOnline. 2 January 2010. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  28. ^ Slezak, Michael (21 July 2011). "Psych First Look: The Season 6 Scene Everyone Will Be Talking About! Plus, Musical Update!". TVLine. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  29. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (4 March 2011). "Cary Elwes Joins NBC's 'Wonder Woman'". Deadline.com. PMC. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  30. ^ Rice, Lynette (12 May 2011). "NBC rejects 'Wonder Woman'". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  31. ^ Paterson, James; Gross, Andrew (1 March 2003). The Jester (Abridged ed.). Hachette Audio. ISBN 1-58621-535-3.
  32. ^ "Delhi Safari to feature voiceover by Vanessa Williams and Jason Alexander". Bollywood Hungama. 30 May 2011. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  33. ^ Hernandez, Ernio (18 March 2003). "Cary Elwes and Brooke Shields Join Off-Broadway's Exonerated, March 18-23". Playbill. Archived from the original on 27 September 2011. Retrieved 27 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  34. ^ "Celebrities – DeGeneres 'Bedding' Talk-Show Guests". Watertown Daily Times: D2. 3 May 2007. Elwes and Lisa Marie (nee Kurbikoff ) met in 1991 at a Malibu chili cook-off. They were engaged in 1997 and tied the knot three years later.
  35. ^ Silverman, Stephen M.; Jordan, Julie (27 April 2007). "Cary Elwes, Wife Welcome a Girl". People. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  36. ^ Mitchell, Peter (20 August 2005). "Not everyone happy with their cut from Saw". The Age. AAP. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite news}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  37. ^ Gingold, Michael (25 April 2010). ""Saw VII" Synopsis and Cast Revealed – Including Cary Elwes!". Fangoria. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 26 September 2011. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
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