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Jim Piddock

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Jim Piddock
Piddock exiting the premiere of the film Mascots at the 2016 Toronto International Film Festival
Born
James Anthony Piddock

(1956-04-08) April 8, 1956 (age 68)
Rochester, Kent, England
Alma materDrama Studio London King's College, London University
Occupation(s)Actor, producer, writer, and author
Years active1978–present
Spouse
​
(m. 2023)​
Children1[citation needed]
RelativesJoan Cusack (sister-in-law)
John Cusack (brother-in-law)
Dick Cusack (father-in-law)

Jim Piddock (born April 8, 1956) is an English actor, producer and writer who began his career on the stage in the United Kingdom before immigrating to the United States in 1981.

Early life

Piddock was born on April 8, 1956, in Rochester, Kent, the son of Celia Mary (née O'Callaghan) and Charles Frederick Piddock.[1]

Career

Piddock began his acting career on the stage in the UK before immigrating to the US in his early twenties. He made his US theatrical debut in a one-man show, The Boy's Own Story, in 1982. He also appeared in Lethal Weapon 2, Independence Day, The Prestige, Austin Powers in Goldmember, The Five-Year Engagement, Think Like a Man Too, and several Christopher Guest films, including Best in Show and A Mighty Wind.[2][3]

Stage career

Piddock made his theatrical debut in the US in The Boy's Own Story, a one-man show about a football goalkeeper, at the Julian Theatre in San Francisco. That same year (1982), he was cast in Noël Coward's Present Laughter, and other Broadway and Off-Broadway shows followed, including the original US production of Noises Off, The Knack at the Roundabout Theatre, Make and Break, and Design For Living.[2][3]

I spent the first few years of my career pretty much doing nothing but stage work. I started in rep companies in England then did a one-man show in the US which led very quickly to doing several Broadway shows. I got very lucky early on. They were fun shows to do. I was in the first ever production of Noises Off in America and my first ever job in New York was being directed by and appearing with George C. Scott.[4]

In November 2007, he appeared at the Ricardo Montalbán Theatre in Hollywood, starring on stage in a production of What About Dick? alongside an all British expat cast, including Billy Connolly, Tim Curry, Eric Idle, Eddie Izzard, Jane Leeves, Emily Mortimer and Tracey Ullman.[5] When the play officially premiered in 2012, with the addition of Russell Brand, he was again in the cast.[6] He also appeared in 2009 at the Montalban Theatre and on Broadway in An Evening Without Monty Python.[2][3]

Piddock attending a Test match between England and Australia at Lord's cricket ground in 2019

Film and television career

Of his transition into television, Piddock said:

I'd always wanted to end up working in film and TV. I guess I could have stayed in New York and probably had a long and fruitful career in the theatre but in the mid-1980s I felt like it was time to change gears and I'd certainly not been short-changed in terms of getting to perform live.[7]

He has appeared in close to a hundred TV shows, including The Haunting of Bly Manor, Modern Family, A Confession, Designated Survivor, Get Shorty, Training Day, Mom, Childrens Hospital, The Royals, Touch, Two and a Half Men, Castle, ER, Law & Order: LA, Party Down, Chuck, Dollhouse, Without a Trace, Monk, Lost, Crossing Jordan, Citizen Baines, Friends, Yes, Dear, Angel, The Geena Davis Show, Murder She Wrote, Coach, Tour of Duty, Max Headroom, and The Twilight Zone. He has also appeared in several TV films and mini-series, including From The Earth to the Moon, A Mom for Christmas, She Creature on HBO, and The Women of Windsor.[2][3] He also created, wrote and produced the BBC series Too Much Sun.[2][3]

His film appearances include Get Him to the Greek, Woody Allen's You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger. Falling Up, The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising, Who's Your Caddy?, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, The Prestige, Love for Rent, A Different Loyalty, See This Movie, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Multiplicity, Independence Day, Traces of Red, and Lethal Weapon 2. He also appeared in the Christopher Guest comedies Best in Show as the Dog Show commentator with Fred Willard, A Mighty Wind, For Your Consideration, and Mascots, the last of which he co-wrote and produced.[2][3]

Voice work

As a voice actor, Piddock provided the voice of Major Zero in the English version of the video game Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater as well as Agent One in Return to Castle Wolfenstein for Xbox and PlayStation 2. In film he provided the voice of Bolero the Bull in the film Garfield 2 and of Kenneth Loring, the fictional artistic director of Forever Young Films, in the commentary of the directors' cut of the Coen brothers' Blood Simple. He also voiced the part of King Mufasa's hornbill majordomo, Zazu in the Disney games Timon & Pumbaa's Jungle Games and The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure, Batman's butler, Alfred Pennyworth, in the DC Comics animated film Batman: Under the Red Hood, and voiced Chic for the animated science fiction film Dead Space: Downfall, based on the video game Dead Space.[8]

Later work

Piddock appeared in 2012's The Five-Year Engagement, which starred Jason Segel and Emily Blunt, playing Blunt's father, The Cold Light of Day starring Henry Cavill, Bruce Willis and Sigourney Weaver, 1915, Kill Your Friends, and The Dictator with Sacha Baron Cohen.[2][3]

In August 2012, it was announced[9] that Piddock would be co-writing, acting, and producing a new TV comedy series with Christopher Guest for HBO and the BBC titled Family Tree.[2][3] The show subsequently aired in 2013.

On 13 October 2016, Mascots, which he also co-wrote with Guest, stars in, and produced, premiered on Netflix. Since then he has appeared in several television shows, including Modern Family, Designated Survivor, Get Shorty, Training Day, Blunt Talk, and The Royals.

In 2021, he played Captain Carradine in the film Haunting of the Queen Mary, which was shot in the UK and the US and is due to be released in 2022.

Writing and producing

Piddock wrote the story for and produced Tooth Fairy in 2010, New Line's action-comedy The Man, One Good Turn, Traces of Red, and the Cold War romantic thriller A Different Loyalty starring Rupert Everett and Sharon Stone, and which Piddock played a supporting role in.

In November 2019, it was announced that his screenplay Frankel would begin shooting in 2022 with Jeremy Irons playing the lead role of Sir Henry Cecil.[10]

Author

His light-hearted and irreverent memoir, CAUGHT WITH MY PANTS DOWN and Other Tales from a Life in Hollywood, chronicling his four decades in the entertainment industry, is being released on March 23, 2022, in paperback, ebook, and audiobook formats. British comedian, actor, and writer, Russell Brand said of the book: "Jim has done that rare thing that perhaps only Michael Caine and David Niven have done before; conjured a funny, inclusive, whimsical, and magical tale." American actress Jean Smart wrote: "This laugh-out-loud book... entertains endlessly and most wisely". And British actor Hugh Bonneville described it as "hilarious, passionate, beautifully told, and memorably waspish."

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1989 Lethal Weapon 2 Consulate Envoy
1992 Traces of Red Mr. Martyn Also writer
1996 Independence Day Reginald
Multiplicity Maitre d'
1997 Burn Hollywood Burn Attendant #1
2000 Best in Show Trevor Beckwith
2002 Austin Powers in Goldmember Headmaster
2003 A Mighty Wind Leonard Crabbe
2004 See This Movie Martin Hughes
A Different Loyalty George Quennell Also writer and co-producer
2005 Love for Rent Frank Bauman
Death to the Supermodels Self-help Ryan Voice, direct-to-video
2006 Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties Bolero Voice[11]
For Your Consideration Simon Whitset
The Prestige Prosecutor
2007 Epic Movie Magneto
Who's Your Caddy? Harrington
The Seeker: The Dark Is Rising Old George
2008 Meet the Spartans Loyalist / Simon Cowell Look-Alike
Dead Space: Downfall Chic Voice, direct-to-video[11]
2009 Falling Up Phillip Dowling
Endless Bummer Mr. Newell
2010 You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger Peter Wicklow
Get Him to the Greek Limousine Driver in London
Batman: Under the Red Hood Alfred Pennyworth Voice, direct-to-video[11]
2012 The Cold Light of Day Meckler
The Five-Year Engagement George Barnes
The Dictator Unknown Uncredited
2014 Think Like a Man Too Declan
2015 1915 Jeffrey
Kill Your Friends Derek Sommers
2016 Mascots Owen Golly, Sr. Also writer and executive producer
2023 Haunting of the Queen Mary Captain Caradine

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1985 Wildside Bank Robber Episode: "The Crimea of the Century"
1985 The Twilight Zone Brian Episode: "Take My Life... Please!/Devil's Alphabet/The Library"
1986 Fame The Record Producer Episode: "Fame and Fortune"
1987 The Tracey Ullman Show Derrick 2 episodes
1988 Max Headroom Mr. Kelly Episode: "Neurostim"
CBS Summer Playhouse Hank Episode: "Old Money"
1989 Tour of Duty Maj. Shadlow Episode: "Lonely at the Top"
1990 A Mom for Christmas Wilkins Television film
1990–1991 Coach Alan / Attendant 2 episodes
1993 Murder, She Wrote Malcolm Brooker Episode: "Murder in White"
1994–1996 Mad About You Logic Professor / Hal Conway 7 episodes
1997–1998 Team Knight Rider Max Amendas 2 episodes
1998 From the Earth to the Moon John Hodge Episode: "Can We Do This?"
The New Batman Adventures Martin Voice, episode: "Cult of the Cat"[11]
1999 Tracey Takes On... Vicar Episode: "Hair"
2000 The Geena Davis Show Mr. Levenstein Episode: "Piece of Cake"
Angel The Valet Episode: "The Trial"
2001 Yes, Dear Vet Episode: "Worst in Show"
Friends Dennis Phillips Episode: "The One After I Do"
She Creature Captain Dunn Television film
Citizen Baines Larry Episode: "The Appraisal"
2002 Maybe It's Me Judge Parks Episode: "The Quahog Festival Episode"
The Drew Carey Show Lord Mercer 4 episodes
ER Dr. Earl Whitehead Episode: "Chaos Theory"
2003 Crossing Jordan Norman Gibson Episode: "Family Ties"
2004 The Rutles 2: Can't Buy Me Lunch Troy Nixon Television film
2005 Lost Francis Heatherton Episode: "Homecoming"
2006 That '70s Show TV Announcer Voice, episode: "Crazy Little Thing Called Love"; uncredited
Monk Jake Colbert Episode: "Mr. Monk Can't See a Thing"
2007 Without a Trace Dr. McNeil Episode: "Claus and Effect"
2008 The Middleman Arthur Mendelson Episode: "The Cursed Tuba Contingency"
2009 Dollhouse Biz Episode: "Stage Fright"
2009–2011 Batman: The Brave and the Bold Doctor Sivana, Dr. Watson, Shazam 4 episodes[11]
2010 Chuck Curator of Classical Art Episode: "Chuck Versus the Mask"
Ben 10: Ultimate Alien King Urien, Color Commentator, Chair Umpire Voice, episode: "Duped"
Party Down Leland Corke Episode: "Not on Your Wife Opening Night"
Law & Order: LA Jay Bickson Episode: "Hollywood"
Castle Lord Henry Episode: "Punked"
2011 Up All Night Matthew Taylor Episode: "New Car"
Two and a Half Men Edward Episode: "One False Move, Zimbabwe!"
2012 Touch Dr. Knox Episode: "Zone of Exclusion"
Childrens Hospital Cyrus Mittleman Episode: "British Hospital"
2013 Family Tree Mr. Pfister 5 episodes; also writer and executive producer
NTSF:SD:SUV:: Hobson Chipps Episode: "Hawaii Die-0"
Work It Carl Episode: "My So-Called Mid-Life Crisis"
2014 Turbo Fast Sir Reginald, Rich Man #2 Voice, episode: "The Escargot Affair"[11]
Franklin & Bash Dean Casseday Episode: "Spirits in the Material World"
Mom Kenneth Episode: "Forged Resumes and the Recommended Dosage"
2015 Man Seeking Woman Unknown Episode: "Stain"
Marry Me Chuck Episode: "Date Me"
Instant Mom Dr. Ian Houser Episode: "Ghost Busted"
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Lord Simultaneous, Sir John, Overmind, Warbot Voice, 2 episodes[11]
The Grinder Barrister Cromwell Episode: "Buckingham Malice"
The Royals Truman 2 episodes
2016 Blunt Talk Unknown Episode: "Your Therapist and His Pussy Are Here"
2017 Elementary Tom Saunders Voice, episode: "Fidelity"; uncredited
Training Day Abel Cribbs Episode: "Sunset"
Get Shorty Julian Pynter Episode: "A Man of Letters"
Designated Survivor Dr. Rune Episode: "Line of Fire"
2017-2021 The Tom and Jerry Show Alistair Voice, 3 episodes
2018 Modern Family Malcolm Fennerman Episode: "The Escape"
2019 A Confession Judge Griffith Williams Episode #1.6
2020 The Haunting of Bly Manor Father Stack Episode: "The Pupil"
Big City Greens Additional voices Voice, 2 episodes
2021 Star Trek: Lower Decks Commander Mandel Voice, episode: "First First Contact"
2022 The Blacklist Harris Gramercy Episode: "Caelum Bank (N°169)"
2023 Captain Fall Additional voices Voice, episode: "An Unconventional Cruise Line"

Video games

Year Title Voice role Notes
1995 Shannara Leah Servant [11]
2001 The Lion King: Simba's Mighty Adventure Zazu [11]
2002 The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring Bilbo Baggins, Elrond [11]
2004 The Bard's Tale Additional voices [12]
2004 Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater Major Zero English dub[11]
2006 Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops
2010 The Lord of the Rings: Aragorn's Quest Elrond, Bilbo Baggins [11]
2011 The Lord of the Rings: War in the North [11]
2012 Lego The Lord of the Rings
2013 Scribblenauts Unmasked: A DC Comics Adventure Alfred Pennyworth [11]

Personal life

Piddock married actress Ann Cusack on April 1, 2023 in a private ceremony in their home in Los Angeles, California.[13][14]

References

  1. ^ "Jim Piddock Biography (1956-)". www.filmreference.com.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jim Piddock Biography". Film Reference.
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h "Jim Piddock". Hollywood.com. 20 April 2022.
  4. ^ Willoughby, Shane. "Major Zero Speaks!". The Gaming Liberty. Archived from the original on 19 January 2011. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  5. ^ "Eric Idle Workshops 'What About Dick?' with Izzard, Curry". Broadway World. 12 October 2007.
  6. ^ Gioia, Michael (26 April 2012). "What About Dick?, With Russell Brand, Eddie Izzard, Jane Leeves, Tracey Ullman, Offered 26–29 April in L.A." Playbill.
  7. ^ Willloughby, Shane. "Major Zero Speaks!". The Gaming Liberty.
  8. ^ Willoughby, Shane (15 January 2011). "Major Zero Speaks! An Intervie with Jim Piddock". The Gaming Liberty. Archived from the original on 21 October 2014.
  9. ^ Morris, Clint. "Christopher Guest, Jim Piddock & Chris O'Dowd plant Family Tree". Moviehole. Archived from the original on 21 August 2012. Retrieved 4 September 2012.
  10. ^ Kay, Jeremy. "Jeremy Irons to star as racehorse trainer Sir Henry Cecil in 'Frankel' for WaZabi Films (exclusive)". Screen. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  11. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n "Jim Piddock (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 23 October 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  12. ^ InXile Entertainment. The Bard’s Tale. InXile Entertainment. Scene: Ending credits, 2:10:21 in, More Great Talent.
  13. ^ Byers, David (31 October 2023). "Richard E Grant sells Provence farmhouse to Jim Piddock and Ann Cusack". The Times. Retrieved 13 October 2024.
  14. ^ "Our 1st wedding anniversary today (yes, we got married in our garden in LA on April Fools Day). 😄 Apparently, tradition dictates that you're both supposed to eat a piece of any leftover wedding cake (first picture) on your 1st anniversary, so we kept ours in the freezer (although this one was only in there for 10 months because our reception was in the UK two months after the legal wedding ceremony). The rather unique design of the Penguin Books themed cake (we're both voracious readers) had @realanncusack and I as bespectacled penguins on top (Ann in a veil and me in a @cpfc shirt). The original cake (second picture) had twelve books in all, eleven of which were authored by guests at the reception. Needless to say, my own book found its way into the "remainder bin" (but in excellent company, I might add!)". instagram.com.
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