Scott Speedman

Scott Speedman

Born Robert Scott Speedman
(1975-09-01) September 1, 1975[1]
Hammersmith, London, England, UK[1]
Nationality Canadian, British, American
Alma mater University of Toronto
York University
Occupation Actor
Years active 1995–present
Home town Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Robert Scott Speedman[1] (born September 1, 1975), professionally known as Scott Speedman, is a Canadian-American film and television actor. He is best known for playing Ben Covington in the coming-of-age drama television series Felicity and Lycan–Vampire hybrid Michael Corvin in the gothic horror–action Underworld films. He is also known for playing roles in films such as Duets, Dark Blue, XXX: State of the Union, Anamorph, The Strangers, Barney's Version, The Vow, & The Monster. He currently stars as Barry "Baz" Brown in the TNT crime drama series, Animal Kingdom.

Early life

Speedman was born in London, England, to Scottish parents Mary Campbell, a primary school teacher and champion runner, and Roy Speedman (1944–1999),[2] a department store buyer.[3][4] His sister, Tracey, died from cancer on February 8, 2016.[5] At the age of four, he and his family moved to Toronto, Ontario.[1] He was a competitive swimmer who attended Earl Haig Secondary School's now defunct gifted athlete program. As a member of the Canadian Junior National Swim Team, Speedman placed ninth at the 1992 Olympic trials.[1] Suffering a neck injury soon after, he was forced to leave the sport. To find a new focus outside of athletics, Speedman became interested in acting. He went on to attend the University of Toronto and York University to study his craft.[1]

Career

Encouraged by a friend to appear on Speaker's Corner, a viewer open-forum run by Toronto's Citytv, Speedman expressed interest in auditioning for the role of Robin in the film Batman Forever, which was being cast in Toronto at the time. Though the appearance earned him an audition, Speedman was not cast in the role, which was ultimately given to Chris O'Donnell. The audition did, however, give Speedman the exposure he needed and he quickly arranged an agent and began auditioning for Canadian television and film roles.[1]

Speedman's TV debut came in 1995 with the Canadian series Net Worth. After appearing in several small TV roles, Speedman decided to go to New York City to study for a short time at the Neighborhood Playhouse before dropping out and returning home to Toronto. His big break came when he got a call from an American casting agent who wanted him to audition for a new series called Felicity. Portraying brooding college student Ben Covington opposite overnight star Keri Russell as Felicity, Speedman received much acclaim on the popular series.[6] Soon after Felicity, Speedman began to get offers for more prominent roles while working on the series. In 2000, Speedman was given the role of Billy Hannan opposite Gwyneth Paltrow in the film Duets.[7]

Speedman at the premiere of Barney's Version in January 2011

After ending a four-year run on Felicity, Speedman quickly found success in film. In 2003, he landed a role opposite Kurt Russell in the police drama Dark Blue, portraying an inexperienced LAPD detective caught in a web of corruption.[8] Next, Speedman portrayed the husband of a terminally ill woman opposite fellow Canadian and high-school alumna Sarah Polley in the independent drama My Life Without Me.[9] Speedman won a "Golden Wave Award" for his work on the film.[10]

Landing his first major starring role in a feature that same year, Speedman appeared opposite Kate Beckinsale in the supernatural thriller Underworld. Making an impression on audiences in the stylized vampire-werewolf film, Speedman was honored with a Saturn Award in the category "Cinescape Face of the Future Award".[10] Then, he went on to star alongside James Marsden in the thriller The 24th Day[11] and opposite Ice Cube in XXX: State of the Union.[12] Upon the success of the first Underworld film, Speedman reprised his role as Michael Corvin in the 2006 sequel Underworld: Evolution.[13] He appeared alongside Willem Dafoe in Anamorph. & Wes Bentley in Weirdsville. Speedman appeared with Liv Tyler in the 2008 horror–thriller The Strangers, and also alongside Rachel Blanchard in Adoration, directed by Atom Egoyan.[14]

In July 2009, it was reported that Speedman was to star alongside Dustin Hoffman among others in the film adaption of Barney's Version. Pre-production began in August 2009, and filming took place in Rome, New York and Canada.[15] Speedman also starred in the independent Western The Last Rites of Ransom Pride alongside Lizzy Caplan and Dwight Yoakam.[16] Archive footage of Speedman from the previous Underworld films was used in the 2012 sequel Underworld: Awakening, and his facial likeness was superimposed on a stand-in for his character's brief role in the film. He had a supporting role as Jeremy in The Vow. Speedman last starred as XO Sam Kendal in the ABC military drama series Last Resort, which premiered on September 27, 2012.[17]

In June 2013, Speedman was selected to star in Ryan Murphy's HBO production called Open alongside Wes Bentley.[18] In 2014, he co-starred with Julia Stiles in Lluís Quílez Sala thriller film Out of the Dark.[19] He starred in various independent films such as Barefoot, The Captive, and The Monster.

He's currently starring as Barry "Baz" Brown in the TNT crime drama series Animal Kingdom.

Filmography

Speedman at the 2000 Toronto International Film Festival
Year Title Role Notes
1995 Net Worth Rookie Television film
Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Cam Nillson TV, 1 episode: "Goodbye Mr. Caine"
Nancy Drew Ned Nickerson TV, 5 episodes
1996 Goosebumps Officer Madison TV, 1 episode: "Say Cheese and Die"
A Brother's Promise: The Dan Jansen Story Andy Gables Television film
Can I Get a Witness? Unknown
Giant Mine Spanky Riggs Television film
1997 Ursa Major Jason
What Happened to Bobby Earl? Steve Talbert Television film
Kitchen Party Scott
Dead Silence Stevie Cardy Television Film
Every 9 Seconds Greg Television film
1998 Rescuers: Stories of Courage: Two Couples Patrick Television film
1998–2002 Felicity Ben Covington TV, 84 episodes
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Breakout Performance
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor
Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Actor – Drama
2000 Duets Billy
2002 Dark Blue Detective Bobby Keough
2003 My Life Without Me Don
Underworld Michael Corvin Cinescape Genre Face of the Future Award – Male
2004 The 24th Day Tom
2005 XXX: State of the Union Agent Kyle Christopher Steele
2006 Underworld: Evolution Michael Corvin
2007 Weirdsville Dexter
Anamorph Carl Uffner
2008 Adoration Tom
The Strangers James Hoyt Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice Movie Actor – Horror/Thriller
2009 The Last Rites of Ransom Pride Ransom Pride
2010 Barney's Version Boogie
Good Neighbours Spencer
2011 The Moth Diaries Mr. Davies
Edwin Boyd: Citizen Gangster Edwin Boyd
2012 Underworld: Awakening Michael Corvin Archive footage and stand-in
The Vow Jeremy
2012–2013 Last Resort XO Sam Kendal TV, main cast
2014 Barefoot Jay Wheeler
The Captive Jeffrey
Out of the Dark Paul Harriman
October Gale William
2016-present Animal Kingdom Barry "Baz" Brown TNT TV series
2016 The Monster Roy

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Scott Speedman: Biography". TV Guide. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Roy Speedman (1944 - 1999) - Find A Grave Memorial".
  3. ↑ (2004-01-23). "In the fast lane". TheAge.com.au. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  4. ↑ "Scott Speedman Biography (1975–)". FilmReference.com. Retrieved July 3, 2011.
  5. ↑ "Obituary of Tracey Speedman".
  6. ↑ "'The Vow': What Happened to 'Felicity' Hunk Scott Speedman?". thedailybeast.com. February 11, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  7. ↑ "Scott Speedman Movies". blockbuster.com. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  8. ↑ Sauter, Michael (June 27, 2003). "Dark Blue (2003)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  9. ↑ Pomeranz, Margaret. "My Life Without Me". abc.net. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  10. 1 2 "Awards for Scott Speedman". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  11. ↑ "The Crushed Film Festival presents: The 24th Day". Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  12. ↑ "Scott Speedman jojns the cast of XXX: State of the Union". movieweb.com. May 13, 2004. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  13. ↑ "Scott Speedman interview for Underworld Evolution". YouTube. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  14. ↑ "The Strangers Scott Speedman Interview". YouTube. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Scott Speedman on Barney's Version (& Felicity!)". Elle.com. January 18, 2013. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  16. ↑ Hunter, Allan (June 16, 2010). "The Last Rites Of Ransom Pride". screendaily.com. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  17. ↑ "Scott Speedman On A 'Felicity' Reunion, 'Last Resort' And Why He'll Never Join Twitter". huffingtonpost.com. December 13, 2012. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  18. ↑ "Scott Speedman to Star in Ryan Murphy's HBO Drama 'Open'". hollywoodreporter.com. June 27, 2013. Retrieved November 12, 2013.
  19. ↑ "Exclusive poster: Julia Stiles and Scott Speedman in "OUT OF THE DARK," plus trailer". hollywoodreporter.com. Retrieved November 12, 2013.

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