Jared Harris

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jared Harris
Harris in 2024
Born
Jared Francis Harris

(1961-08-24) 24 August 1961 (age 62)
Alma mater
OccupationActor
Years active1989–present
Spouses
  • Jacqueline Goldenberg
    (m. 1989; div. 1992)
  • (m. 2005; div. 2010)
  • Allegra Riggio
    (m. 2013)
Parents
Relatives

Jared Francis Harris (born 24 August 1961) is a British actor.[1] His roles include Lane Pryce in the drama series Mad Men (2009–2012), for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series; King George VI in the historical drama series The Crown (2016–2017); and Valery Legasov in the miniseries Chernobyl (2019), for which he won the BAFTA TV Award for Best Actor and was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie.[2]

Harris also had roles as David Robert Jones in the science fiction series Fringe (2008–2012), Anderson Dawes on the science fiction series The Expanse (2015–2017) and Captain Francis Crozier in the series The Terror (2018). He is also known for his significant supporting roles in films such as Mr. Deeds (2002), The Curious Case of Benjamin Button (2008), Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows (2011), Lincoln (2012), as well as Allied (2016). In 2021, he took the role of Hari Seldon, a leading character in the science fiction series Foundation.

Early life[edit]

Harris was born on 24 August 1961 in Hammersmith, London, the second of three sons of Irish actor Richard Harris and his first wife, Welsh actress Elizabeth Rees-Williams (1936–2022).[3] His younger brother is actor Jamie Harris, his older brother is director Damian Harris and his maternal grandfather was politician David Rees-Williams, 1st Baron Ogmore.[4]

Education[edit]

Harris was educated at Ladycross School, a former preparatory boarding independent school in the coastal town of Seaford in East Sussex, as were his brothers Jamie and Damian. He says, "They were famous for discipline, with cold showers every morning", and that "You were never known by your first name there. You were either called by your number, or your last name. Since there were three of us, Damian was 'Harris Ma' for major. I was 'Harris Mi' for minor, and Jamie was 'Harris Minimus,' being the youngest and the smallest".[5] He then attended Downside School, a Catholic boarding independent school in the village of Stratton-on-the-Fosse (near the market town of Shepton Mallet) in Somerset, in South West England.[5] He went on to Duke University in the U.S., graduating in 1984 with an BFA in drama, then returned to England to train as an actor at the Central School of Speech and Drama, graduating in 1989.[6]

Career[edit]

1983–2008[edit]

His father, the actor Richard Harris.

Harris began his film career directing Darkmoor (1983), an unfinished feature-length film for Duke University's Freewater Films. His first film appearance as an actor was in The Rachel Papers (1989). He took minor roles in films such as the western romance Far and Away (1992), the historical epic The Last of the Mohicans (1992), and the crime drama Natural Born Killers (1994). He took the role of Benmont Tench in Jim Jarmusch's Dead Man (1995). He portrayed the role of the aged Will Robinson in the 1998 movie adaptation of the television series Lost in Space. That same year he portrayed Vladimir in the controversial black comedy drama film Happiness (1998), written and directed by Todd Solondz. He portrayed Kenneth Branagh's character's doppelgänger in How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog (2000).

Other notable roles include Andy Warhol in I Shot Andy Warhol, John Lennon in the television movie Two of Us (2000) and King Henry VIII in the 2003 BBC film adaptation of the novel The Other Boleyn Girl. Harris portrayed Dr. Charles Ashford in Resident Evil: Apocalypse (2004). He portrayed the gruff Captain Anderson in the BBC2 adaptation of To the Ends of the Earth; Mac McGrath in the movie Mr. Deeds; Eamon Quinn on the FX series The Riches; and David Robert Jones on Fringe.

2009–2017[edit]

He gained widespread fame for his portrayal of Lane Pryce in the AMC period drama series Mad Men from 2009 until 2012. The show focuses on the lives of Ad Men in New York City during the 1960s. He first appeared in season three where he arrives as a British newcomer to Sterling Cooper, and later becomes a partner of the new agency Sterling Cooper Draper Pryce. Paul MacInnes of The Guardian wrote of Lane Pryce, "For much of his three season tenure on the show, Lane has seemed like the archetypal Englishman...He was polite, courteous, dry-witted, stingy. He was also apparently logical and keenly stoic, keeping calm and carrying on when Sterling Cooper broke up and its successor nearly went under."[7] Harris received critical acclaim for his final appearance in the episode "Commissions and Fees" as well as a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, losing to Aaron Paul for Breaking Bad in 2012. He returned to the series to direct the 11th episode of season 7, which aired in 2015.

He portrayed Ulysses S. Grant in Steven Spielberg's acclaimed historical drama film Lincoln (2012).[8]

His portrayal of King George VI in the first season of The Crown received praise from critic Matt Zoller Seitz, who stated that despite the series' large ensemble, "Harris still manages to communicate the character’s understated sensitivity and awareness of his circumscribed role in England’s drama so poignantly that one can’t help being moved by the performance".[9] He received nominations for the British Academy Television Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series.

2018–present[edit]

He portrayed Captain Francis Crozier in the 2018 series The Terror, based on the Dan Simmons novel of the same name that provided a fictional account of the fate of Franklin's lost expedition. In November 2018, Harris was one of the first recipients of the Royal Canadian Geographical Society's Louie Kamookak Medal, awarded "for making Canada's geography better known to Canadians and to the world", for his portrayal of Captain Crozier. Harris said that he was "gratified" that the series inspired curiosity about the real expedition, remarking, "It’s sort of fitting that history will recall that it was the RCGS that first recognized The Terror, and that we as the recipients walked in the footsteps of Louie Kamookak."[10]

In 2019, Harris portrayed Valery Legasov in the acclaimed miniseries Chernobyl, which revolves around the Chernobyl disaster of 1986 and the cleanup efforts that followed.[11] For that role he won the British Academy Television Award for Best Actor and was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or Movie and Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film. The series was produced by HBO in the United States and Sky UK in the United Kingdom.

In March 2019, Harris joined Jared Leto in Sony's Spider-Man spinoff Morbius.[12] He plays the developer of psychohistory Hari Seldon in the Foundation television series produced for Apple TV+ which premiered in September 2021.[13] In March 2021, Harris was announced to have joined the cast of the biographical drama film Rothko, directed by Sam Taylor-Johnson.[14]

Personal life[edit]

Harris married Jacqueline Goldenberg in 1989 and they divorced three years later.[15] On 16 July 2005, Harris married actress Emilia Fox,[16] the daughter of actors Edward Fox and Joanna David, and filed for divorce in January 2009;[17] the divorce was finalised in June 2010.

In April 2009, Harris met Allegra Riggio, a lighting designer and television host,[18] at a comedy club where a mutual friend was performing.[18][19] They married on 9 November 2013.[20] Harris resides in Los Angeles.[6]

Filmography[edit]

Key
Denotes works that have not yet been released
Jared Harris in 2014

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1989 The Rachel Papers Geoff
1992 Far and Away Paddy
The Last of the Mohicans British Lieutenant
The Public Eye Danny the Doorman
1994 Natural Born Killers London Boy
Nadja Edgar
1995 Smoke Jimmy Rose
Dead Man Benmont Tench
Blue in the Face Jimmy Rose
Tall Tale Head Thug Pug
1996 I Shot Andy Warhol Andy Warhol
Gold in the Streets Owen
1997 Fathers' Day Lee
Sunday Ray
Chinese Box William
White Lies Jacob Reese
1998 Happiness Vlad
B. Monkey Alan Furnace
Lost in Space Older Will Robinson
Lulu on the Bridge Alvin Shine Uncredited
Trance Jim
1999 Lush W. Firmin Carter
The Weekend John Kerr
2000 Bullfighter Jones
How to Kill Your Neighbor's Dog False Peter
Shadow Magic Raymond Wallace
2001 Perfume Michael
2002 Four Reasons Filmmaker
Mr. Deeds Mac McGrath
Igby Goes Down Russel
Dummy Michael Foulicker
2003 Sylvia Al Alvarez
I Love Your Work Yehud
2004 Ocean's Twelve Basher's Engineer
Resident Evil: Apocalypse Dr. Charles Ashford
2005 The Notorious Bettie Page John Willie
2006 Lady in the Water Goatee Smoker
Cashback Alex Proud Uncredited
Cracked Eggs Joe Short film
2007 32A Ruth's Father
2008 The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Captain Mike
From Within Bernard Wilburn
2009 Tales of the Black Freighter Ridley Voice
2010 Extraordinary Measures Dr. Kent Webber
The Ward Dr. Gerald Stringer
2011 Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows Professor James Moriarty
2012 Lincoln Ulysses S. Grant
2013 The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones Hodge Starkweather
The Devil's Violinist Urbani
2014 Pompeii Severus
The Quiet Ones Professor Joseph Coupland
The Boxtrolls Lord Charles Portley-Rind Voice
2015 Poltergeist Carrigan Burke[21]
The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Adrian Sanders
2016 Certain Women William Fuller
The Last Face Dr. John Farber
Allied Frank Heslop
2019 Robert the Bruce John Comyn
2020 Angela's Christmas Wish The Vet Voice
2022 Morbius Emil Nicholas
The Sea Beast Captain Crow Voice
2023 Brave the Dark Stan Deen

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1995 New York Undercover Seth Baines Episode: "The Highest Bidder"
2000 Two of Us John Lennon Television movie
2003 Without a Trace Father Walker 2 episodes
The Other Boleyn Girl King Henry VIII Television movie
2005 To the Ends of the Earth Captain Anderson 3 episodes
2006 Coup! Simon Mann Television movie
2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Robert Morten Episode: "Svengali"
The Shadow in the North Axel Bellmann Television movie
2008 The Riches Eamon Quinn 5 episodes
2008–2012 Fringe Dr. David Robert Jones 9 episodes
2009–2012 Mad Men Lane Pryce 26 episodes
Directed episode "Time & Life"
2013 Axe Cop King of England Voice
Episode: "An American Story"
2015–2017 The Expanse Anderson Dawes 7 episodes
2016–2021 Robot Chicken James Bond Villain / Mr. Weatherbee Voice
2 episodes
2016 The Mr. Peabody and Sherman Show Bigfoot Voice
Episode: "Sacagawea"
2016–2017 The Crown King George VI Main role (Season 1)
Supporting role (Season 2)
6 episodes
2018 The Terror Francis Crozier[22] 10 episodes
Animals Mr. Budmeizner Voice
Episode: "Horses"
2019 Chernobyl Valery Legasov 5 episodes
Carnival Row Absalom Breakspear[23] 8 episodes
2020 New Looney Tunes Asteroid Voice
2 episodes
2021 The Beast Must Die George Rattery Miniseries
2021–present Foundation Hari Seldon Main cast
2022 American Dad! Merlin Voice
Episode: "Hayley Was a Girl Scout?"

Theatre[edit]

Year Production Role Venue Notes
1991 Henry IV, Part 1 and Part 2 Henry "Hotspur" Percy The Public Theater
1992 'Tis Pity She's a Whore Soranzo The Public Theater
1995 Ecstasy Len John Houseman Theater
1996 King Lear Edmund The Public Theater
2001 More Lies About Jerzy Jerzy Kosiński Vineyard Theatre
Hamlet Prince Hamlet Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey
2003 Humble Boy Felix Humble Manhattan Theatre Club
2005 Les Liaisons Dangereuses Vicomte de Valmont Playhouse Theatre, London
2006 Period of Adjustment Ralph Bates Almeida Theatre
2023 The Homecoming Max Young Vic

Awards and nominations[edit]

Year Award Category Project Result
1998 Sitges Film Festival Best Actor Trance Won
2008 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture The Curious Case of Benjamin Button Nominated
2009 Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Mad Men Won
2010 Nominated
2012 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Nominated
2012 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series Nominated
2016 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Guest Performer in a Drama Series The Crown Nominated
2016 Satellite Award Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Television Film Nominated
2017 British Academy Television Award Best Supporting Actor Nominated
2018 Satellite Award Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film The Terror Nominated
2019 Primetime Emmy Award Outstanding Actor in a Limited Series or Movie Chernobyl Nominated
2019 Golden Globe Award Best Actor in a Miniseries or Television Movie Nominated
2019 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Movie or Miniseries Nominated
2019 Screen Actors Guild Award Outstanding Actor in a Miniseries or Movie Nominated
2019 Satellite Award Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film Won
2020 British Academy Television Awards Best Actor Won

Honors[edit]

On 18 October 2019 Harris received the Cinema Vanguard award at the San Diego International Film Festival.[24] Previous winners include Topher Grace, Kate Beckinsale and Adrien Brody.

References[edit]

  1. ^ Hattenstone, Simon (May 2019). "Chernobyl's Jared Harris: My wife can't believe how I keep getting bumped off!". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 August 2021.
  2. ^ "Jared Harris's Charmingly British Reaction to Chernobyl's Emmy Noms: "Obviously One's Thrilled"". Vanity Fair. 16 July 2019. Retrieved 17 July 2019.
  3. ^ "Index entry". FreeBMD. ONS. Retrieved 10 December 2017.
  4. ^ Gilbert, Gerard (11 March 2012). "Mad about the boy: Jared Harris divulges a few secrets from the set of Mad Men". Independent. Retrieved 23 October 2017.
  5. ^ a b "Tight genes: Richard Harris's son finds his theatrical 'Voice'". The Irish Echo. 1 July 1998. Retrieved 13 October 2017.
  6. ^ a b Hattenstone, Simon (1 May 2019). "Chernobyl's Jared Harris: My wife can't believe how I keep getting bumped off!". The Guardian. Retrieved 10 May 2020.
  7. ^ MacInnes, Paul (5 June 2012). "Mad Men: season 5, episode 12 – Commissions and Fees". The Guardian. Retrieved 9 August 2023.
  8. ^ Boedeker, Hal (17 November 2012). "'Lincoln': Look at all those TV actors; did you love the surprise?". Orlando Sentinel. Archived from the original on 23 November 2012.
  9. ^ Seitz, Matt Zoller (3 November 2016). "Netflix's The Crown Is Tedious, But Anglophiles Will Like It". Vulture. Vox Media, LLC. Retrieved 1 December 2020.
  10. ^ Pope, Alexander (5 November 2018). "Actor Jared Harris awarded RCGS' Louie Kamookak Medal". Canadian Geographic. Retrieved 27 November 2018.
  11. ^ Littleton, Cynthia (26 July 2017). "HBO Sets 'Chernobyl' Miniseries to Star Jared Harris". Variety. Archived from the original on 12 May 2019. Retrieved 16 February 2021.
  12. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (5 November 2018). "Jared Harris Joins Jared Leto In Sony's 'Spider-Man' Spinoff 'Morbius'". Canadian Geographic. Retrieved 4 March 2019.
  13. ^ Armstrong, Neil (20 September 2021). "Foundation: The 'unfilmable' sci-fi epic now on our screens". bbc.com. Retrieved 25 September 2021.
  14. ^ Wiseman, Andreas (5 March 2021). "'Rothko': Sam Taylor-Johnson To Direct Art-World Drama With Russell Crowe, Aisling Franciosi, Aaron Taylor-Johnson, More — EFM Hot Package". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 10 March 2021.
  15. ^ Paton, Maureen (22 November 2003). "Dad loved the anarchy that children bring". Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022.
  16. ^ "The Fox Club". demon.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 August 2016. Retrieved 1 January 2009.
  17. ^ "The Curious Benjamin Button Divorce". TMZ. 13 January 2009.
  18. ^ a b October 30, Michela Lombardi-Published; Pm, 2013 at 12:03 (30 October 2013). "Allegra Riggio Reveals Exclusive Details About Being Miserable with Fiancé, "Mad Men" Star Jared Harris". Earn The Necklace. Retrieved 21 September 2019.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  19. ^ Riggio, Allegra (29 April 2021). "It's our 12th anniversary of "we met" today!". Twitter. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  20. ^ "Jared Harris Marries Allegra Riggio". PEOPLE.
  21. ^ Yamato, Jen (4 September 2013). "Jared Harris Joins 'Poltergeist' Reboot". Deadline.
  22. ^ Stanhope, Kate (29 September 2016). "Jared Harris to Star in AMC Anthology Series 'The Terror'". THR. Retrieved 29 September 2016.
  23. ^ Petski, Denise (12 October 2017). "'Carnival Row': Alice Krige & Jared Harris Set To Recur On Amazon's Fantasy Drama Series". Deadline. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  24. ^ Nissen, Dano (5 September 2019). "Laurence Fishburne, Jared Harris & Jillian Bell to be Feted at San Diego Intl. Film Festival". Variety. Retrieved 6 September 2019.

External links[edit]