Corey Stoll American actor Date of Birth: . Country: USA

1. Corey Stoll: Early Life and Career Beginnings
2. Education and Breaking into the Industry
3. Breakthrough Role and Film Career
4. Notable Roles in Television and Film
5. Personal Life and Recent Projects

Corey Stoll: Early Life and Career Beginnings

American actor Corey Stoll has portrayed nearly a hundred roles throughout his illustrious career. Despite not yet reaching the heights of stardom, his exceptional talent as a character actor is highly renowned in Hollywood circles, evidenced by his consistent presence in critically acclaimed television series and his memorable portrayal of Ernest Hemingway in Woody Allen's film "Midnight in Paris."

Corey Stoll was born on March 14, 1976, in New York City, into a liberal Jewish family. From a young age, he developed a passion for theater, frequenting the Delacorte Theater, where his father, a schoolteacher, regularly took his students. At the age of 12, Stoll made his acting debut in Bertolt Brecht's "Life of Galileo" at the Long Lake Camp for the Arts. Despite his physical appearance, which in his youth was far from conventional (being overweight and standing at 6'2" and 315 pounds), his passion for acting remained unwavering.

Education and Breaking into the Industry

Stoll honed his acting skills at LaGuardia High School of Music & Performing Arts, Oberlin College, and New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. After graduating from Tisch in 2003, he shaved his head at the suggestion of a friend, a signature look that has become an integral part of his image.

Stoll's early acting career was primarily in theater, both on and off Broadway. He played iconic Shakespearean characters such as Macbeth, Iago, and Brutus with great acclaim. His performance as Marx in Lynn Nottage's play "Intimate Apparel" alongside Oscar-winning actress Viola Davis earned him a nomination for the prestigious Drama Desk Award.

Breakthrough Role and Film Career

Stoll's film career began with small roles in television series, where he often appeared as minor characters with limited screen time. Despite being a part of popular shows such as "The Good Wife," "Law & Order," and "Life on Mars," his performances did not gain much notice.

A turning point came when Stoll was cast as Detective Tomas Jaruszalski in the crime procedural "Law & Order: Los Angeles," where he appeared in 22 episodes between 2010 and 2011. During the same period, he received a life-changing opportunity to star in Woody Allen's film "Midnight in Paris." As a New Yorker and a Jew, Stoll had long been a fervent admirer of Allen's work. When Allen personally reached out to him after seeing him in a Broadway production of "A View from the Bridge," Stoll jumped at the chance to play the legendary author Ernest Hemingway.

"Midnight in Paris" became an international box office hit and garnered Stolls nominations for the Independent Spirit Award and several other accolades. Beyond the recognition and fame, Stoll cherished the opportunity to work with the "benevolent dictator," as he described Allen, and learn from a master of his craft. After "Midnight in Paris," Stoll's career took a turn as he began to be sought after for roles that showcased his rugged and masculine persona.

Notable Roles in Television and Film

One of Stoll's most notable performances was as alcoholic Congressman Peter Russo in the political drama "House of Cards," for which he received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He also played the villainous Darren Cross (Yellowjacket) in Marvel's "Ant-Man."

In 2014, Stoll landed the lead role in the science fiction drama series "The Strain," where he portrayed epidemiologist Ephraim Goodweather, who leads a team of first responders tasked with combating a mysterious biological threat. He also played Michael Prince, a small-town businessman who becomes a financial titan, in the Emmy-nominated series "Billions."

Personal Life and Recent Projects

Stoll's personal life has been filled with happiness. In 2015, he married actress Nadia Bowers, with whom he had starred in five projects. Bowers is a direct descendant of Joséphine de Beauharnais, Napoleon Bonaparte's first wife. They welcomed a son in November 2016, for whom Stoll had purchased a wardrobe of superhero-themed clothing in anticipation.

Stoll's acting career continues to thrive. Among his recent projects is the limited series "Treason," which premiered on Netflix in April 2023. In the series, which focuses on an American journalist who helps notable artists and intellectuals flee occupied France during World War II, Stoll plays the character of Graham Patterson. He has also recently completed work on Zack Snyder's film "Rebel Moon" and the Marvel superhero film "Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania," in which he plays M.O.D.O.K. (Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing), a mutated, cybernetically enhanced supervillain with an oversized head.