Oscar Isaac

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This name uses Spanish naming customs: the first or paternal family name is Hernández and the second or maternal family name is Estrada.
Oscar Isaac
Oscar Isaac by Gage Skidmore.jpg
Isaac at the 2015 San Diego Comic-Con
BornÓscar Isaac Hernández Estrada[1][2]
(1979-03-09) March 9, 1979 (age 39)[3]
Guatemala City, Guatemala
ResidenceNew York City, U.S.
Education
Occupation
  • Actor
  • musician
Years active1998–present
Home townMiami, Florida
Spouse(s)
Elvira Lind (m. 2017)
Children1

Óscar Isaac Hernández Estrada (born March 9, 1979)[4][5][6] is a Guatemalan-born American actor and musician. He has played lead film roles in the comedy-drama Inside Llewyn Davis (2013), for which he received a Golden Globe Award nomination, the crime drama A Most Violent Year (2014), and the science fiction thriller Ex Machina (2015), in which he played Nathan Hamlet Bateman. In 2006, he portrayed Saint Joseph, husband of Mary, in The Nativity Story. He also portrayed José Ramos-Horta, former president of East Timor, in the Australian film Balibo for which he won the AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

He has appeared in the Star Wars sequel trilogy as X-wing pilot Poe Dameron, and in X-Men: Apocalypse (2016) as the titular mutant supervillain Apocalypse. He also headlined the 2015 HBO miniseries Show Me a Hero as politician Nick Wasicsko, which earned him the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film. In 2016, Time named Isaac one of the 100 most influential people in the world on the annual Time 100 list.[7] In 2017 Isaac was described as the "best dang actor of his generation" by Vanity Fair.[8]

Early life[edit]

Óscar Isaac Hernández Estrada was born in Guatemala, to a Guatemalan mother, María Eugenia Estrada, and a Cuban father, Óscar Gonzalo Hernández-Cano, a pulmonologist.[9][10][11] Isaac's family settled in the US when he was five months old, and he was raised in Miami, Florida.[12][13][14] He has described his evangelical Protestant upbringing as "very Christian."[15]

Isaac caused trouble at his private grade school, Westminster Christian, when growing up. "I set off a fire extinguisher in the gym, defaced a mural, just stupid stuff", he said in an interview.[16] He liked to make kids laugh. At one point, his teacher had to screen off his desk from the rest of the class with a piece of cardboard. Eventually, he was expelled.[17]

Isaac's entry into professional acting began at the Area Stage Company, Miami Beach, when Artistic Director John Rodaz cast him in a play.[18] He also acted in Miami-based City Theatre's Summer Shorts short play festival in 2000–2001. While in Miami, he played lead guitar and sang vocals for ska-punk band The Blinking Underdogs.[19] Other band members included Nick Speck (bass), Bill Sommer (drums), Alan Mills (trombone), Keith Cooper (saxophone), and Matt LaPlant (guitar).[20] The band enjoyed some success, opening for Green Day[21] and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.[20] Isaac spent his musical years living a "straight edge" lifestyle.[22][23][24] Isaac put music to the side after being accepted into the acting program of New York's prestigious Juilliard School in 2001. While a student there, he worked on one of his first films, All About the Benjamins (2002). He was part of the Drama Division's Group 34 (2001–2005).[25]

Career[edit]

Isaac made his acting debut in the 1996 crime drama Illtown, credited as "Pool Boy".[26] Next, he appeared briefly in 2002's All About the Benjamins and made an appearance on the television series Law & Order: Criminal Intent four years later.[27][28] Isaac garnered recognition in his first major film role in 2006 as Joseph in the biblical epic The Nativity Story, opposite Keisha Castle-Hughes.[29] He appeared as Romeo in the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park performances of Romeo and Juliet and as Proteus in Two Gentlemen of Verona.[30]

Isaac was awarded the Australian Film Institute Award for Best Supporting Actor of 2009, for his role as José Ramos-Horta in Balibo (2009).[31] He had a small role in Guerrilla, Part Two of the Che Guevara biopic Che (2008).[32] Isaac played King John in the 2010 film Robin Hood.[33] He portrayed a security guard in the Madonna-directed film W.E. and starred in the crime drama Drive, both of which were released in September 2011.[32] He had a role as a musician in 10 Years. He performed his own song "Never Had" in the film. "Never Had" and "You Ain't Goin Nowhere" were included in the movie's soundtrack.[34]

Isaac at the premiere of Inside Llewyn Davis in 2013. His portrayal of the title character received critical praise.

In 2013, Isaac starred in the dramatic comedy film Inside Llewyn Davis, written and directed by the Coen brothers, where he played a talented yet unsuccessful folk singer in Greenwich Village in 1961.[35] The film won the Grand Prix at the 2013 Cannes Film Festival.[36] For the role of Llewyn, Isaac was nominated for the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy at the 2014 Golden Globes.[37]

He co-starred with Jessica Chastain in J. C. Chandor's film A Most Violent Year (2014), replacing actor Javier Bardem.[38] In 2015, Isaac portrayed Nathan Hamlet Bateman in the science fiction film Ex Machina and starred in the 6-episode HBO miniseries Show Me a Hero, receiving universal critical acclaim and winning the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film for his performance as politician Nick Wasicsko.[39][40][41]

Isaac co-starred in the epic space opera film Star Wars: The Force Awakens, released on December 18, 2015,[42] playing Poe Dameron, an X-wing pilot. He reprised the role in Star Wars: The Last Jedi, released on December 15, 2017.[43] He is set to reprise his role again in Star Wars: Episode IX, the last film in the sequel trilogy.[44]

Isaac played X-Men villain Apocalypse in the film X-Men: Apocalypse, which was released on May 27, 2016.[45] Also that year, he played the lead role in the historical drama The Promise, with co-star Christian Bale, in a story about the Armenian Genocide.[46]

In 2016, he was the narrator for the Nike ad "Unlimited You" created by Wieden+Kennedy.[citation needed] In November 2016, the first episode of the podcast series Homecoming was released. It is a six—episode psychological thriller from Gimlet Media, co-starring Catherine Keener and David Schwimmer; Isaac voices a soldier trying to rejoin civilian life.[47]

In July 2017, Isaac starred as Prince Hamlet in The Public Theater production of Hamlet alongside Keegan-Michael Key, Ritchie Coster, Gayle Rankin, Roberta Colindrez, and Anatol Yusef.[48] The production, directed by Sam Gold, ran until September 2017.[49] His performance received acclaim from critics and audiences alike.[8] Also that year, Isaac appeared in the black comedy Suburbicon, directed by George Clooney and written by the Coen Brothers.[50] It was his second role in a Coens-written film, after Inside Llewyn Davis.

Isaac co-starred with Natalie Portman in the film adaptation of the novel Annihilation, playing her character's husband.[51] Directed by Alex Garland, the role is Isaac's second collaboration with the director, after Ex Machina.

Personal life[edit]

In the current leading-man sea of buff, WASP-y dudes named Ryan and Chris, Isaac stands out. He's good-looking in a slightly imperfect manner that hearkens back to a pre-Ken-doll era of moviemaking: His nose is prominent, with a small dent at the tip. [...] "He has an interesting face," says Singer. "Like the great movie stars, like Harrison Ford, like Tom Cruise. [...] There's something about Oscar that could be Egyptian, Asiatic, Latino or Caucasian. His facial structure embodies a global human."

Rolling Stone magazine[12]

Isaac currently[when?] resides in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. He has been dubbed a sex symbol,[52][53] and "the internet's boyfriend" by multiple media outlets, most notably Rolling Stone magazine; of the label, Isaac stated, "[The Internet] never struck me as being into monogamous relationships. It's very promiscuous, the Internet."[12] Isaac married Danish film director Elvira Lind in February 2017.[54] Their son, Eugene,[55] was born in late April 2017.[56]

Isaac is an accomplished guitar player and singer and has been playing since he was 12. Speaking to Interview magazine, he stated, "I don't know if they were all functioning, but I did play in a bunch of bands. I was sort of a musical whore, so I played in industrial bands, hardcore bands, punk-ska bands—all sorts of bands." Isaac also said that he "played guitar and bass. I didn't do much vocals, although I did have one band where I was the lead singer. But that was when I was in college."[57]

Filmography[edit]

Film[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1998 Illtown Pool Boy
2002 All About the Benjamins Francesco
2004 Lenny the Wonder Dog Detective Fartman
2006 Pu-239 Shiv
The Nativity Story Saint Joseph
2007 The Life Before Her Eyes Marcus
2008 Che: Part One Interpreter
Body of Lies Bassam
2009 Agora Orestes
Balibo José Ramos-Horta AACTA Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role
Nominated—Film Critics Circle of Australia Award for Best Supporting Actor
2010 Robin Hood John, King of England
2011 Sucker Punch Blue Jones
W.E. Evgeni
10 Years Reeves
Drive Standard Gabriel
2012 For Greater Glory Victoriano "El Catorce" Ramírez Nominated—ALMA Award for Favorite Movie Actor: Supporting Role
Revenge for Jolly! Cecil
The Bourne Legacy Outcome #3
Won't Back Down Michael Perry
2013 Inside Llewyn Davis Llewyn Davis Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actor
Hamptons International Film Festival Award for Breakthrough Performer
International Cinephile Society Award for Best Actor
International Cinephile Society Award for Best Ensemble
National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Actor
Phoenix Film Critics Society Award for Breakthrough Performance on Camera
San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Santa Barbara International Film Festival – Virtuoso Award
Toronto Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Vancouver Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Empire Award for Best Male Newcomer
Nominated—Chicago Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Georgia Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Motion Picture Musical or Comedy
Nominated—Independent Spirit Award for Best Lead Male
Nominated—Iowa Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
Nominated—New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Actor (3rd place)
Nominated—Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Actor
In Secret Laurent LeClaire
2014 The Two Faces of January Rydal Keener
Ticky Tacky Lucien Short film
A Most Violent Year Abel Morales National Board of Review Award for Best Actor (Tied with Michael Keaton)
Nominated—Gotham Independent Film Award for Best Actor
Nominated—Washington D.C. Area Film Critics Association Award for Best Actor
2015 Ex Machina Nathan Bateman Florida Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor
Online Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor (2nd place)
Nominated—Austin Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—Detroit Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
Nominated—London Film Critics' Circle Award for Supporting Actor of the Year
Mojave John "Jack" Jackson
Star Wars: The Force Awakens Poe Dameron
2016 X-Men: Apocalypse En Sabah Nur / Apocalypse
The Promise Mikael Boghosian
2017 Lightningface Basil Stitt Short film; also executive producer
Suburbicon Bud Cooper Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Award for Best Supporting Actor
Star Wars: The Last Jedi Poe Dameron
2018 Annihilation Kane
Operation Finale Peter Malkin Also producer
At Eternity's Gate Paul Gaugin
Life Itself Will Dempsey
2019 Triple Frontier Santiago Post-production
The Addams Family Gomez Addams (voice) Post-production
Star Wars: Episode IX Poe Dameron Filming

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
2006 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Robbie Paulson Episode: "The Healer"
2015 Show Me a Hero Nick Wasicsko HBO miniseries; 6 episodes
Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Satellite Award for Best Actor – Miniseries or Television Film
Nominated—Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Movie/Miniseries
2018 Star Wars Rebels Poe Dameron Voice (archive recording)
Episode: "A World Between Worlds"
Star Wars Resistance Poe Dameron Voice[58]

Video games[edit]

Year Title Role
2015 Disney Infinity 3.0 Poe Dameron (voice)
2016 Lego Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Podcasts[edit]

Year Title Role
2016 Homecoming Walter Cruz

Theatre[edit]

Year Title Role Theatre
2005 The Two Gentlemen of Verona Proteus Shakespeare in the Park
2006 Beauty of the Father Federico García Lorca Manhattan Theatre Club
2007 Romeo and Juliet Romeo Montague Shakespeare in the Park
2008 Grace Tom Manhattan Theatre Club
2011 We Live Here Daniel Manhattan Theatre Club
2017 Hamlet Prince Hamlet The Public Theater

References[edit]

  1. ^ Nepales, Ruben V. (January 3, 2013). "Some quotable quotes of 2013". Philippine Daily Inquirer.
  2. ^ Shoard, Catherine (May 23, 2013). "Oscar Isaac: 'The irony is not lost on me. Being celebrated for playing someone who wasn't'". The Guardian. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  3. ^ "Live with Kelly and Michael: Season 26, Episode 92: Joel McHale/Oscar Isaac" on IMDb
  4. ^ "Oscar Isaac says he can relate to 'Llewyn Davis' character | abc7.com". Abclocal.go.com. December 5, 2013. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  5. ^ "Oscar Isaac Had A Most Excellent Year". The Huffington Post. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  6. ^ Howard, Pat. "Kelly + Michael: Inside Llewyn Davis Star Oscar Isaac Real Birthday". Recapo.
  7. ^ "Oscar Isaac By Paul Haggis". April 21, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Lawson, Richard. "As Hamlet, Oscar Isaac Proves He's the Best Actor of His Generation". Vanity Fair. Conde Nast. Retrieved September 9, 2017.
  9. ^ "Oscar Buzz". Miami Herald. December 1, 2006.
  10. ^ "Bustle". bustle.com. Retrieved February 15, 2015.
  11. ^ "Oscar Isaac (Inside Llewyn Davis)". Goldenglobes.com. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  12. ^ a b c "Oscar Isaac: The Internet's Boyfriend Becomes a Leading Man". Rolling Stone. Retrieved May 18, 2016.
  13. ^ Lopez, John (May 10, 2010). "How to Train Your Villain with Robin Hood's Oscar Isaac". Vanity Fair. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  14. ^ Marr, Madeline (May 16, 2010). "Miami actor Oscar Isaac rule Robin Hood". Miami Herald. Retrieved April 16, 2011.
  15. ^ https://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/may/23/oscar-isaac-inside-llewyn-davies-cannes
  16. ^ Bhattacharji, Alex (April 2015). "The Evolution of Oscar Isaac". Details. Conde Nast. Archived from the original on January 10, 2016. Retrieved March 24, 2018.
  17. ^ "An actor's classroom punishment that led to Llewyn Davis". The Globe and Mail. Canada. December 27, 2013. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  18. ^ "Miami's Oscar Isaac soars to new heights in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens". Miami Herald. Retrieved February 12, 2016.
  19. ^ Onofri, Adrienne (February 11, 2006). "Rookie of the Year: Q&A with actor Oscar Isaac". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved April 4, 2015.
  20. ^ a b Features / January 12, 2016 / by Simon Young (January 12, 2016). "Ska Wars: How Poe Dameron quit punk to fight The First Order - Metal Hammer". Teamrock.com. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  21. ^ McNulty, Bernadette. "Oscar Isaac interview for Inside Llewyn Davis: 'I had no interest in going off the rails'". The Telegraph. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  22. ^ Greydanus, Steven (November 22, 2006). "Joseph Gets His Due". National Catholic Register. Retrieved November 25, 2006.
  23. ^ Mattingly, Terry (December 2, 2006). "Movie delves into Joseph, the man". Reading Eagle. Reading, Pennsylvania: William S. Flippin. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  24. ^ Stars and Stories. "Oscar Isaac interview for Inside Llewyn Davis: 'I had no interest in going off the rails'". Telegraph. Retrieved March 7, 2014.
  25. ^ "Alumni News: November 2011". Juilliard.edu. Archived from the original on July 18, 2012. Oscar Isaac (Group 34)
  26. ^ "Oscar Isaac's Break Through In Joel And Ethan Coen's "Inside Llewyn Davis"". Florida Film Critics. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  27. ^ Westbrook, Caroline. "Who is Oscar Isaac? Six notable facts about the newly appointed Star Wars Episode 7 actor". Metro. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  28. ^ Wloszczyna, Susan. "How Golden Globe Winner Oscar Isaac Assured His Post-'Star Wars' Ascension with 10 Smart Moves". Indiewire. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  29. ^ Murray, Rebecca. "Oscar Isaac Discusses "The Nativity Story"". About Entertainment. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  30. ^ Brantley, Ben (August 29, 2005). "Shakespeare in the Park Review; Enter 'Two Gentlemen' For a Sexy Sip of Sangría". The New York Times.
  31. ^ Kay, Jeremy. "Oscar Isaac to star in Partisan". Screen Daily. Screen International. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  32. ^ a b De Semlyen, Phil. "Five Impressive Oscar Isaac Roles You Didn't Realise Were Oscar Isaac". Empire. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  33. ^ Lopez, John. "How to Train Your Villain with Robin Hood's Oscar Isaac". Vanity Fair. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  34. ^ Aquino, Tara. "Interview: Oscar Isaac Talks "10 Years," the Coen Brothers' "Inside Llewyn Davis," and Jamming with Justin Timberlake". Complex. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  35. ^ Roberts, Randall (November 9, 2013). "The Coens' 'Inside Llewyn Davis' aims to keep 1960s folk scene real". latimes.com. Retrieved November 11, 2013.
  36. ^ Richford, Rhonda (May 26, 2013). "Cannes Film Festival Awards". The Hollywood Reporter.
  37. ^ "Golden Globes Nominations: The Full List". Variety. Penske Media Corporation. January 11, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  38. ^ Feinberg, Scott; Siegel, Tatiana (December 3, 2013). "Oscar Isaac, J.C. Chandor Team Up for 'A Most Violent Year' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter.
  39. ^ Feinberg, Scott; Siegel, Tatiana (December 3, 2013). "Ex Machina". The Hollywood Reporter.
  40. ^ "James Belushi, Terry Kinney & Michael Stahl-David Join HBO's 'Show Me A Hero'". Deadline Hollywood. August 15, 2014. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  41. ^ Sepinwall, Alan (August 13, 2015). "Review: Oscar Isaac shines in David Simon's 'Show Me a Hero'". HitFix. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  42. ^ "Star Wars: Episode VII Cast Announced". StarWars.com. April 29, 2014. Retrieved May 6, 2014.
  43. ^ Ruby, Jennifer (December 17, 2015). "Star Wars producer Kathleen Kennedy confirms that entire cast will return for eighth film". London Evening Standard. Retrieved February 23, 2016.
  44. ^ Hutchinson, Corey (December 18, 2017). "Star Wars: Every Confirmed Cast Member For Episode 9". Screen Rant. Retrieved January 2, 2018.
  45. ^ "'X-Men: Apocalypse': Oscar Isaac Nabs Villain Role". Variety. November 24, 2014. Retrieved November 24, 2014.
  46. ^ Sneider, Jeff (June 15, 2015). "Christian Bale, Oscar Isaac to Star in The Promise". The Wrap. Retrieved January 10, 2016.
  47. ^ "Homecoming – Gimlet Media". Gimletmedia.com. Retrieved December 21, 2016.
  48. ^ Stasio, Marilyn (July 14, 2017). "Off Broadway Review: Oscar Isaac in 'Hamlet'". Variety. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  49. ^ "Hamlet". www.publictheater.org. Retrieved August 17, 2017.
  50. ^ McNary, Dave. "Paramount Buys George Clooney-Matt Damon Comedy Suburbicon". Variety. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  51. ^ Kroll, Justin. "Oscar Isaac Joins Natalie Portman's Annihilation". Variety. Retrieved May 11, 2016.
  52. ^ "'Star Wars' sex symbol Oscar Isaac performs Bill Murray's classic parody of the theme song". someecards.com. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  53. ^ "Oscar Isaac, Please Don't Become A Heartthrob". decider.com. Retrieved May 5, 2015.
  54. ^ "11 Things You Must Know About the Internet's New Boyfriend, Oscar Isaac". POPSUGAR.com. Retrieved May 4, 2016.
  55. ^ Alexis Soloski. "After His Mother's Death, Oscar Isaac Turns to Shakespeare for Solace". nytimes.com. Retrieved July 7, 2017.
  56. ^ Jen Juneau. "Oscar Isaac Welcomes a Son". People.com. Retrieved May 26, 2017.
  57. ^ "Oscar Isaac". interviewmagazine.com. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  58. ^ "Star Wars Resistance, Anime-Inspired Series, Set for Fall Debut". StarWars. April 26, 2018. Retrieved April 26, 2018.

External links[edit]

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