Biography

Known as much for his rigorous career choices as for his talent and chiseled good looks, Billy Crudup has been straddling the line between serious actor and "it" leading man for several years.

Crudup was born in 1968 in Manhasset, New York (a Long Island suburb), the middle child in a family of three boys. He is the son of Georgann (Gaither) and Thomas Henry Crudup III, and the grandson of prominent attorney William Cotter "Billy" Gaither, Jr.

Crudup was raised in Florida and Texas. His family frequently moved and always being the new kid meant Billy had to develop some way of gaining acceptance. Being the class clown was his ticket in. He found roles in school pageants and developed funny impersonations to entertain family and friends. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina (where he confirmed his interest in acting). Upon graduation, Crudup headed to NYC to live with his brother Tommy (who was at that time a publicist) and study at New York University, where he joined a theatre troupe called "the lab!" and did little plays and musicals - he even played "Schroeder" in the famed children's musical "You're A Good Man Charlie Brown!".

He then went on to earn a Master of Fine Arts from the Tisch School of the Arts at NY in 1994. A year later, he'd already made a name for himself on Broadway, earning the Outer Critics Circle Outstanding Newcomer Award for his performance in Tom Stoppard's "Arcadia".

Crudup's first big-screen acting gig was in the indie film Grind (1997), which was shot in 1994, but ended up on the shelf for three years. In 1996, he landed another, more lucrative role, opposite Hollywood hotshots Brad Pitt and Jason Patric in the Barry Levinson drama, Sleepers (1996). He followed that up with a brief appearance in Woody Allen's Everyone Says I Love You (1996) and a higher-profile turn as the rakish older brother in Inventing the Abbotts (1997).

A self-described student of human nature, Crudup has said that he looks for characters wrestling with their mistakes. Rumor has it that he declined an audition for the lead in Titanic (1997) in order to seek out more challenging projects--like the "Steve Prefontaine" biopic Without Limits (1998). "Limits" showcased Crudup's ability to completely transform himself for a role (a quality that would help him skirt stardom while continuing to land substantive parts). In 2000, with three major films in release, Crudup's already bustling movie career reached a fever pitch. He first hit the festival circuit in Keith Gordon's Waking the Dead (2000), the tale of an up-and-coming politician who is haunted by the death of his young wife. Next came the art-house favorite Jesus' Son (1999). Finally, he starred as the semi-fictional '70s rocker "Russell Hammond" in Cameron Crowe's much-lauded Almost Famous (2000). In 2002, his production of "The Elephant Man" on Broadway closed after 65 performances, due to low ticket sales.

Crudup lives in New York and returns regularly to the stage - in fact, it was during the 1996 Broadway run of "Bus Stop" that he began his romance with longtime girlfriend, Mary-Louise Parker. That romance ended in 2004, when Crudup left the then-pregnant Parker for his Stage Beauty (2004) co-star, Claire Danes. He seems to prefer quiet anonymity to the pomp and circumstance of the movie star lifestyle, but his ever-growing popularity guarantees that he won't be able to avoid the spotlight altogether.

- IMDb Mini Biography By: IMDb Editors/moviegirl1721 and Jill

Brother is a publicist.

Attended University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill for undergraduate work.

His parents divorced when Billy was in junior high school, and then remarried -- each other -- when he was in high school.

In 1998, he joined a theatre group called, "The Lab!" at UNC Chapel Hill and performed the role of 'Schroeder' in the musical "You're a Good Man Charlie Brown!".

Was in the "Boy Scouts of America" while growing up in Texas.

He is able to turn down many jobs, because he makes millions of dollars each year using his voice to sell products as a 'voice over actor'.

He was the second choice for the role of Russell in Almost Famous (2000). The first choice, Brad Pitt decided instead to appear in the more financially successful film Fight Club (1999).

Declined an offer to play Bruce Banner in Hulk (2003).

Was nominated for Broadway's 2002 Tony Award as Best Actor (Play) for portraying the title character of John Merrick in a revival of "The Elephant Man."

Graduated from University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill with a degree in Speech Communication.

Nominated for the 1997 drama desk award for outstanding featured actor in a play for Anton Chekhov's "Three Sisters.".

MFA in Acting - New York University, Tisch School of the Arts (1994).

In 2007, he won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in "The Coast of Utopia".

He and his Watchmen (2009) co-star Jeffrey Dean Morgan both have been in pretty tumultuous relationships with Mary-Louise Parker. Crudup's and Parker's relationship ended when he left her to be with Claire Danes when Parker was seven months pregnant with Crudup's son. Morgan started dating Parker in 2007, they broke up in June the same year, then they got back together and became engaged, but eventually broke up for good in 2008.

In Off-Broadway production of "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" [2002]

Performing on Broadway with Jeff Goldblum in "The Pillowman". [April 2005]

He has English, German, and Scottish ancestry.

He turned down the title role in Hulk (2003).

He was offered the role of Patrick Bateman in American Psycho (2000) but turned it down.

When asked who has been the biggest influence on his career, he says, "Mary Louise [Parker, his girlfriend and fellow actor] is a tremendous influence on me. She has incredible discipline. She takes the time day-to-day to watch people, to listen to people. To understand why people do things. And to me, a great actor is someone who's incredibly compassionate. To me, that's really it as far as an actor is concerned".

I wish I could say that when I didn't agree with a director I defer to him, but I think sometimes I'm a little self-righteous.

"I don't think actors should have to do anything but come in and act. I feel the film companies should pay for proper advertising to see that the movie will sell, instead of putting it on our backs. I've tried to narrow the contractual language, which requires a 'fair and reasonable' amount of publicity. I've said in negotiations; 'How much will you pay me not to have to promote?'