Vince Vaughan

Vincent Anthony Vaughn (born March 28, 1970) is an American actor. He is known for starring as a leading man in numerous comedy films during the late 1990s and 2000s. He was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Saturn Award.

Vaughn made his acting debut in the sports drama film ''Rudy'' (1993). He had his career breakthrough with the comedy '' Swingers'' (1996). He starred in a string of successful comedy films such as ''Old School'' (2003), '' Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story'' (2004), ''Wedding Crashers'' (2005), ''The Break-Up'' (2006), ''Fred Claus'' (2007), ''Four Christmases'' (2008), ''Couples Retreat'' (2009), ''The Dilemma'' (2011), ''The Internship'' (2013), and ''Delivery Man'' (2013).

He is also known for his dramatic roles playing Nick Van Owen in '' The Lost World: Jurassic Park'' (1997), and Norman Bates in '' Psycho'' (1998). He acted in other drama films such as '' The Locusts'' (1997), '' Return to Paradise'' (1998), '' The Cell'' (2000), ''South of Heaven, West of Hell'' (2000), ''Domestic Disturbance'' (2001), ''Hacksaw Ridge'' (2016), ''Brawl in Cell Block 99'' (2017), ''Dragged Across Concrete'' (2018), and '' Freaky'' (2020).

On television, he starred as career criminal Frank Semyon in the second season of the HBO anthology crime drama television series ''True Detective'' (2015), and as a detective turned restaurant inspector in the Apple TV+ drama series '' Bad Monkey'' (2024). He also took recurring roles in the animated Netflix sitcom ''F Is for Family'' (2018), and in the HBO comedy series ''Curb Your Enthusiasm'' (2020–2024).

Early life

Vaughn was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota. His mother, Sharon Eileen (''née'' DePalmo), is a real estate agent and stockbroker who was once ranked one of the top U.S. money managers by ''Bloomberg Wealth Manager'' magazine. His father, Vernon Lindsay Vaughn, worked as a salesman for a toy company. Vincent's Catholic mother and Protestant father raised him in both the Protestant and Catholic faiths. He has Italian, Irish, English, Lebanese, and German ancestry.

Vaughn lived in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, until he was eight years old. After moving to Lake Forest, he graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1988 where he played football and baseball and wrestled, although he has called himself "unathletic" and "very average" at high school sports. At a young age, he had been introduced to musical theater and, in 1987, decided to become an actor. He has credited his mother as the inspiration for his career, saying, "I saw her overcome stuff, and I thought if you worked hard at something you'd give yourself a chance".

Career

1988–2002: Career beginnings

In 1988, Vaughn was cast in a Chevrolet commercial and subsequently moved to Hollywood. He appeared in the 1989 season of the television series ''China Beach'' and in three ''CBS Schoolbreak Specials'' in 1990. His first film role was 1993's ''Rudy'' as Notre Dame football tailback Jamie O'Hara. He struck up a friendship with Jon Favreau, who was also a first-time actor. Two years later, he was cast in a lead role in a proposed revival of ''77 Sunset Strip'' that was to air on the fledgling WB Television Network, but the project ceased development after initial testing. Vaughn did not gain wider success until his role in 1996's '' Swingers'' with Favreau.

Afterward, Steven Spielberg cast Vaughn as Nick Van Owen in the 1997 blockbuster '' The Lost World: Jurassic Park'', which gave him increased exposure. He followed that up with the lead role in '' The Locusts'' the same year. In 1998, he starred in the critically acclaimed drama '' Return to Paradise'' with Anne Heche, and starred in ''Clay Pigeons'' with Janeane Garofalo and Joaquin Phoenix. In 2000, he starred in '' The Cell'' with Jennifer Lopez and in 2001, appeared in ''Made'', another film penned by Favreau. Vaughn also appeared in Dwight Yoakam's directorial debut, ''South of Heaven, West of Hell'' (2000). He also starred with John Travolta in the thriller ''Domestic Disturbance'' (2001).

2003–2014: Comedic stardom

Vaughn's performance in the 2003 comedy ''Old School'' increased his popularity, establishing him as a leading man in comedic films. Vaughn starred opposite Will Ferrell and Luke Wilson. The film was a commercial and critical success. In 2004, Vaughn appeared alongside Ben Stiller in the buddy cop action-comedy ''Starsky & Hutch'' and the sports comedy '' Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story''. Both films were commercial hits. Film critic Rob Mackie of ''The Guardian'' compared the satirical nature within the
film ''Dodgeball'' to that of the Rob Reiner directed comedy film '' This Is Spinal Tap'' (1984) and added that the film "stays consistently funny".

After this series of roles, he was dubbed one of the Hollywood "Frat Pack", alongside Will Ferrell, Ben Stiller, Jack Black, and Owen Wilson. The name refers to the group of actors who frequently co-star in film comedies. He appeared in 2005's independent film '' Thumbsucker'', crime-comedy film ''Be Cool'', and action-comedy film '' Mr. & Mrs. Smith''. Also in 2005, Vaughn starred alongside Owen Wilson in ''Wedding Crashers'', which grossed over $200 million at the U.S. box office. The film also starred Rachel McAdams, Bradley Cooper, Isla Fisher, and Christopher Walken. Critics J.R. Jones of ''The Chicago Reader'' praised both Vaughn and Wilson on their chemistry describing them as "enormously funny" adding the film is a "rich send-ups of wedding culture".

In 2006, Vaughn starred in the comedy-drama ''The Break-Up'' opposite Jennifer Aniston. Rosie Wash of ''The Guardian'' wrote that the film, "subverts the love-conquers-all formula of traditional rom-com to arrive at the more satisfying conclusion". In 2007, Vaughn starred in the Christmas comedy film ''Fred Claus'' as a sarcastic, wild-at-heart older brother of Santa Claus (Paul Giamatti). The film was directed by David Dobkin, who had directed Vaughn in ''Wedding Crashers'', and co-starred Elizabeth Banks and Kevin Spacey. Next, he moved from comedy to drama in Sean Penn's '' Into the Wild'', a film about the adventures of Christopher McCandless, based on the best-selling book by Jon Krakauer. In 2008, Vaughn starred in his second Christmas comedy, ''Four Christmases'', with Reese Witherspoon. The film portrays a couple who struggle to visit all four of their divorced parents on Christmas.

In 2009, he starred in ''Couples Retreat'', a comedy chronicling four couples who undergo therapy sessions at a tropical island resort. Malin Åkerman played his wife. Vince's father, Vernon, portrayed his father in the film. In February 2010, Vaughn was among the nearly 80 musicians and actors to sing the charity-single remake of ''We Are the World''. Vaughn starred in Ron Howard's comedy ''The Dilemma'', released in January 2011. It was produced by Wild West Picture Show Productions, his production company. On July 31, 2012, it was announced that Vaughn would be developing a reboot produced by CBS to the sitcom ''The Brady Bunch'', which was taken off the air in 1974. In 2013, Vaughn co-wrote and starred alongside Owen Wilson in ''The Internship''.

2015–present: Dramatic roles and TV work

In 2015, he starred in '' Unfinished Business'', which grossed $4.8 million in its opening weekend, a career low for Vaughn. He also starred in the second season of ''True Detective'' alongside Colin Farrell, which premiered on June 21. In 2016, he starred in the crime thriller ''Term Life'', which featured Favreau in a supporting role and was directed by Peter Billingsley. Also in 2016, he played a drill sergeant in the war film ''Hacksaw Ridge''.

In 2018, Vaughn co-starred alongside Mel Gibson in ''Dragged Across Concrete'', his second collaboration with S. Craig Zahler, whom he worked with the year before on ''Brawl in Cell Block 99''. In 2020, he starred with Kathryn Newton in the horror-comedy film '' Freaky'', in which they play a serial killer and a teenage girl who switch bodies. On January 20, 2022, it was announced that Vaughn will produce a sequel to the 1983 film ''A Christmas Story'' titled ''A Christmas Story Christmas'' with Peter Billingsley (who will reprise his role as Ralphie) through his production company Wild West Picture Show Productions for Warner Bros. Pictures and HBO Max.

In March 2022, Vaughn, Greg Olsen, and Ryan Kalil launched a podcast network and production company named Audiorama. The first podcast available from the network, "Youth, Inc.", focuses on youth sports. In 2024, he starred in the Apple TV+ drama series '' Bad Monkey'' playing a detective turned restaurant inspector. The show is created by Bill Lawrence and debuted on August 14, 2024.

In August 2024, Vaughn received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the category of Motion Pictures.

Personal life

In 2005, Vaughn began dating Jennifer Aniston, his co-star in ''The Break-Up''. In late 2006, he sued three tabloid magazines for reporting that he had been unfaithful to Aniston. They broke up in November 2006.

In March 2009, it was announced that Vaughn was engaged to Canadian realtor Kyla Weber. They married on January 2, 2010, in the Armour House at Lake Forest Academy in Lake Forest, Illinois. Their two children were born in 2010 and 2013.

Vaughn is a fan of the Chicago Bears.

Vaughn describes himself as a libertarian. He supported Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul in both the 2008 and 2012 elections, and Rand Paul in the 2016 election. In June 2015, Vaughn expressed his opposition to gun control.

In 2016, Vaughn began training in Brazilian jiu-jitsu at the Gracie Academy in Torrance, California. He received his blue belt in 2018.

On June 10, 2018, Vaughn was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving and resisting arrest in Manhattan Beach, California, after failing a sobriety test at a police checkpoint. In May 2019, he was convicted of a reduced charge of reckless driving after he entered a no contest plea. Vaughn was sentenced to three years' probation and ordered to undergo a three-month alcohol abuse program.

In 2019, Vaughn received the Meritorious Public Service Medal from the U.S. Army for his contributions to service members’ morale.

Filmography

Film

Television

Music videos

Video games

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vaughn, Vince
1970 births
Living people
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
American comedians of Middle Eastern descent
American people of English descent
American people of German descent
American people of Italian descent
American libertarians
American male comedians
American male film actors
American male screenwriters
American male television actors
American male voice actors
American practitioners of Brazilian jiu-jitsu
American people of Canadian descent
American people of Irish descent
American people of Lebanese descent
American Christians
Comedians from Illinois
Comedians from Minneapolis
Film producers from Illinois
Film producers from Minnesota
Lake Forest High School (Illinois) alumni
Male actors from Illinois
Male actors from Minneapolis
People from Buffalo Grove, Illinois
People from Lake Forest, Illinois
Screenwriters from Illinois
Screenwriters from Minnesota
Frat Pack