Craig Sheffer

Last updated
Craig Sheffer
Born
Craig Eric Sheffer

(1960-04-23) April 23, 1960 (age 64)
Alma mater East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
OccupationActor
Years active1982–present
Spouse
(m. 2003;div. 2004)
Partner Gabrielle Anwar (ended 1990s)

Craig Eric Sheffer (born April 23, 1960) is an American film and television actor. He is known for his starring roles as Hardy Jenns in Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), Aaron "Cabal" Boone in Nightbreed (1990), Norman Maclean in A River Runs Through It (1992), Joe Kane in The Program (1993), Joseph in Bliss (1997), and as Keith Scott on the television series One Tree Hill (2003–12).

Contents

Early life

Sheffer was born in York, Pennsylvania, where his father worked as a prison guard. He began acting in school plays while attending York Suburban Senior High School, [1] competing regional and state drama competitions. He attended East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania for two years on a sports scholarship, playing baseball and football, until sustaining a knee injury. He dropped out in 1980 to pursue his acting career. [2] [3]

Sheffer moved to New York City at the behest of his then-girlfriend, but they broke up shortly thereafter, and Sheffer spent sometime homeless. He "slept under the marble staircase" in Grand Central Terminal for weeks while living off Unification Church spaghetti dinners," and made a living selling newspapers. [4]

Career

After appearing in commercials, Sheffer was first seen on a nationwide basis as Ian Hayden on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live in 1982, and on the short-lived primetime drama The Hamptons in 1983. In 1984, he was cast in his first film role, as the romantic lead opposite Pia Zadora in the genre-bending musical Voyage of the Rock Aliens. He also starred in the Broadway play Torch Song Trilogy, replacing Paul Joynt midway through its run. [5]

He subsequently had starring roles in films as the best friend of troubled teenager Emilio Estevez in That Was Then... This Is Now (1985), a reformatory camp inmate in Fire with Fire (1986), an antagonistic rich kid in Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), and the romantic love interest of an overweight cosmetician in Baby Cakes (1989). In 1990, he played the leading role of Aaron "Cabal" Boone in Clive Barker's horror film Nightbreed .

In 1992, Sheffer starred as author Norman Maclean in the Oscar-winning biographical film A River Runs Through It , directed by Robert Redford. He then played Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Joe Kane in The Program in 1993.

Sheffer's other films include Fire in the Sky (1993), Head Above Water (1996), and Sleep With Me (1994) (as the apex of a romantic triangle which included Eric Stoltz and Meg Tilly). Sheffer played the leading role in Clive Barker's franchise sequel, Hellraiser: Inferno . He also played the main character in 1997's Bliss which starred Sheryl Lee, Terence Stamp and Leigh Taylor-Young.

Sheffer played Constant Bradley in the 1996 miniseries A Season in Purgatory. He played Keith Scott on the CW Network series One Tree Hill for three seasons before his character was killed off halfway through season 3 (he also had several guest appearances in season 4). He directed the feature film American Crude, a dark comedy starring Ron Livingston and Rob Schneider; it was released straight to DVD in June 2008. Sheffer had a cameo appearance in the movie Stand Up Guys .

In 2016, Sheffer starred alongside Steven Seagal in Code of Honor .

In 2021, he was cast to play American President Richard Nixon on the horror anthology American Horror Story: Double Feature .

Personal life

Sheffer was in a relationship with Gabrielle Anwar from 1989 and until the early-1990s. [6] They have a daughter, actress Willow Anwar (b. 1993). Sheffer is the godfather to his ex-partner's children, Hugo and Paisley, from her subsequent marriage to John Verea. [7]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984 Voyage of the Rock Aliens Frankie
1985 That Was Then... This Is Now Bryon Douglas
1986 Fire with Fire Joe Fisk
1987 Some Kind of Wonderful Hardy Jenns
1988 Split Decisions Eddie McGuinn
1990 Nightbreed Aaron Boone / Cabal
Instant Karma Zane
1991 Blue Desert Randall Atkins
Eye of the Storm Ray
1992 A River Runs Through It Norman Maclean
1993 Fire in the Sky Allan Dallis
The Program Joe Kane
Fire on the Amazon R.J.
1994The Road KillersCliff
Sleep with Me Frank
1995 Wings of Courage Henri GuillaumetShort film
The Desperate Trail Jack Cooper
1996 The Grave King
Head Above Water Lance
1997 Executive Power Nick Seger
Bliss Joseph
1998 Double Take Connor McEwen
1999 The Fall Adam Ellis
Flypaper Bobby Ray
Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying Martin
2000 Net Worth Woody Miller
Deep Core Brian Goodman
Hellraiser: Inferno Det. Joseph Thorne
Maze Mike
Merlin: The Return Mordred
2001 Ritual Paul Claybourne
Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal Nick Watts
Flying VirusMartin Bauer
2002Truth Be ToldDet. Stratten
Deadly Little SecretsDr. Gordon Childs
2003Water Under the BridgeMarco
Dracula II: Ascension Lowell
2004Prodigal SonAlanShort film
The Pavilion Frank Cassilis
Berserker Boar
2005Tom's Nu HeavenTom Mitchell
The Second FrontFrank Hossom
2006Find LoveInterviewer
2008 Love Lies Bleeding Morton
While She Was Out Kenneth
2010Ashley's AshesBill
2012 Bad Ass Attorney
Stand Up Guys Jargoniew
The Mark Chad Turner
2013The Mark 2: Redemption
2016 Code of Honor William Porter
2017 Destruction: Los Angeles John Benson
2019Widow's PointThomas Livingston
2023Velocity GirlSheriff Earl Gentry
2024 Guns & Moses Tibor Farkas

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982 One Life to Live Ian HaydenUnknown episodes
1983 The Hamptons Brian ChadwayEpisode: "Pilot"
1986–88 Teen Wolf Mick (voice)21 episodes
1989 Baby Cakes RobTelevision film
1995 In Pursuit of Honor Lt. Marshall Buxton
BloodknotMike
1996 A Season in Purgatory Constant BradleyMiniseries
1997 Miss Evers' Boys Dr. DouglasTelevision film
Merry Christmas, George BaileyErnie Bishop / Ed / Bridgekeeper
1998Rhapsody in BloomJack Safrenek
2001 Family Law Martin AntenelliEpisode: "Separation"
2002 Fastlane Andrew KaneEpisode: "Pilot"
Cabin Pressure Peter 'Bird Dog' DewmontTelevision film
2003Without MaliceDr. Paul Venters
2003–07, 2012 One Tree Hill Keith Scott58 episodes
2005 Into the West Older Robert WheelerEpisode: "Ghost Dance"
2006 Long Lost Son Quinn Halloran / John WilliamsTelevision film
2010 Psych Federal Marshal Daniel WayneEpisode: "A Very Juliet Episode"
Criminal Minds James ThomasEpisode: "Compromising Positions"
Lies Between FriendsSheriff Zach WattsTelevision film
2012 The Mentalist Gary PhiloEpisode: "Cheap Burgundy"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jack Gilmore2 episodes
2013 Battledogs Major Brian HoffmanTelevision film
2021 American Horror Story: Double Feature Richard Nixon 3 episodes

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Linda Hunt</span> American actress (born 1945)

Linda Hunt, born Lydia Susanna Hunt is an American actress of stage and screen. She made her film debut playing Mrs. Oxheart in Popeye (1980). Her portrayal of the male character Billy Kwan in The Year of Living Dangerously (1982) won her the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress, making her the first person to win an Oscar for portraying a character of the opposite sex. Hunt has also appeared in films such as Dune (1984), Silverado (1985), Kindergarten Cop (1990), Pocahontas (1995), Pocahontas II: Journey to a New World (1998), and Stranger Than Fiction (2006).

Colleen Zenk is an American actress. She is known for her role as Barbara Ryan in the CBS daytime soap opera, As the World Turns, a role she played from September 1978 until the show ended in September 2010. She received three Daytime Emmy Awards nominations for her performance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gabrielle Anwar</span> British actress (born 1970)

Gabrielle Anwar is a British and American actress. She is known for her television roles as Sam Black in the second series of Press Gang, as Margaret Tudor in the first season of The Tudors, as Lady Tremaine in the seventh season of Once Upon a Time, and for her starring role as Fiona Glenanne on the USA network television series Burn Notice (2007–2013). Anwar is also known for the 1991 film Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, for dancing the tango with Al Pacino in the 1992 film Scent of a Woman, and for the 1993 films Body Snatchers and For Love or Money.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sheryl Lee</span> German-born American actress

Sheryl Lee is a German-American film, stage, and television actress. After studying acting in college, Lee relocated to Seattle, Washington to work in theater, where she was cast by David Lynch as Laura Palmer and Maddy Ferguson on the 1990 television series Twin Peaks and in the 1992 film Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me. After completing Twin Peaks, she returned to theater, appearing in the title role of Salome on Broadway opposite Al Pacino.

<i>Nightbreed</i> 1990 film by Clive Barker

Nightbreed is a 1990 American dark fantasy horror film written and directed by Clive Barker, based on his 1988 novella Cabal. It stars Craig Sheffer, Anne Bobby, David Cronenberg, Charles Haid, Hugh Quarshie, and Doug Bradley. The film follows an unstable mental patient named Aaron Boone who is falsely led to believe by his doctor that he is a serial killer. Tracked down by the police, his doctor, and his girlfriend Lori, Boone eventually finds refuge in an abandoned cemetery called Midian among a tribe of monsters and outcasts known as the "Nightbreed" who hide from humanity.

<i>Cabal</i> (novella) Novella by Clive Barker

Cabal is a 1988 horror novella by the British author Clive Barker. It was originally published in the United States as part of a collection comprising a novel and several short stories from Barker's sixth and final volume of the Books of Blood.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sarah Paulson</span> American actress (born 1974)

Sarah Catharine Paulson is an American actress. She is the recipient of numerous accolades, including a Primetime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, and a Tony Award. In 2017, Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Amy Ryan</span> American actress (born 1968)

Amy Beth Dziewiontkowski, known professionally as Amy Ryan, is an American stage and screen actress. A graduate of New York's High School of Performing Arts, she is an Academy Award nominee and three-time Tony Award nominee.

Craig Michael Saavedra is an American film producer, director, and two time Tony Award-winning Broadway producer. He is married to cinematographer/director Joaquin Sedillo.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Warren Stevens</span> American actor (1919–2012)

Warren Albert Stevens was an American stage, screen, and television actor.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Raphael Sbarge</span> American actor

Raphael Sbarge is an American actor and filmmaker. He is perhaps best known for his roles as Jake Straka on The Guardian (2001–04), Jiminy Cricket / Dr. Archibald Hopper on Once Upon a Time (2011–18) and Inspector David Molk on the TNT series Murder in the First (2014–16). He is also known for voicing Carth Onasi in Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic (2003), RC-1262 / "Scorch" in Star Wars: Republic Commando (2005) and Kaidan Alenko in the Mass Effect trilogy (2007–12).

<i>Animal Crackers</i> (musical) Musical by Bert Kalmar, Harry Ruby

Animal Crackers is a musical play with music and lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby and a book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind. The musical starred the Marx Brothers and is set at the Long Island Home of Mrs. Rittenhouse; a character portrayed by Margaret Dumont in the 1928 production on Broadway.

Jon Robin Baitz is an American playwright, screenwriter and television producer. He is a two time Pulitzer Prize finalist, as well as a Guggenheim, American Academy of Arts and Letters, and National Endowment for the Arts Fellow.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kenneth Nelson</span> American actor

Kenneth Nelson was an American actor.

<i>The Good Fairy</i> (1935 film) 1935 film by William Wyler

The Good Fairy is a 1935 romantic comedy film written by Preston Sturges, based on the 1930 play A jó tündér by Ferenc Molnár as translated and adapted by Jane Hinton, which was produced on Broadway in 1931. The film was directed by William Wyler and stars Margaret Sullavan, Herbert Marshall, Frank Morgan and Reginald Owen.

<i>Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal</i> 2001 film by Jorge Montesi

Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal is a 2001 thriller film directed by Jorge Montesi and starring John Mann, Monika Schnarre, Gabrielle Anwar and Joe Mantegna. The film was released direct-to-video, and is the third installment in the Turbulence trilogy, following Turbulence and Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying.

Anne Marie Bobby is an American actress, voice artist, playwright and author, best known for her role as Lori Winston, the heroine in Clive Barker's Nightbreed and Brigid Tenenbaum in the BioShock series. She was praised by The Washington Post for her portrayal of Tallasse in What the Deaf Man Heard (1997). The Los Angeles Times called Bobby's Tallasse "a sensitive, insightful portrayal."

Judith Roberts is an American actress, who performed in various stage productions and appeared in film and television. She starred in the horror film Eraserhead (1977) by David Lynch and in later age played the main antagonist Mary Shaw in James Wan's supernatural horror film, Dead Silence (2007). She also starred in films Fred Won't Move Out (2012), You Were Never Really Here (2017) and The Last Thing Mary Saw (2021). Roberts also played Erica Taslitz, one of "The Golden Girls", in the Netflix comedy-drama series Orange Is the New Black in 2014.

<i>Bliss</i> (1997 film) 1997 American film

Bliss is a 1997 American erotic drama film written and directed by Lance Young, in his film debut. It stars Sheryl Lee, Craig Sheffer, and Terence Stamp. The film also features appearances by Lance Young's sister, Leigh Taylor-Young, as well as Molly Parker. The story revolves around a young married couple who are trying to address issues impacting their sex life. The film is also a surreptitious analysis on the teachings of tantric sex.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jack Whiting (actor)</span> American actor, singer and dancer (1901–1961)

Jack Whiting was an American actor, singer and dancer whose career ran from the early 1920s through the late 1950s, playing leading men or major supporting figures.

References

  1. McClure, Jim. "Prominent actor Craig Sheffer hails from overlooked Windsor Park". York Daily Record. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  2. Thompson, Simon. "Craig Sheffer On His 'The Shining' Inspiration For 'Widow's Point' And A 'Nightbreed' TV Series". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  3. Report, Morning Call | Staff (1992-10-30). "'KING OF THE B MOVIES' ACTOR CRAIG SHEFFER FINALLY EARNS HIS 'A'". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  4. Brunette, Peter (1992-10-04). "UP AND COMING: Craig Sheffer; Off Streets, Into Movies". The New York Times . Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  5. "Craig Sheffer – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  6. Register, Luaine Lee | Orange County (2007-06-19). "Gabrielle Anwar hopes to 'Burn' up the screen". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  7. "Craig Sheffer reflects on his time in Wilmington, his new Hallmark movie and his role on "One Tree Hill" – We Love TV - Wilmington Star News - Wilmington, NC - Archive". 2010-08-03. Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-07.