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

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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.