Tony Spiridakis

Last updated

Tony Spiridakis
Born1959 (age 64–65)
Queens, New York City, US
Education Yale University (BFA)
Occupation(s)Writer, producer, director, actor, playwright
Children2

Tony Spiridakis (born 1959 in Queens, New York City) is an American - Greek film director, writer, actor, producer and playwright best known for such films as Queens Logic , Tinseltown, The Last Word , If Lucy Fell and Ash Tuesday . He is the writer of Ezra , which he produced with director Tony Goldwyn, William Horberg, and Jon Kilik. The film, which stars Bobby Cannavale, Robert DeNiro, Rose Byrne, Whoopi Goldberg and Vera Farmiga, follows a struggling comedian and his autistic son on a cross-country road trip. [1] [2] [3] [4] It premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival and is being released theatrically by Bleecker Street nationwide in May 2024. [5]

Contents

Spiridakis has developed scripts for Dustin Hoffman, Richard Dreyfuss, and Diane Keaton as well as for iconic producers such as Laura Ziskin, Stacey Snider, Mary Parent, and Warren Littlefield. Other films include Tinseltown, based on his acclaimed play Self Storage, both starring Ron Perlman and Joe Pantoliano; Noise, which he directed and produced, starring Ally Sheedy and John Slattery; the documentary road trip film Driving to Ground Zero; and If Lucy Fell , starring Sarah Jessica Parker and Ben Stiller. Spiridakis’ play The Last Word had a successful run in Los Angeles before he adapted, produced, and directed the film starring Timothy Hutton. His post-9/11 drama, Beyond The Ashes, co-starred Spiridakis with Giancarlo Esposito, Janeane Garofalo, and Tony Goldwyn.

Spiridakis’ TV credits include co-creating and producing the Fox series The Heights with Academy Award-winning screenwriter Eric Roth, the CBS crime drama Falcone with Academy Award-winning screenwriter Robert Moresco, and the Netflix legal drama Justice with Emmy-winning writer William Finkelstein. [6] Spiridakis studied at the Yale School of Drama and has appeared in dozens of TV and films, including House , L.A. Law , The Equalizer , Bay City Blues , and Death Wish 3 . Additionally, he produced and acted in Academy and Tony Award-winning writer Doug Wright’s play Callbacks and worked with Stanley Kubrick on the film Full Metal Jacket .

Currently, Spiridakis is a writer and consulting producer on the MGM+ apocalyptic drama series Earth Abides, based on the 1949 sci-fi novel by George R. Stewart.. He is also adapting Sandy Greenberg’s acclaimed memoir, Hello Darkness, My Old Friend, for Wayfarer Studios. Projects in development include The Angry One, Sospiro Di Vita (Breath of Life), and Mike's Place, the true story of a blues bar in Tel Aviv during the Second Intifada that survives the devastation of a suicide bombing, for director Todd Komarnicki, with Antoine Fuqua and Andrew Levitas producing. [7]

A longtime educator who is passionate about working with emerging filmmakers, Spiridakis is the Founder and Executive Director of the North Fork Arts Center in Greenport, N.Y. [8]   In 2012 he co-founded the Manhattan Film Institute, an intensive film workshop and mentorship program that has produced nearly 300 short films and transformed the lives of many filmmakers. [9]

Spiridakis is a father of two and a strong advocate for autism awareness. [10] [11]

Partial filmography

Film

YearTitleRole
1985 Death Wish 3 Angel
1990 Pacific Heights actor
1991 Queens Logic Vinny (also writer)
1995 The Last Word Director, writer
1996 If Lucy Fell Story
1997TinseltownDirector, writer
2002Driving to Ground ZeroDirector, writer
2003 Ash Tuesday Punch (also writer)
2004NoiseDirector
2023 Ezra Producer, writer
TBAMike's PlaceWriter
TBABreath of LifeDirector, writer

Television

YearTitleRole
1983 Bay City Blues Lee Jacoby
1986Harem (miniseries)General Mustafa
1990Hometown Boy Makes GoodChuck Frazier
1991 Monsters Hercules Valvalotus
1992 The Heights Co-creator
2000 Falcone Writer (episodes: "Lealta" and "... But Not Forgotten")
2007 House Actor (episode: "Resignation")
2017 Justice: Qalb Al Adala Writer
2018GreenportTom Wood (also co-creator)
2023Earth AbidesWriter, consulting producer

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alfonso Cuarón</span> Mexican filmmaker

Alfonso Cuarón Orozco is a Mexican filmmaker. His accolades include five Academy Awards, seven BAFTA Awards, and three Golden Globe Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Joe Mantegna</span> American actor (born 1947)

Joseph Anthony Mantegna is an American actor. He has starred in the CBS television series Criminal Minds since 2007 as FBI Supervisory Special Agent David Rossi. He has voiced the recurring role of mob boss Fat Tony on the animated series The Simpsons, beginning with the 1991 episode "Bart the Murderer", as well as The Simpsons Movie (2007).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Goldwyn</span> American actor and director (born 1960)

Anthony Howard Goldwyn is an American actor, singer, producer, director, and political activist. He made his debut appearing as Darren in the slasher film Friday the 13th Part VI: Jason Lives (1986), and had his breakthrough for starring as Carl Bruner in the fantasy thriller film Ghost (1990), which earned him a nomination for the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor. He went on to star as Harold Nixon in the biographical film Nixon (1995), which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination, and as Neil Armstrong in the HBO miniseries From the Earth to the Moon (1998).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Aidan Quinn</span> American actor (b. 1959)

Aidan Quinn is an American actor. He made his film debut in Reckless (1984), and has starred in over 80 feature films, including Desperately Seeking Susan (1985), The Mission (1986), Stakeout (1987), All My Sons (1987), Avalon (1990), Benny & Joon (1993), Legends of the Fall (1994), Mary Shelley's Frankenstein (1994), Michael Collins (1996), Practical Magic (1998), Song for a Raggy Boy (2003), Wild Child (2008) and Unknown (2011). He also played Captain Thomas "Tommy" Gregson on the CBS television series Elementary (2012–19).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Antoine Fuqua</span> American film director (born 1965)

Antoine Fuqua is an American film director known for his work in the action and thriller genres. He was originally known as a director of music videos, and made his film debut in 1998 with The Replacement Killers. His critical breakthrough was the 2001 crime thriller Training Day, winning the Black Reel Award for Outstanding Director.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bobby Cannavale</span> American actor (born 1970)

Bobby Cannavale is an American actor. His breakthrough came with the leading role as FDNY Paramedic Roberto "Bobby" Caffey in the NBC series Third Watch, which he played from 1999 to 2001.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Justin Baldoni</span> American actor and director (born 1984)

Justin Louis Baldoni is an American actor and filmmaker. He is best known for portraying Rafael Solano on The CW satirical romantic dramedy Jane the Virgin (2014–2019) as well as directing the films Five Feet Apart (2019), Clouds (2020) and It Ends with Us (2024).

<i>Queens Logic</i> 1991 American film

Queens Logic is a 1991 American ensemble coming-of-age comedy-drama film from Seven Arts Pictures starring Kevin Bacon, Linda Fiorentino, Joe Mantegna, Jamie Lee Curtis, John Malkovich, Ken Olin, Chloe Webb and Tom Waits. It was directed by Steve Rash.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert De Niro</span> American actor (born 1943)

Robert Anthony De Niro is an American actor and film producer. He is considered to be one of the greatest and most influential actors of his generation. De Niro is the recipient of various accolades, including two Academy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. He received the Kennedy Center Honors in 2009, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom from U.S. President Barack Obama in 2016.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Plank</span> American actor

Alexander Plank is an American autism advocate, filmmaker and actor. He is known for founding the online community Wrong Planet, working on FX's television series The Bridge, and acting on The Good Doctor. At the age of 9, Plank was diagnosed with Asperger syndrome. Plank started Wrong Planet at the age of 17 in order to find others like him on the Internet. After the popularity of Wrong Planet grew, Plank began to be frequently mentioned in the mainstream media in articles relating to autism, Asperger's, and autism rights.

Autism spectrum disorders (ASDs) or autism spectrum conditions (ASCs) describe a range of conditions classified as neurodevelopmental disorders in the DSM-5, used by the American Psychiatric Association. As with many neurodivergent people and conditions, the popular image of autistic people and autism itself is often based on inaccurate media representations. Additionally, media about autism may promote pseudoscience such as vaccine denial or facilitated communication.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whoopi Goldberg on screen and stage</span> Actress filmography

Whoopi Goldberg is an American actor, comedian, and singer. The following is her filmography throughout her entire acting career. She has won Academy, Emmy, Grammy, and Tony Awards. She won the Academy Award for the Best Supporting Actress for the film Ghost (1990).

Ash Tuesday is a 2003 comedy drama film directed by Jim Hershleder, written by Tony Spiridakis, and starring Janeane Garofalo, Giancarlo Esposito, and Tony Goldwyn. The film is an ensemble piece about several New Yorkers coping with the effects of the September 11 attacks, and was one of the first films to incorporate the events of 9/11 into its story.

<i>The A Word</i> British drama television series

The A Word is a British television drama series, based on the Israeli series Yellow Peppers. The series follows a young boy and how his family cope with the revelation that he has autism spectrum disorder. Following filming in the Lake District from October 2015, a six-part series began airing on 22 March 2016. On 26 May 2016, the BBC announced that a second series of The A Word had been commissioned. It premiered in the UK on 7 November 2017. The third series began airing on 5 May 2020.

<i>Atypical</i> 2017 American comedy-drama television series

Atypical is an American comedy-drama television series created by Robia Rashid for Netflix. The series takes place in Connecticut, and focuses on the life of 18-year-old Samuel "Sam" Gardner, who is autistic. The first season was released on August 11, 2017, consisting of eight episodes. The 10-episode second season was released on September 7, 2018. In October 2018, the series was renewed for a third season of ten episodes, which was released on November 1, 2019. In February 2020, it was renewed for a fourth and final season, which premiered on July 9, 2021.

Michael Cumming is a British director and filmmaker. He is best known for directing comedy shows such as Brass Eye, Toast of London, Toast of Tinseltown, The Mark Thomas Product, Snuff Box,The Mark Steel Lectures and Rock Profile.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jason Haynes</span> Fictional character from BBC medical drama Holby City

Jason Haynes is a fictional character from the BBC medical drama Holby City, played by Jules Robertson. He first appeared in the series eighteen episode "A Partnership, Literally", broadcast on 9 February 2016, and stayed until the show's final episode: "Episode 1102", which was broadcast on 29 March 2022. the Jason arrives at Holby City hospital to work as a porter after being introduced as the nephew of Consultant Serena Campbell. Robertson was cast after he impressed producers after auditioning against several other actors. Jason has Asperger syndrome and Robertson is the first non-neurotypical actor to play a non-neurotypical character in an ongoing role. Robertson has stated that his own experience with autism helped him portray Jason accurately. He is characterised as a nice man, who Robertson describes as "geeky and shy" and lacking a sense of humour.

The Last Word is a 1995 American crime thriller drama film written and directed by Tony Spiridakis and starring Timothy Hutton, Joe Pantoliano, Michelle Burke, Chazz Palminteri and Tony Goldwyn. Avi Lerner served as an executive producer of the film.

<i>Ezra</i> (2023 film) American film by Tony Goldwyn

Ezra is a 2023 American comedy drama film directed by Tony Goldwyn and written by Tony Spiridakis. It stars Bobby Cannavale, Rose Byrne, Vera Farmiga, Whoopi Goldberg, Rainn Wilson, Tony Goldwyn, William Fitzgerald, and Robert De Niro.

References

  1. ↑ "FILM; Yes, Tony Spiridakis, You Can Go Home Again (Published 1989)". The New York Times . Archived from the original on June 28, 2023.
  2. ↑ "New York Times". Movies & TV Dept. Baseline & All Movie Guide. 2012. Archived from the original on November 3, 2012. Retrieved February 20, 2017.
  3. ↑ "Los Angeles Times". Archived from the original on June 17, 2011. Retrieved December 11, 2010.
  4. ↑ Wiseman, Andreas (October 27, 2022). "First Look At Robert De Niro & Bobby Cannavale In Comedy 'Inappropriate Behavior'; Pic Pre-Sells To France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Lat Am, More". Deadline. Retrieved November 1, 2022.
  5. ↑ Grobar, Matt (November 6, 2023). "Tony Goldwyn's 'Ezra' Secures U.S. Distribution With Bleecker Street Following TIFF Premiere". Deadline. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  6. ↑ "CLASS-CONSCIOUS PLOTS FILL NEW YOUNG ADULT TV SHOWS". Chicago Tribune. October 2, 1992. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
  7. ↑ McNary, Dave (May 10, 2018). "Antoine Fuqua, Todd Komarnicki Developing Mike's Place Terrorist Attack Drama (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  8. ↑ "Who We Are". North Fork Arts Center. Retrieved March 5, 2024.
  9. ↑ "Founders - Manhattan Film Institute". November 15, 2019. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  10. ↑ Schroeder, Katharine (July 24, 2017). "A father's journey with his autistic son inspires 'Greenport,' a television pilot". SoutholdLOCAL. Retrieved November 4, 2022.
  11. ↑ Spiridakis, Tony (October 17, 2017), Inappropriate Behavior: Fatherhood and Autism , retrieved November 4, 2022
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.