Greg Kinnear
anything about the sport. He ended up alone with the only other non-fan there, a British writer and former model named Helen Labden. They hit it off and became an item.
His next big break came when Bob Costas left "Later," a late-night interview show on NBC. When they were looking for his replacement someone suggested that guy who hosts Talk Soup. The producer liked his comic timing in the sketches on Soup and invited him to audition for Later. Surprisingly Greg refused to audition and asked that he be judged solely by his work on Soup. It worked. He got the job and juggled Soup and Later at the same time.
His lucky streak was just getting warmed up though. Sidney Pollack was looking for someone to play Harrison Ford's playboy brother in Sabrina. His assistant suggested Greg Kinnear, to which he replied, "Who is Greg Kinnear?" Greg landed the part and added film star to his other two jobs. Sabrina was a failure at the box office but Greg got good reviews and much attention for his career in film.
He went from supporting role to lead in his next two films Dear God as a con artist who develops a heart, and in A Smile Like Yours about a man dealing with infertility.
He was able to juggle his film and TV career for awhile but it was becoming clear that he would soon have to choose. That time came when he got a call from Jim Brooks about As Good As it Gets. The role was Simon, an openly gay painter who's life falls apart when he is badly beaten and looses his home. It was the part of a lifetime and Greg wanted very much to work with Brooks. But he was still under contract with NBC for Later. Luckily for him the producers realized what an opportunity this was for him and released him from his contract. Greg finally committed completely to the acting career he had given up in college.
It paid off. Even though the film got a mixed reception, Greg got wonderful reviews for his work and won a Golden Globe and Academy Award Nomination. He also got the chance to co-star with Jack Nicholson and Helen Hunt (both of whom won Oscars for their roles).
His next role was a supporting role in
Latest Articles