Vince Vaughn
Quick Facts
Biography
Vincent Anthony Vaughn (born March 28, 1970) is an American actor and producer. The accolades he has received include nominations for a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Saturn Award.
Vaughn began acting in the late 1980s, appearing in minor television roles before attaining wider recognition with the 1996 comedy Swingers. He then appeared in the sci-fi action movie The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997), the dramas The Locusts (1997) and Return to Paradise (1998), the Western South of Heaven, West of Hell (2000), and the thriller Domestic Disturbance (2001). He starred as Frank Semyon in the second season of the HBO anthology crime drama television series True Detective (2015).
Vaughn's comedy films include Old School (2003), Dodgeball (2004), Wedding Crashers (2005), The Break-Up (2006), Fred Claus (2007), Four Christmases (2008), Couples Retreat (2009), The Dilemma (2011), The Watch (2012), The Internship (2013), Delivery Man (2013), and Unfinished Business (2015). He returned to serious genres with roles in Hacksaw Ridge (2016), Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017), and Dragged Across Concrete (2018).
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 grew up mostly in Buffalo Grove, Illinois, where he played football and baseball and wrestled, although he has called himself "unathletic" and "very average" at high school sports. After moving to Lake Forest, he graduated from Lake Forest High School in 1988. 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
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 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). Vaughn's performance in the 2003 comedy Old School increased his popularity.
In 2004, Vaughn appeared alongside Ben Stiller in the hit films Starsky & Hutch and Dodgeball. After this series of roles, he was dubbed one of the Hollywood "Frat Pack", a group of actors who frequently co-star in film comedies. He appeared in 2005's Thumbsucker, Be Cool, and 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. In 2006, Vaughn starred with Jennifer Aniston in the comedy drama The Break-Up.
In 2007, Vaughn starred in 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. 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.
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 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.
Filmography
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1991 | For the Boys | Cheering Soldier in Crowd | Uncredited |
1993 | Rudy | Jamie O'Hara | Credited as Vincent Vaughn |
1994 | At Risk | Max Nolan | |
1996 | Just Your Luck | Barry | Direct-to-video |
Swingers | Trent Walker | ||
1997 | The Lost World: Jurassic Park | Nick Van Owen | |
The Locusts | Clay Hewitt | ||
1998 | A Cool, Dry Place | Russell Durrell | |
Return to Paradise | John "Sheriff" Volgecherev | ||
Clay Pigeons | Lester Long | ||
Psycho | Norman Bates | ||
2000 | South of Heaven, West of Hell | Taylor Henry | |
The Cell | FBI Agent Peter Novak | ||
The Prime Gig | Pendelton "Penny" Wise | ||
2001 | Made | Ricky Slade | Also producer |
Zoolander | Luke Zoolander | Uncredited cameo | |
Domestic Disturbance | Rick Barnes / Jack Parnell | ||
2003 | Old School | Bernard "Beanie" Campbell | |
I Love Your Work | Stiev | ||
Blackball | Rick Schwartz | ||
2004 | Starsky & Hutch | Reese Feldman | |
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story | Peter La Fleur | ||
Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy | Wes Mantooth | Uncredited | |
Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie | |||
Paparazzi | Actor | ||
2005 | Thumbsucker | Mr. Geary | |
Be Cool | Roger "Raji" Lowenthal | ||
Mr. & Mrs. Smith | Eddie | ||
Wedding Crashers | Jeremy Grey | ||
2006 | The Break-Up | Gary Grobowski | Also writer and producer |
2007 | Into the Wild | Wayne Westerberg | |
Fred Claus | Frederick "Fred" Claus | Also producer | |
2008 | Wild West Comedy Show | Himself | |
Four Christmases | Brad / Orlando McVie | ||
2009 | Couples Retreat | Dave | Also writer and producer |
2011 | The Dilemma | Ronny Valentine | Also producer |
2012 | Art of Conflict: The Murals of Northern Ireland | Narrator | Documentary; also producer |
The Watch | Bob McAllister | ||
Lay the Favorite | Rosie | ||
2013 | The Internship | Billy McMahon | Also writer and producer |
A Case of You | Alan | ||
Delivery Man | David Wozniak | ||
Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues | Wes Mantooth | Cameo | |
2015 | Unfinished Business | Daniel "Dan" Trunkman | |
2016 | Term Life | Nick Barrow | Also producer |
Hacksaw Ridge | Sgt. Howell | ||
2017 | Brawl in Cell Block 99 | Bradley Thomas | |
2018 | Dragged Across Concrete | Anthony Lurasetti | |
2019 | Fighting with My Family | Hutch Morgan | |
Seberg | Carl Kowalski | ||
2020 | Arkansas | Frog | |
The Binge | Principal Carleson | ||
Freaky | Blissfield Butcher / Millie Kessler | ||
2021 | North Hollywood | Oliver | |
Queenpins | Simon Kilmurray | ||
2025 | Animal Friends | Filming | |
TBA | Nonnas | Joe Scaravella | Filming; also executive producer |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1989 | China Beach | Motor Pool Driver | Episode: "The Unquiet Earth" |
21 Jump Street | Bill Peterson | Episode: "Mike's P.O.V." | |
1990 | ABC Afterschool Specials | Jason | Episode: "A Question About Sex" |
CBS Schoolbreak Special | Steve | Episode: "Malcom Takes a Shot" | |
Steve Guarino | Episode: "The Fourth Man" | ||
1991 | Richard | Episode: "Lies of the Heart" | |
1992 | Doogie Howser, M.D. | Mark | Episode: "Sons of the Desert" |
1998 | Mr. Show with Bob and David | Sheep Dog | Episode: "It's Perfectly Understandishable" |
Hercules | Loki (voice) | Episode: "Hercules and the Twilight of the Gods" | |
The Larry Sanders Show | Himself | Episode: "The Interview" | |
Saturday Night Live | Himself (host) | Episode: "Vince Vaughn/Lauryn Hill" | |
2000 | Sex and the City | Keith Travers | Episode: "Sex and Another City" |
2001 | Going to California | Gavin Toe | Episode: "This Year's Model" |
2013 | Pursuit of the Truth | Himself (host) | 10 episodes; also producer |
Saturday Night Live | Episode: "Vince Vaughn/Miguel" | ||
2015 | True Detective | Frank Semyon | 8 episodes |
2018 | F is for Family | Chet Stevenson (voice) | 8 episodes; also executive producer |
2020–2024 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Freddy Funkhouser | 11 episodes |
2024 | Bad Monkey | Andrew Yancy | Upcoming series; also executive producer |
Producer
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
2022 | A Christmas Story Christmas | Producer |
Music videos
Year | Title | Artist(s) |
---|---|---|
1998 | "These Arms" | Dwight Yoakam |
2010 | "We Are the World 25 for Haiti" | Artists for Haiti |
2016 | "Don't Wanna Know" | Maroon 5 |
Video games
Year | Title | Voice role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1997 | Chaos Island: The Lost World | Nick Van Owen |
Awards and nominations
Year | Title | Association | Category | Results |
---|---|---|---|---|
2001 | The Cell | Blockbuster Entertainment Award | Favorite Actor – Science Fiction | Nominated |
2003 | Old School | MTV Movie + TV Award | Best On-Screen Team () | Nominated |
2005 | — | Golden Schmoes Award | Favorite Celebrity of the Year | Nominated |
DodgeBall: A True Underdog Story | MTV Movie + TV Award | Best On-Screen Team () | Nominated | |
Be Cool | Teen Choice Award | Choice Movie – Sleazbag | Nominated | |
2006 | Wedding Crashers | MTV Movie + TV Award | Best Comedic Performance | Nominated |
Best On-Screen Team () | Won | |||
People's Choice Award | Favorite On-Screen Match-Up () | Won | ||
— | ShoWest Convention Award | Comedy Star of the Year | Won | |
The Break-Up | Teen Choice Award | Choice Movie Actor – Comedy | Nominated | |
Choice Movie – Chemistry () | Won | |||
2007 | People's Choice Award | Favorite Leading Man | Won | |
Favorite On-Screen Match-Up () | Nominated | |||
2008 | Into the Wild | Gold Derby Award | Ensemble Cast | Nominated |
Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture | Nominated | ||
2010 | Couples Retreat | People's Choice Award | Favorite Comedy Star | Nominated |
Teen Choice Award | Choice Movie – Hissy Fit | Nominated | ||
— | Choice Activist | Won | ||
2013 | The Internship | CinemaCon Award | Comedy Duo of the Year () | Won |
2017 | Hacksaw Ridge | Australian Film Critics Association Award | Best Supporting Actor | Nominated |
2018 | Brawl in Cell Block 99 | Saturn Award | Best Actor | Nominated |
2021 | Freaky | Critics' Choice Super Award | Best Actor in a Horror Movie | Won |
MTV Movie & TV Award | Most Frightened Performance | Nominated |