Thomas Haden Church

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Thomas Haden Church
Thomas Haden Church (right) with Kirsten Dunst and Bryce Dallas Howard at the San Diego 2006 Comic-Con International, July 22, 2006, photo by Kevin Tostado
Born	17 June 1960 El Paso, Texas, USA
Notable roles	Lowell Mather in Wings (1990–1995) Billy Clanton in Tombstone (1993) Ned Dorsey in Ned and Stacey (1995-1997) Lyle van de Groot in George of the Jungle (1997) Larry in Free Money (1998) The Strobe/Ted Tilderbrook in The Specials (2000)

Thomas Haden Church (born June 17, 1960 in El Paso, Texas) is an Academy Award nominated actor. He was raised in Harlingen, Texas and graduated from Harlingen High School in 1979. He is also a television actor and cartoon voice actor who started in the entertainment business as a radio personality. A part in an independent film convinced him to move to California to pursue an acting career.

Church played the part of dim-witted airport mechanic Lowell Mather for six seasons (1990–1995) on the NBC sitcom Wings. He worked in television for two more seasons with a lead role on Ned and Stacey opposite Debra Messing.

After roles in little-seen films like Tales from the Crypt Presents Demon Knight, 3000 Miles to Graceland and his directorial debut, Rolling Kansas, Church went into early retirement and relocated back to his native Texas.

At one point, Church was close to landing the part that went to Dermot Mulroney in About Schmidt but didn't get it. In 2003 director Alexander Payne, who had promised Church a part in his next film, cast the actor in Sideways as Jack, the selfish best friend to Paul Giamatti's writer, looking to have one last fling before getting married. Payne personally visited Church at his estate in Texas to offer him the part.

Sideways helped provide a comeback for Church, for which he won an IFP Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male and was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

In 2005, Church was announced to be a villain in Spider-Man 3, the third installment of the franchise is due for release in May 4, 2007. He plays the Sandman. This role has seen much acclaim from online supporters.

He also appeared in one of the highest rated television shows for AMC ever, "Broken Trail", with Robert Duvall, in 2006.

He resides on his large ranch in Kerrville, Texas. On June 23, 2006 he revealed on Late Night with Conan O'Brien that he is a full-time rancher.

[edit] Filmography

Spider-Man 3 (2007) as Flint Marko/Sandman
Continuing Ed (2006)
Charlotte's Web (2006) (voice) as Brooks
Broken Trail (2006) as Tom Harte
Over the Hedge (2006) (voice) as Dwayne LaFontaine
Open Range (2003)
Spanglish (2004) as Mike / Realtor
Sideways (2004) as Jackson 'Jack' Lapote
Serial Killing 4 Dummys aka Serial Killing 101 aka Serial Killer (2004) as Vince Grimaldi
George of the Jungle 2 (2003) (V) as Lyle Van de Groot
Rolling Kansas (2003) as Agent Madsen/Trooper
The Badge (2002) as David Hardwick
Lone Star State of Mind aka Road to Hell (2002) as Killer
Monkeybone (2001) as Death's Assistant
3000 Miles to Graceland (2001) as U.S. Marshal Quigley
The Specials (2000) as The Strobe/Ted Tilderbrook
Goosed (1999/I) as Steven Troy
Free Money (1998) as Larry
Susan's Plan aka Dying to Get Rich (1998) as Dr. Chris Stillman
Mr. Murder aka Dean Koontz's Mr. Murder (1998) (TV) as Drew Oslett Jr.
One Night Stand (1997) as Don
George of the Jungle (1997) as Lyle van de Groot
Ned and Stacey (1995) TV Series as Ned Dorsey (1995-1997)
Demon Knight aka Demon Keeper aka Tales from the Crypt Presents: Demon Knight (1995) as Roach
Tombstone (1993) as Billy Clanton
Fugitive Nights: Danger in the Desert aka Fugitive Nights (1993) (TV) asNelson Hareem
Wings (TV series) (1990) TV Series as Lowell Mather (1990-1995)
Ys: Book 1&2 (VG) (1990) (VG) (voice) as Goban Toba
Gypsy Angels (1980) as Roommate