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IMDbPro

Adam Goldberg(I)

  • Actor
  • Writer
  • Director
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000398
Adam Goldberg, New York 2023
A troubled actor begins to unravel while shooting a horror film. His estranged daughter wonders if he's slipping back into his past addictions or if there's something more sinister at play.
Play trailer2:24
The Exorcism (2024)
88 Videos
99+ Photos
An actor by trade but also a filmmaker, musician, and photographer, Adam Goldberg's career has spanned more than three decades comprising a vast resume of eclectic work both on off the screen. From mining the neuroses of characters for both dramatic and comedic effect, to producing work as a filmmaker with a superlative eye and keen wit, Goldberg has solidified his standing as a unique and prolific presence in the entertainment industry.

Goldberg is a co-star on the hit CBS series "The Equalizer." The show, a re imagining of the classic series and films, follows Robyn McCall (Queen Latifah), an enigmatic woman with a mysterious background who uses her extensive skills to help those with nowhere else to turn. Goldberg is a standout as whip smart, sardonic, and surprisingly fashion conscious computer hacker Harry Keshegian, who is like a brother to McCall and a fiercely supportive husband to his sniper wife Mel (Liza Lapira). "The Equalizer" had a massive debut to over 23 million viewers in 2021 and is currently airing its third season. Brand new episodes will return February 19, 2023, on CBS.

Also in television, Goldberg gained critical acclaim and fostered in a new generation of fans as Mr. Numbers in the award-winning crime drama "Fargo" (FX). He starred opposite Billy Bob Thornton and Colin Hanks on the show, which was inspired by the 1996 film of the same name. Goldberg is also known for his tour de force arcs as Crazy Eddie on "Friends" (NBC) and Nicky Rubinstein on "Entourage" (HBO), as well as starring roles on "The Jim Gaffigan Show," "Taken" (NBC),(NBC), "The Unusuals" (ABC), "NYC 22" (CBS), "The $treet" (FOX), and "God Friended Me" (CBS).

Often recognized for his impressive body of work in film, Goldberg has been hand-picked by Steven Spielberg and Ron Howard for memorable roles in their Academy Award winning projects. A career-changing moment for Goldberg was landing the role of tough, wise-cracking infantryman Private Mellish in Steven Spielberg's "Saving Private Ryan" opposite Tom Hanks. The film went on to receive 5 Academy Awards while also being nominated for Best Picture. From there, he starred in major blockbusters including Academy Award winner "A Beautiful Mind" which marked his second collaboration with director Ron Howard. In 2003 he showcased his talent in comedy, appearing a third time opposite Matthew McConaughey, in "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days."

Other seminal performances include playing Christopher Walken's undead and unwitting assistant, Jerry, in Gregrory Widen's cult thriller "The Prophecy," Michael Rapaport's beleaguered roommate in John Singleton's "Higher Learning," appearing in Ron Howard's "EdTV," and portraying a speed freak opposite Val Kilmer and Peter Sarsgaard in DJ Caruso's debut "The Salton Sea." Additional recent work includes starring opposite Bruce Willis and John Goodman in "Once Upon a Time in Venice," and appearing alongside Nicholas Cage and Laurence Fishburne in "Running with the Devil." A filmmaker's actor, Goldberg also appeared, notably, in Tony Scott's "Déjà Vu" opposite Denzel Washington, and in David Fincher's "Zodiac."

Goldberg is known for effortlessly jumping back and forth between mainstream film and television roles with acclaimed passion projects. Namely, the titular role in Jonathan Kesselman's 'Jewxploitation' comedy, "The Hebrew Hammer," his hilarious collaboration with Julie Delpy in "2 Days in Paris," and his portrayal of a brilliant but eccentric musician in the art world satire "(Untitled)" opposite Marley Shelton. Other standouts include his turn as a performance artist opposite Olivia Thirlby in Rafael Palacio Illingworth's "Between Us," and a cult leader who indoctrinates Fran Kranz in the Netflix thriller "Rebirth," both of which premiered the same year at the Tribeca Film Festival.

Born in Santa Monica and raised in LA, Goldberg loved to perform and create from an early age, taking acting classes and studying film and photography since secondary school. His debut in the entertainment industry came with supporting film role in Billy Crystal's "Mr. Saturday Night," but it was his turn as Mike, an intellectual with a chip on his shoulder, in Richard Linklater's iconic, '70s coming of age classic "Dazed and Confused" that introduced Goldberg to an audience that continues to grow as the film captivates new audiences with each generation. Linklater would later make a cameo in Goldberg's directorial debut, "Scotch and Milk," and later host a screening at Austin's Alamo Draft House the same summer Goldberg appeared in Linklater's groundbreaking, psychedelic animation feature, "Waking Life."

Goldberg wrote, directed, starred in, and co-edited "Scotch and Milk" when he was just 24 years old. The stylized black and white film follows a group of young jazz obsessed hipsters trying to reconcile their machismo with their sensitivity. Additionally, Goldberg screened a rough cut for Spielberg during the making of "Saving Private Ryan," which led Spielberg to enlist his post production supervisor to help finish the film. "Scotch and Milk" debuted at the Los Angeles Independent Film Festival and earned critical acclaim on the festival circuit. This included a particular notable write up in American Cinematography Magazine and featured on the Sundance Channel series "10 Best Films You May Have Never Seen."

Goldberg would go on to co-write the psychological drama "I Love Your Work," starring frequent collaborator Giovanni Ribisi, and featuring Franka Potente, Christina Ricci, and Joshua Jackson. The film follows an actor whose life goes south after he forms an obsession with a young film student. Goldberg composed and arranged music for the film alongside The Flaming Lips' multi-instrumentalist Steven Drozd, and it debuted at the Toronto International Film Festival where the film was picked up for theatrical distribution. He also directed, co-edited, and produced the surreal documentary short "Running with the Bulls" for the Independent Film Channel, and most recently co-wrote, directed, edited, and starred in the Sony feature film "No Way Jose," in which he plays a washed-up indie rocker going through a midlife crisis.

While working in film and television has been a huge part of Goldberg's life, his passion for photography and music have garnered their own cult following over the years, establishing him something of a modern day renaissance man. As a musician, Goldberg has recorded four albums under his moniker The Goldberg Sisters - two of which he recorded with a an eclectic array of musicians, and the last two of which he recorded in his home studio playing every instrument. As part of his 2018, 14-track album entitled "HOME: A Nice Place to Visit" Goldberg released a limited edition vinyl set that included a stunning large-format photo book, marrying his love for soundscapes and photography. Goldberg also directed the accompanying videos. Show Gallery in Los Angeles hosted an exhibition of the work where Goldberg played some of the tracks from the record utilizing loop pedals and other effects. The Goldberg Sisters discography also includes: Stranger's Morning (2013), The Goldberg Sisters (2011), and Landy (2009). https://music.apple.com/us/artist/the-goldberg-sisters/422885644

As a photographer Goldberg's signature dreamy, double exposures shot on film document and explore people, landscapes, and create cinematic scenes from which viewers can draw their own interpretations. Goldberg is also known for his style and passion for fashion, which he attributes to his mom with whom he used to go vintage clothes shopping on Melrose in the '80s. Any follower of his Instagram will take note of his extensive tagging of small brands, bespoke makers, and his support of slow fashion writ large. Everything he wears on "The Equalizer" - clothes and accessories - are either straight out of Goldberg's closet (a dedicated room in his house, he's not proud of this, nor is his wife thrilled) or handpicked by the actor.

Goldberg currently divides his time between Los Angeles and New York with his wife and two sons.

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BornOctober 25, 1970
  • More at IMDbPro
    • Contact info
    • Agent info
    • Resume
BornOctober 25, 1970
IMDbProStarmeterTop 5,000398
  • View contact info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 1 win & 4 nominations total

    Photos172

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    Known for

    Russell Crowe in A Beautiful Mind (2001)
    A Beautiful Mind
    8.2
    • Sol
    • 2001
    Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Tom Sizemore, and Edward Burns in Saving Private Ryan (1998)
    Saving Private Ryan
    8.6
    • Private Mellish
    • 1998
    Denzel Washington and Paula Patton in Deja Vu (2006)
    Deja Vu
    7.1
    • Denny
    • 2006
    Milla Jovovich, Rory Cochrane, Sasha Jenson, and Jason London in Dazed and Confused (1993)
    Dazed and Confused
    7.6
    • Mike Newhouse
    • 1993

    Credits

    Edit
    IMDbPro

    Actor



    • Swedish Erotica (a comedy)
      • David
      • Completed
      • Short



    • Queen Latifah and Florin Penișoară in The Equalizer (2021)
      The Equalizer
      5.6
      TV Series
      • Harry Keshegian
      • 2021–2025
    • Messy (2024)
      Messy
      6.8
      • The Mayor
      • 2024
    • Russell Crowe in The Exorcism (2024)
      The Exorcism
      4.2
      • Peter
      • 2024
    • God Friended Me (2018)
      God Friended Me
      7.0
      TV Series
      • Simon Hayes
      • 2019
    • Nicolas Cage and Laurence Fishburne in Running with the Devil (2019)
      Running with the Devil
      5.4
      • The Snitch
      • 2019
    • Clive Standen in Taken (2017)
      Taken
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Kilroy
      • Harden Kilroy
      • 2018
    • Nick Nolte in Graves (2016)
      Graves
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Christopher Sachs
      • 2017
    • Lore (2017)
      Lore
      6.6
      TV Series
      • Peter Stubbe
      • 2017
    • Bruce Willis in Once Upon a Time in Venice (2017)
      Once Upon a Time in Venice
      5.3
      • Lew the Jew
      • 2017
    • Adam Goldberg, Michael Ian Black, Jim Gaffigan, Ashley Williams, and Tongayi Chirisa in The Jim Gaffigan Show (2015)
      The Jim Gaffigan Show
      7.5
      TV Series
      • Dave
      • 2015–2016
    • Between Us (2016)
      Between Us
      5.6
      • Liam
      • 2016
    • Nicky Whelan in Rebirth (2016)
      Rebirth
      5.0
      • Zack
      • 2016
    • You Must Remember This (2014)
      You Must Remember This
      9.1
      Podcast Series
      • David O. Selznick (voice)
      • 2015
    • No Way Jose (2015)
      No Way Jose
      4.5
      • Jose
      • 2015
    • Maron (2013)
      Maron
      7.7
      TV Series
      • Jack Ross
      • 2015

    Writer



    • No Way Jose (2015)
      No Way Jose
      4.5
      • Writer
      • 2015
    • Christina Ricci and Giovanni Ribisi in I Love Your Work (2003)
      I Love Your Work
      5.1
      • writer
      • 2003
    • Scotch and Milk (1998)
      Scotch and Milk
      6.4
      • writer
      • 1998
    • Plagues
      TV Movie
      • writer
      • 1988

    Director



    • No Way Jose (2015)
      No Way Jose
      4.5
      • Director
      • 2015
    • Christina Ricci and Giovanni Ribisi in I Love Your Work (2003)
      I Love Your Work
      5.1
      • Director
      • 2003
    • Running with the Bulls (2003)
      Running with the Bulls
      6.4
      TV Movie
      • Director
      • 2003
    • Scotch and Milk (1998)
      Scotch and Milk
      6.4
      • Director
      • 1998

    • In-development projects at IMDbPro

    Videos88

    Anna Nicole
    Clip 0:58
    Anna Nicole
    Anna Nicole
    Clip 1:25
    Anna Nicole
    Anna Nicole
    Clip 1:25
    Anna Nicole
    Anna Nicole
    Clip 2:04
    Anna Nicole
    Deja Vu (2006)
    Clip 0:37
    Deja Vu (2006)
    Deja Vu (2006)
    Clip 0:26
    Deja Vu (2006)
    Deja Vu (2006)
    Clip 0:24
    Deja Vu (2006)

    Personal details

    Edit
    • Official sites
      • Cameo
      • Instagram
    • Height
      • 5′ 11″ (1.81 m)
    • Born
      • October 25, 1970
      • Santa Monica, California, USA
    • Spouse
      • Roxanne Daner2015 - present (3 children)
    • Children
        Bud Goldberg
    • Parents
        Donna Louise Goebel
    • Relatives
        Charles Jesse Goldberg(Grandparent)
    • Other works
      Music video: Appeared in the Sixpence None the Richer video "There She Goes".
    • Publicity listings
      • 3 Interviews
      • 1 Article
      • 1 Pictorial
      • 1 Magazine Cover Photo

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      He appeared in both Friends (1994) and the spin-off Joey (2004), but as different characters.
    • Quotes
      (2007 - On what role stands out the most) There's absolutely no question that it's Dazed and Confused (1993). I think of that as being my first real movie. Up until that point, I would get a job. It could be speaking barely - or not speaking, in the case of Designing Women (1986) - doing these little parts, and then I'd go back to my job at the bookstore. Dazed and Confused (1993) sort of drew that line in the sand, where even though I didn't really make any money, I knew I could never go back into the bookstore, because it would seem strange. Beyond that sort of superficial, practical effect, I always feel bad for people who didn't have a first experience like that. I did that film with these kids, and a lot of them, it was their first time on location. It was definitely a fun movie, but it operated on so many levels, because there was the life outside the movie. It's this really abbreviated, condensed, high-octane equivalent of the college experience I essentially never had. And on another level, I think we all really felt that we were part of an incredibly unusual creative process, because it was a collaborative effort, and we were taken really seriously by Rich [Richard Linklater]. He's one of those guys that for years, I wished was directing everything I'd been in. And it's sort of bittersweet, because it's the thing that breaks your professional hymen, and you're always trying to recapture that spirit. But the nature of the business doesn't normally allow for such a creative atmosphere in what was essentially a studio movie.

    FAQ

    Powered by Alexa
    • How old is Adam Goldberg?
      54 years old
    • When was Adam Goldberg born?
      October 25, 1970
    • Where was Adam Goldberg born?
      Santa Monica, California, USA
    • What is Adam Goldberg's birth name?
      Adam Charles Goldberg
    • How tall is Adam Goldberg?
      5 feet 11 inches, or 1.81 meters

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