Photo: Steve Granitz © WireImage.com

Born Edward Allen Harris in Tenafly, NJ; educated at Columbia University, Oklahoma State University (acting) and the California Institute of the Arts. Award-winning stage performer and a capable, engaging leading man in several films beginning in the 1980s. Harris has given fine performances in several roles based on real-life figures: astronaut John Glenn, in Philip Kaufman's THE RIGHT STUFF (1983); Patsy Cline's ne'er-do-well husband in SWEET DREAMS (1985); crazed, would-be dictator William Walker in Alex Cox's 1987 historical allegory WALKER; American painter Jackson Pollock (2000); and Ludwig van Beethoven in COPYING BEETHOVEN (2006). Other notable screen credits include KNIGHTRIDERS (1981), CREEPSHOW (1982), UNDER FIRE (1983), SWING SHIFT, PLACES IN THE HEART and A FLASH OF GREEN (all 1984), ALAMO BAY and CODE NAME: EMERALD (both 1985), TO KILL A PRIEST (1988), JACKNIFE and THE ABYSS (both 1989), STATE OF GRACE (1990), GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS (1992), THE FIRM and NEEDFUL THINGS (both 1993), CHINA MOON, "The Stand" (TV mini-series) and MILK MONEY (all 1994), JUST CAUSE and NIXON (both 1995), EYE FOR AN EYE and THE ROCK (both 1996), ABSOLUTE POWER (1997), THE TRUMAN SHOW, JUNKET WHORE and STEPMOM (all 1998), THE THIRD MIRACLE (1999), WAKING THE DEAD and THE PRIME GIG (both 2000), ENEMY AT THE GATES, BUFFALO SOLDIERS and A BEAUTIFUL MIND (all 2001), THE HOURS (2002), MASKED AND ANONYMOUS, THE HUMAN STAIN and RADIO (all 2003), A HISTORY OF VIOLENCE and WINTER PASSING (both 2005), TWO TICKETS TO PARADISE (2006), TOUCHING HOME, GONE BABY GONE, CLEANER and NATIONAL TREASURE: BOOK OF SECRETS (all 2007), and APPALOOSA (2008). Considered by many to be one of the screen's most charismatic players, Harris has become a Hollywood staple in leading and supporting parts. Although he hasn't won an Oscar® as of this writing, it's just a matter of time until his talents are rewarded by the Academy. Married to actress Amy Madigan since 1983; their daughter, Lily Dolores Harris, was born in 1993.    Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 1995: APOLLO 13    Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 1998: THE TRUMAN SHOW    Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role 2000: POLLOCK    Nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 2002: THE HOURS 4 nominations