theOscarSite Facts:
Birth Name:
  • John Christopher Reilly
Birth Date:
  • 24 May 1965
Birthplace:
  • Chicago, IL
Quote:
  • "I love that people can't place me. They don't know my name. That's 'mission accomplished' in my world."
Claim to Fame:
  • Breaktrhough performance as porn stud Reed Rothchild opposite Mark Wahlberg in Paul Thomas Anderson's BOOGIE NIGHTS (1997)
Education:
  • Brother Rice High School in Chicago, Illinois
  • Goodman School of Drama, DePaul University (Chicago, IL); majored in theater (BFA, 1987)
Significant Other:
  • Wife: Alison Dickey, producer, screenwriter; former assistant to Sean Penn; met during the filming of CASUALTIES OF WAR (1989)
Factoids:
  • Reilly sent a videotape of his stage work to director Brian De Palma who cast him in CASUALTIES OF WAR (1989); first of three roles in support of Sean Penn
  • 2003: Starred in three out of the five 2002 movies nominated for Best Picture: Chicago, Gangs of New York and The Hours.
Feature Film
Credits:
  • 2008: Cirque du Freak, 9, Step Brothers, the Promotion
    2007: Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Year of the Dog
    2006: Tenacious D in The Pick of Destiny, Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby, Ricky Bobby Sports Century; A Prairie Home Companion
    2005: Dark Water, Are You the Favorite Person of Anybody?
    2004: The Aviator, Criminal
    2003: Piggie, Anger Management (uncredited)
    2002: The Hours, Chicago, The Good Girl, Gangs of New York
    2001: Frank's Book, The Anniversary Party
    2000: The Perfect Storm
    1999: Never Been Kissed, Magnolia, For Love of the Game, The Settlement
    1998: Nightwatch, Chicago Cab
    1997: Boogie Nights
    1996: Hard Eight, Boys, Sydney
    1995: Dolores Claiborne, Georgia
    1994: The River Wild
    1993: What's Eating Gilbert Grape
    1992: Out on a Limb, Hoffa
    1990: State of Grace
    1989: Casualties of War (1989)
Academy Awards®: