Griffin Dunne (born June 8, 1955) is an American actor, film producer, and film director. He is recognized for his work in both comedic and dramatic roles across film and television, and for his directorial contributions to feature films and documentaries.
Early Life and Family
Dunne was born in New York City, New York, the eldest son of Dominick Dunne, a prominent film producer, writer, and investigative journalist, and Ellen Beatriz "Lenny" Dunne (née Griffin). He is the older brother of actress Dominique Dunne, who was tragically murdered in 1982. His aunt and uncle were the acclaimed writers Joan Didion and John Gregory Dunne. He attended the Fountain Valley School in Colorado.Career
Dunne began his acting career in the late 1970s, appearing in supporting roles before achieving wider recognition. His breakthrough came with the role of Jack Goodman in John Landis's horror-comedy An American Werewolf in London (1981). He further solidified his status with a Golden Globe Award nomination for his leading role as Paul Hackett in Martin Scorsese's dark comedy After Hours (1985).Throughout his career, Dunne has demonstrated a versatile acting range, appearing in diverse films such as Who's That Girl (1987) opposite Madonna, My Girl (1991), I Like It Like That (1994), Practical Magic (1998), Snow Angels (2007), Dallas Buyers Club (2013), War Machine (2017), and Ocean's 8 (2018).
As a director, Dunne made his debut with the short film Duke of Groove (1995), which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Live Action Short Film. He went on to direct feature films including the romantic comedy Addicted to Love (1997), Practical Magic (1998), Lisa Picard Is Famous (2000), and The Accidental Husband (2008). In 2017, he directed the critically acclaimed documentary Joan Didion: The Center Will Not Hold, an intimate portrait of his aunt's life and literary career, which he also co-produced.
On television, Dunne has had notable recurring roles in several series, including House of Cards, Goliath, I Love Dick, and This Is Us. For his performance in This Is Us, he received an Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series in 2020.