Sam Rockwell

Sam Rockwell has never been married. In 2007, he started dating actress Leslie Bibb.

Sam Rockwell was born on 5th November 1968, in Daly City, California. His father Pete Rockwell and his mother Penny Hess were both actors. They divorced when Sam was quite young.

He made his stage debut at the early age of ten, in a play that also starred his mother.

Rockwell attended San Francisco School of the Arts for some time. However, he dropped out before his graduation. Later his parents enrolled him in ‘Urban Pioneers’, an Outward Bound-style education program where he thrived.

Sam Rockwell made his film debut with a role in the 1989 horror film 'Clownhouse'. He played the role of one of the three brothers who are attacked by a team of three madmen disguised as clowns. The film was directed by Victor Salva. Over the next few years, he appeared mostly in guest roles in TV shows such as 'Law & Order' and 'Lifestories: Families in Crisis'.

After playing minor roles in films such as 'Somebody to Love' (1994), 'Glory Daze' (1995) and 'Mercy' (1995), he gained recognition after playing a main role in the 1996 comedy drama 'Box of Moonlight'. It was directed by Tom DiCillo. He also gained appreciation for his role in the film 'Lawn Dogs', which was directed by John Duigan.

The other projects he appeared in during the late 1990s include 'Jerry and Tom' (1998), 'The Green Mile' (1999) and 'Galaxy Quest' (1999). He played the most significant lead role of his career in the 2002 film 'Confessions of a Dangerous Mind'. Directed by George Clooney, the film was about the popular game show host and producer Chuck Barris.

Rockwell's performance in the film was praised though the film didn't do very well commercially. The movie won him the Silver Bear for Best Actor at the Berlin International Film Festival in 2003.

His popularity increased with his roles in films such as 'Matchstick Men' (2003), 'The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford' (2007), and 'Choke' (2008).

Sam Rockwell’s role in the 2010 legal drama ‘Conviction’ can be considered one of the most significant works of his career. Directed by Tony Goldwyn, the film also starred Hilary Swank, Minnie Driver, Melissa Leo, Peter Gallagher and Juliette Lewis. The film was based on the true story of a woman named Betty Anne Waters, a single mother, and her struggles to free her brother, Kenny, who had been wrongfully convicted of murder. Though the film was a commercial failure, it was met with positive reviews.

Rockwell has also gained a lot of popularity for his role in the 2013 comedy drama film ‘The Way, Way Back’. Directed by Nat Faxon and Jim Rash, the film also starred Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Allison Janney, Anna Sophia Robb and Maya Rudolph. The story revolved around a fourteen-year-old guy and his relationship with his family. The film was a commercial success, and grossed more than four times its budget. It also received positive reviews from critics.