Thomas Middleditch

Thomas Middleditch
Middleditch at the 2018 San Diego Comic-Con
Born Thomas Steven Middleditch
(1982-03-10) March 10, 1982
Nelson, British Columbia, Canada
Alma mater University of Victoria
Occupation
  • Actor
  • comedian
  • screenwriter
Years active 2009–present
Spouse(s)
Mollie Gates (m. 2015)

Thomas Steven Middleditch[1] (born March 10, 1982) is a Canadian actor, comedian, and television writer, known for his role as Richard Hendricks in the HBO series Silicon Valley, for which he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series. He voiced Harold Hutchins in Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017). Middleditch also appears in ads for Verizon Wireless.[2][3]

Early life

Middleditch was born and raised in Nelson, British Columbia.[4] His parents are British.[5] He was cast in a play in grade eight which he said "changed everything" for him. He went from an indoorsy kid who was bullied, to becoming the funny, popular kid in high school. He discovered improv in grade school from performing with Theatresports.[4]

He studied at the University of Victoria before moving to Toronto, where he auditioned for and enrolled in George Brown College, but never attended classes.[4] He instead opted to make sketches on his own, and worked at a New Balance store for an income.[4] He then relocated to Chicago, where he took classes at The Second City and iO Theater, while also performing regularly.[4] Due to immigration issues, he worked various cash jobs until Charna Halpern sponsored him to get his work visa.[4] While performing on a Second City cruise, he got an audition for Saturday Night Live.[4] Though he did not get cast, the routine he used in his audition landed him a network holding deal and he moved to New York City.[4]

Career

Middleditch at SXSW 2016

While living in New York City, Middleditch began acting in commercials. In 2007 a sketch video for Chicken McNuggets he made with Fernando Sosa in Chicago was purchased by McDonald's and used as a commercial.[4][6] He appeared in the 2009 romantic comedy Splinterheads, portraying the lead role of Justin Frost.[7] On March 25, 2010, he joined a CBS pilot Hitched, written by Josh Schwartz and directed by Rob Greenberg.[8] On May 5, 2011, Middleditch made his first appearance in Jake and Amir, in the episode "Jake and Amir: Doobs".[9] He made several returns to the web series.

On May 31, 2011, Middleditch joined the cast of the Paramount Pictures' comedy film Fun Size, directed by Josh Schwartz.[10] On August 8, 2011, he joined Road to Nardo,[11] a film that would have been Scot Armstrong's directorial debut. On December 12, 2011, he joined Jay Roach's The Campaign, starring Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis.[12]

On July 23, 2012, Middleditch joined the cast of the comedy film Someone Marry Barry, directed and written by Rob Pearlstein and produced by Barry Josephson.[13] On August 23, 2012, he had a role in The Office's final season episode "The Farm".[14] He had a role in the 2013 comedy fantasy film The Brass Teapot, directed by Ramaa Mosley,[15] and played a police officer in the 2013 CBS Films coming-of-age comedy film The Kings of Summer.[16]

On January 30, 2013, Middleditch joined HBO's comedy pilot Silicon Valley playing Richard Hendricks.[17] He has said that the pilot was written with him specifically in mind as the lead (the character was originally named Thomas Pickering; the latter being his mother's maiden name).[4] This was a result of a "random" audio sketch he once made for a stand-up routine which he would later animate himself and pitched to several people, including Mike Judge's production partners John Altschuler and Dave Krinsky, who would later create the show.[4]

In 2014 he joined a CollegeHumor series on youtube called CAMP.

For his work on the show, Middleditch has garnered two Satellite Awards nominations and two Critics' Choice Television Award nominations.[18][19] In 2016, Middleditch earned his first Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance in the show.[20]

On April 23, 2013, he was added to the cast of the comedy film Search Party, the feature directorial debut of Scot Armstrong.[21] Middleditch made a small cameo appearance in the 2013 film The Wolf of Wall Street as a broker who is fired for cleaning his fish bowl during office hours.[22]

He has played as a hipster thief in the episode "Sunday Funday" on the show You're The Worst. On The Pete Holmes Show, he played Nightcrawler and Gambit from the X-Men and Vega and Ken from Street Fighter II. On October 16, 2013, it was announced that the Disney XD-produced animated series Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero would star Middleditch as the titular multiverse-hopping hero. The series premiered in late 2014.[23] In 2015, he co-starred in the films The Final Girls and The Bronze.[24][25] Also in 2015, he began streaming himself playing video games on the website Twitch.[26]

Middleditch voiced Harold Hutchins in DreamWorks Animation's animated feature Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie (2017), based on Dav Pilkey's book Captain Underpants.[27] As of 2017, Middleditch has appeared in Verizon commercials as their spokesperson.[28] On May 31, 2017, he was cast in the MonsterVerse film Godzilla: King of the Monsters.[29]

Personal life

Middleditch became engaged to costume designer Mollie Gates in June 2015.[30] They were married on August 22, 2015 in Middleditch's hometown.

Middleditch has described his own upbringing as agnostic. He was raised in a secular Jewish household, with an Ashkenazi Jewish mother and a Russian Jewish father. He believed in a "classic Christian religion" at a young age. He has described himself as a Christian, but also as an atheist.[31]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Rebound Maverick
2010 Splinterheads Justin Frost
The Other Guys Art Exhibition Curator
Night Home James Short film
2011 Certainty Game Guy
Michel Jean-Michel: Overexposed Michel Jean-Michel Short film
2012 Being Flynn Richard
The Campaign Travis
The Brass Teapot Gilad
Fun Size Manuel Fuzzy
2013 The Kings of Summer Rookie Cop
The Wolf of Wall Street Stratton Broker in a Bowtie
2014 Someone Marry Barry Kurt
Search Party Daniel Narducci
2015 SMILF Dan Short film
The Bronze Ben Lawfort
The Final Girls Duncan
2016 Joshy Josh
Sunspring H Short film
2017 Kong: Skull Island Jerry Voice role
Entanglement Ben Layten
Captain Underpants: The First Epic Movie Harold Hutchins Voice role; also songwriter for "Saturday"
Once Upon a Time in Venice John
2018 Tag Dave
Replicas Ed Whittle Completed
Henchmen Lester Voice role; post-production
2019 Godzilla: King of the Monsters Sam Coleman Post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
2010 Robotomy Additional voices Episode: "Bling Thing"
2011 Ugly Americans Episode: "Wet Hot Demonic Summer"
2011 Beavis and Butt-Head 7 episodes
2011 The League Julian Episode: "The Light of Genesis"
2011 Fact Checkers Unit Kerry Episode: "Fly Like a Buttress"
2013 Newsreaders Micah Berkley Episode: "Auto Erotic"
2013 The Office Jeb Schrute Episode: "The Farm"
2013 Key and Peele Monsieur Thénardier Episode: "Les Mis"
2013 Trophy Wife Nurse Terry Episode: "Lice and Beary White"
2013 The Pete Holmes Show Gambit / Nightcrawler 2 episodes
2014–present Silicon Valley Richard Hendricks Main cast
2014 You're the Worst Hipster Ringleader Episode: "Sunday Funday"
2014–2017 Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero Penn Zero / Additional voices 61 episodes; also writer: "Ultrahyperball"
2015 Scheer-RL Jeff Timons Episode: "98 Degrees"
2015 Comedy Bang! Bang! Himself / Tim Landers 2 episodes
2015–2016 Drunk History Sam Zemurray / William Willis 2 episodes
2016 Great Minds with Dan Harmon William Shakespeare Episode: "William Shakespeare"
2016 TripTank Warlock / Caller (voice) Episode: "TripTank 2025"
2017 Animals. Simon (voice) Episode: "Rats."
2017 Rick and Morty King Tommy (voice) Episode: "The ABCs of Beth"
2018 Bob's Burgers Alex (voice) Episode: "Cheer Up Sleepy Gene"

Web

Year Title Role Notes
2009 Memoirs of a Manchild Danny Nanners 3 episodes; also writer and producer
2010 The Back Room Die Antwoord Episode: "Steve Agee"
2010–2013 CollegeHumor Originals Various characters 20 episodes
2011 Funny or Die Woodshed Guy Episode: "2.8"
2011 Matumbo Goldberg Lenny 5 episodes
2011–2015 Jake and Amir Penis Anthony "Doobs" Doubligner 6 episodes
2012 Bravest Warriors Professor Fartsparkles (voice) Episode: "Time Slime"
2013 The Funtime Gang Randy the Racoon Episode: "Pilot"
2013 The Morning After Dave 5 episodes
2016 HarmonQuest Dildo Bogpelt Episode: "The Doorest of Fores"

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result
2014 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Comedy Series Silicon Valley Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated
2015 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated
2016 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated
Gold Derby Awards Best Comedy Actor Nominated
2017 Critics' Choice Television Awards Best Actor in a Comedy Series Nominated
Satellite Awards Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy Nominated

References

  1. ↑ Birnbaum, Debra (June 14, 2016). "Thomas Middleditch and Patrick Stewart on Doing Standup, Nicknames and Crazy Fan Encounters". Variety.
  2. ↑ Dano, Mike (November 14, 2017). "The top 5 wireless ads: T-Mobile spends almost $30M on Netflix ads". FierceWireless.com.
  3. ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (April 21, 2017). "Thomas Middleditch of 'Silicon Valley' on Doing Verizon Ads and Flying His Own Plane". The New York Times.
  4. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 "BA #085: Thomas Middleditch". Box Angeles podcast. June 29, 2015.
  5. ↑ McQuern, Elizabeth (September 15, 2006). "Inside With: Thomas Middleditch, Comedian and Actor". TheApiary.org. Retrieved June 3, 2017.
  6. ↑ "McNuggets McNuggets...What?". AdAge. July 27, 2007.
  7. ↑ Debruge, Peter (November 5, 2009). "Review: 'Splinterheads'". Variety. Retrieved February 2, 2014.
  8. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (March 25, 2010). "Two CBS pilots add cast members". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  9. ↑ "Jake and Amir: Doobs". CollegeHumor. May 5, 2011. Retrieved May 10, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Johnny Knoxville, Unique Blend of Cast Join 'Fun Size' Comedy". Bloody Disgusting. May 31, 2011. Retrieved 4 February 2014.
  11. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (August 8, 2011). "Middleditch takes 'Road to Nardo'". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  12. ↑ Sneider, Jeff (December 12, 2011). "Middleditch in Warners' team of 'Rivals'". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  13. ↑ Kit, Borys (July 23, 2012). "Tyler Labine, Damon Wayans Jr., Lucy Punch Starring in Comedy 'Someone Marry Barry'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (August 23, 2012). "Thomas Middleditch Cast As Dwight's Brother On 'The Office' Spinoff". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  15. ↑ Debruge, Peter (April 2, 2013). "Film Review: 'The Brass Teapot'". Variety. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  16. ↑ Cunningham, Todd (January 22, 2013). "'Toy's House' Goes to CBS Films". TheWrap. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  17. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (January 30, 2013). "T.J. Miller, Thomas Middleditch Cast In Mike Judge's HBO Comedy Pilot 'Silicon Valley'". Deadline.com. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  18. ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (May 31, 2015). "Critics' Choice Television Awards: HBO, Better Call Saul, Taraji P. Henson and Amy Schumer Among Big Winners". TVLine. Retrieved June 1, 2015.
  19. ↑ "Satellite Awards (2015)". International Press Academy. December 2, 2015. Retrieved June 22, 2016.
  20. ↑ Johnson, Zack (July 14, 2016). "2016 Emmy Nominations: Complete List of Nominees". E! Online. Retrieved July 14, 2016.
  21. ↑ Kit, Borys (April 23, 2013). "'Search Party' Finds Its Stars, Begins Shooting Next Week". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  22. ↑ The Wolf of Wall Street. YouTube.
  23. ↑ "Disney XD Orders Animated Series 'Penn Zero: Part-Time Hero'". Deadline.com. October 16, 2013.
  24. ↑ Squires, John (April 11, 2014). "Four More Sign on to Tangle with The Final Girls Including The Vampire Diaries' Nina Dobrev". Dread Central. Retrieved April 27, 2014.
  25. ↑ "Sebastian Stan can't out-fox Thomas Middleditch on The Bronze red carpet". HitFix. January 22, 2015.
  26. ↑ "Twitch". Twitch.
  27. ↑ Abramovitch, Seth (January 21, 2014). "Ed Helms, Kevin Hart Slip Into DreamWorks Animation's 'Captain Underpants'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
  28. ↑ Itzkoff, Dave (April 21, 2017). "Thomas Middleditch of 'Silicon Valley' on Doing Verizon Ads and Flying His Own Plane". The New York Times. Retrieved June 4, 2017.
  29. ↑ Kroll, Justin (May 31, 2017). "'Silicon Valley' Star Thomas Middleditch Joins 'Godzilla' Sequel (EXCLUSIVE)". Variety. Retrieved May 31, 2017.
  30. ↑ Webber, Stephanie (June 6, 2015). "Silicon Valley's Thomas Middleditch Engaged to Girlfriend Mollie Gates: "They're Both Very Happy"". Us Weekly. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  31. ↑ "Thomas Middleditch". Totally Laime (Podcast). January 11, 2013. 56 minutes in. Retrieved June 18, 2015.
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