Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti (born June 6, 1967) is an Academy Award-nominated Italian-American actor.

Giamatti was born in New Haven, Connecticut to A. Bartlett Giamatti, a Yale University professor who later became president of the university and commissioner of Major League Baseball. His mother, Toni Smith, was a teacher at Hopkins School. Giamatti's paternal grandfather was the child of Italian immigrants; his other grandparents were American.

Giamatti has a brother, Marcus, who is also an actor. Giamatti attended the elite boarding school Choate Rosemary Hall, was an English major at Yale, and has a Master's degree in Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. Following his graduation, he performed in numerous theatrical productions (including Broadway) before appearing in some small television and film roles in the early 1990s.

Giamatti's first high profile role was in the film adaptation of Howard Stern's Private Parts. He played Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton, Stern's antagonistic program director at WNBC. Stern praised Giamatti's performance often on his radio program, calling for him to be nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. That didn't happen, but Giamatti's career received a boost. He appeared in a number of supporting roles in big-budget movies such as The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan, and The Negotiator (all 1998). In 1999 he played Bob Zmuda (and Tony Clifton) in the Andy Kaufman biopic, Man on the Moon. Giamatti continued to appear in major studio releases such as Big Momma's House (2000) and the Planet of the Apes remake (2001), and co-starred in Big Fat Liar (2002).

Giamatti's most acclaimed performances were in lead roles in American Splendor (2003) and Sideways (2004). He was nominated for a Golden Globe for the latter (but did not win) and was not nominated for an Oscar, which baffled many in the industry. Giamatti finally received his first Academy Award-nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2005 for his role in Cinderella Man. He was also nominated for a Golden Globe and won the SAG award for Best Supporting Actor for the film.

Filmography
1. Shoot 'em Up (2007)
2. Lady in the Water (2006)... Cleveland Heep
3. Paper Man (2006)
4. The Ant Bully (2006)
5. The Illusionist (2006)... Chief Inspector Uhl
6. The Hawk Is Dying (2005)... George Gattling
7. Cinderella Man (2005)... Joe Gould
8. Robots (2005)... Tim the Gate Guard (voice)
9. Sideways (2004)... Miles Raymond
10. Paycheck (2003)... Shorty
11. The Pentagon Papers (2003) (TV)... Anthony Russo
12. American Splendor (2003)... Harvey Pekar
13. Confidence (2003)... Gordo
14. Thunderpants (2002)... Johnson J. Johnson
15. Big Fat Liar (2002)... Marty Wolf
16. Planet of the Apes (2001)... Limbo
17. Storytelling (2001)... Toby Oxman
18. Duets (2000)... Todd Woods
19. Big Momma's House (2000)... John
20. If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000) (TV)... Ted Hedley
21. Man on the Moon (1999)... Bob Zmuda/Tony Clifton
22. Cradle Will Rock (1999)... Carlo
23. Winchell (1998) (TV)... Herman Klurfeld
24. Safe Men (1998)... Veal Chop
25. The Negotiator (1998)... Rudy Timmons
26. Saving Private Ryan (1998)... Sergeant Hill
27. Dr. Dolittle (1998)... Blaine (uncredited)
28. The Truman Show (1998)... Control Room Director
29. Tourist Trap (1998) (TV)... Jeremiah Piper
30. A Further Gesture (1997)... Hotel Clerk
31. Deconstructing Harry (1997)... Professor Abbot
32. My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)... Richard the Bellman
33. Private Parts (1997)... Kenny "Pig Vomit" Rushton
34. Donnie Brasco (1997)... FBI Technician
35. Arresting Gena (1997)... Detective Wilson
36. Breathing Room (1996)... George
37. Before and After (1996)... Courtroom Audience (uncredited)
38. Sabrina (1995)... Scott
39. Mighty Aphrodite (1995)... Extras Guild Researcher
40. Singles (1992)... Kissing Man
41. Past Midnight (1992)... Larry Canipe
42. She'll Take Romance (1990) (TV)... Heckler #2

Imdb
www.imdb.com/name/nm0316079/