Jeff Daniels
- Category : Actor
- Type : MGP
- Profile : 1/3 - Investigating / Martyr
- Definition : Single
- Incarnation Cross : RAX The Sleeping Phoenix 1
Biography
Jeffrey Warren "Jeff" Daniels (born February 19, 1955) is an American actor, musician and playwright.
Early life
Daniels was born in Athens, Georgia and grew up in Chelsea, Michigan, where his father, Robert Lee Daniels, ran a local lumber yard. He was raised in the Methodist religion. Daniels attended Central Michigan University and participated in their theater program before dropping out during his junior year to move to New York City. His first performance in New York was in The Shortchanged Review (1979) at Second Stage Theatre. It was the first show of the inaugural season for Second Stage Theatre.
Stage career
Daniels has starred in a number of New York productions, on and off Broadway. On Broadway, he has appeared in Lanford Wilson's Redwood Curtain, A. R. Gurney's The Golden Age and Wilson's Fifth of July, for which he won a Drama Desk Award for Best Supporting Actor. Off-Broadway, he received a Drama Desk nomination for Wilson's Lemon Sky, and an Obie Award for his performance in the Circle Repertory Company production of Johnny Got His Gun.
In 1986, Daniels moved his home to the town where he and his wife grew up, Chelsea, Michigan. Five years later, he founded the regionally-acclaimed Purple Rose Theatre Company, a non-profit professional theatre company. He is currently Executive Director of PRTC, and has written 11 plays for the company.
Film career
Daniels is best known for his roles in The Purple Rose of Cairo, Terms of Endearment, Gettysburg, Arachnophobia, Because of Winn-Dixie, and The Squid and the Whale. Although primarily a dramatic actor, some of Daniels' most well-known scenes are from the comedy Dumb & Dumber, in which he gets his tongue stuck to a ski-lift as well as having an attack of explosive diarrhea. In the 2002 film Blood Work, Daniels was cast against type as the film's villain.
Musical career
He is currently focusing on recording a number of songs that he has written throughout his life, apparently marking key moments. According to personal statements, it seems that he has undergone a complete career change, keeping busy with frequent gigs and two full length albums, Grandfather's Hat and Jeff Daniels Live and Unplugged.
Personal life
Daniels and his family reside in Chelsea, Michigan. He wrote, directed, and starred in Escanaba in da Moonlight and Super Sucker with Purple Rose Films. He was inducted into the Michigan Walk of Fame on May 25, 2006 in Lansing, Michigan.
Daniels has been married to his high school sweetheart, Kathleen Rosemary Treado, since 1979. They have three children: Benjamin (born 1984), Lucas (born 1987), and Nellie (born 1990). He married Treado on Friday the 13th because he wore the number 13 on his baseball uniform. Daniels is a baseball fan who follows the Detroit Tigers and is also an avid Detroit Red Wings fan.
Daniels is often mistaken for Dave Coulier. Coincidentally, both actors are from Michigan and both are huge Detroit Red Wings fans. Recently Daniels has been seen doing public service announcements for the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.