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Gil Birmingham (born July 13, 1966) is an American actor. He made his first TV appearance on an episode of Riptide, and has gone on to star in more than 40 film, television, and theater productions, such as Twilight, End of the Spear, Dreamkeeper and The Doe Boy.

Early life

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Birmingham spent his formative years moving from state to state, due to his father's career in the military. As the eldest of five children, Gil grew up in many locations, including Alaska, Hawaii and Kentucky, eventually ending up in California which he now calls home. His musical aspirations began at age 10, when he first picked up a guitar and learned to play. Since then, he has traveled across the country, singing and playing guitar with various bands. Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton and Jimi Hendrix served as the early inspiration for Birmingham's musical style, which ranges from Blues and R&B, to Rock.^[1]

After graduating cum laude from the University of Southern California with a degree in Administration, he embarked on a career in petrochemical engineering. Birmingham began bodybuilding and soon entered a number of bodybuilding contests. His sculpted physique led to his first acting experience when he was cast opposite Diana Ross in her music video, Muscles. After his on camera debut, Birmingham's acting became an extension of the creative expression of his music. While studying acting with Larry Moss and Charles Conrad, he played Conan the Barbarian at Universal Studios Hollywood.^[1]

Career

Birmingham made his television debut in an episode of Riptide, and went on to star in television shows, including an episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer. Birmingham appeared as a series regular in the medical drama Body & Soul, starring Peter Strauss. In 2002, he received a First Americans in the Arts (FAITA) award for an "Outstanding Performance in a Recurring Role" for Body & Soul. TV viewers have seen him in guest appearances on Veronica Mars, where he played shady casino owner Leonard Lobo. More recently, Birmingham appeared in the comedy improvisation show 10 Items or Less, as John Greene, and in Nip/Tuck as a tribal shaman.

On film, Birmingham starred with Dean Cain in Gentle Ben 1 and its sequel. His Native American Comanche ancestry has brought him numerous roles, such as the alcoholic, abusive father in Skins. A pivotal role for Birmingham came as Manny Deadmarsh in The Doe Boy, which won the Sundance International Filmmaker's Award in 2001.

In 2005, Birmingham won the American Indian LA Film and Television Award for "Outstanding Supporting Role" in Dreamkeeper, a two-part miniseries, for his portrayal of Sam. In the role, he captured the feelings of a father who had made regrettable choices, yet who desperately sought to reconnect with his son. After the success of Dreamkeeper, Birmingham played Sharp Claw in the Hallmark Hall of Fame movie, Love's Long Journey.

Cast by Steven Spielberg in the six-part miniseries Into the West, Birmingham offered a gripping portrayal of the older Dogstar. One of his many fine performances, he adeptly portrayed Dogstar from adulthood through his elderly years. It is through his eyes, that viewers witness the atrocities and devastation that occurred at Wounded Knee in 1890.

After Into the West, he switched gears to play Moipa, a vengeful tribesman in End of the Spear. In addition to film roles, Birmingham's voiceover work includes The Wild Thornberrys, Night at the Museum, and the animated film Turok: Son of Stone.

Longing to battle vampires again after his taste in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Birmingham joined the werewolf pack as Billy Black, chief of the Quileute tribe in the movie Twilight, based on the book series written by Stephenie Meyer. Birmingham reprised his role in the sequel, New Moon.

Birmingham recently filmed The Love Ranch, starring Helen Mirren and Joe Pesci, and directed by Taylor Hackford. The movie is a true story about the married couple who founded the first legal brothel in Nevada in 1975. Birmingham plays the corrupt sheriff Johnny Cortez, who is Joe Pesci's right-hand man.^[1]

Filmography

References

External links

• Gil Birmingham at the Internet Movie Database
• Gil Birmingham's official website
• Gil Birmingham's MySpace Page