John Gavin Malkovich, born on December 9, 1953, in Christopher, Illinois, is an American actor, director, producer and fashion designer.
With a career spanning over four decades, Malkovich has become a prominent figure in Hollywood, known for roles in films like Dangerous Liaisons (1988), In the Line of Fire (1993), and Being John Malkovich (1999), where he played a fictionalized version of himself.
His work extends beyond acting to include theater, film production, and even fashion design, showcasing his versatile talents.
Raised in Benton, Illinois, Malkovich grew up in a family that valued journalism and conservation, which shaped his early life before he pursued acting.
Siblings
John was raised alongside four siblings, an older brother, Danny, and three younger sisters, Amanda, Rebecca, and Melissa.
Their parents, Joe Anne Choisser and Daniel Leon Malkovich, were influential in the media and conservation fields, with Joe Anne owning the Benton Evening News and Outdoor Illinois magazine, and Daniel serving as a state conservation director.
The family lived in Benton, Illinois, where they were close-knit, with their next-door neighbor being future NBA star Doug Collins.
Tragically, three of Malkovich’s siblings passed away in their 50s between 2009 and 2014, leaving Melissa as his only surviving sibling as of his 2020 interview with The Irish Times.
Danny Malkovich, the eldest sibling, followed in the family’s journalistic footsteps, working as a journalist. Little is publicly documented about his personal career, but John described him fondly, noting the pain of his loss.
Amanda Malkovich also pursued journalism, continuing the family’s media legacy.
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Career
Malkovich’s career began in theater, where he became a charter member of the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago in 1976, alongside peers like Gary Sinise and Joan Allen.
His stage work, including an Obie Award-winning performance in Sam Shepard’s True West (1980) and a Broadway debut as Biff in Death of a Salesman (1984), laid the foundation for his acting prowess.
He transitioned to film with a breakout role as the blind boarder in Places in the Heart (1984), earning his first Academy Award nomination.
His film career is marked by versatility, with standout roles in Dangerous Liaisons (1988) as the seductive Vicomte de Valmont, In the Line of Fire (1993) as a psychotic assassin, and Being John Malkovich (1999).
Other notable films include Of Mice and Men (1992), Con Air (1997), Rounders (1998), Burn After Reading (2008), and Red (2010).
Malkovich has also produced films like Juno (2007) and The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012), and directed The Dancer Upstairs (2002).
Beyond acting, Malkovich has explored fashion design, launching the menswear lines Uncle Kimono (2003) and Technobohemian (2010) under his company, Mrs. Mudd.
His television work includes roles in Crossbones (2014), Billions (2018–2019), The New Pope (2020), and Space Force (2020–2022).
Accolades
Malkovich won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie for Death of a Salesman (1985).
He received two Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor for Places in the Heart (1984) and In the Line of Fire (1993).
Additionally, he earned three Golden Globe nominations for In the Line of Fire (1993), Being John Malkovich (1999), and RKO 281 (1999).
Malkovich was also nominated for a BAFTA Award for Dangerous Liaisons (1988) and received two Screen Actors Guild Award nominations for ensemble performances.
He won a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Being John Malkovich (1999), becoming the first actor to win a major award for playing himself in a non-cameo role.
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