Paul Raci (/ˈreɪsi/;[1] born April 7, 1948) is an American character actor. A veteran of stage, film and television, he has appeared in a variety of projects, including small roles in Baskets and Parks and Recreation.[2] In 2021, he was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Sound of Metal (2019). In 2021 he was selected by BJ Sam the Nigerian international singer and producer to represent the United States on the first universal Christmas music project with other global music icons including Bollywood playback singer Jaspinder Narula, Swiss actress Christina Zurbrügg, Ghanaian singer Diana Hopeson.[3]
Paul Raci | |
|---|---|
| Born | April 7, 1948 |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| Known for | Sound of Metal |
Life and career
editRaci was born in Chicago, Illinois, the son of Laurel and Mitchell Raci.[4] His family is of Polish descent, originally surnamed Racibożyński.[5] He was raised as the hearing son of deaf parents, and is fluent in American Sign Language.[6] Raci was a Hospital Corpsman in the United States Navy, attaining the rank of Petty Officer Second Class (HM2). He served aboard the aircraft carrier, the USS Coral Sea (CVA-43) from 1969 to 1973, serving two tours in Vietnam.[7][8]
Raci received critical acclaim for his performance as Joe, the deaf mentor to the main character in Sound of Metal, released in 2020.[9] For this role, he received the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor and other accolades, including an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male, and nominations for both the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor and the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. According to director Darius Marder, several high-profile actors were approached for the role, but for the sake of authenticity, Raci was selected because of his upbringing.
In 2021, he was selected by BJ Sam, the Nigerian international singer and producer, to represent the United States in the first universal Christmas music project with other global music icons including Bollywood playback singer Jaspinder Narula, Ghanaian singer Diana Hopeson, and Swiss actress Christina Zurbrügg.[10][11]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | Rent-a-Cop | Waiter | |
| 1990 | Smoothtalker | Perry | |
| 1993 | Dragon: The Bruce Lee Story | Bad Guy | |
| 1996 | The Glimmer Man | Internal Affairs Agent #1 | |
| 2004 | Fighting Tommy Riley | Bob Silver | |
| 2012 | She Wants Me | Paparazzi | |
| 2013 | No Ordinary Hero: The SuperDeafy Movie | Rudy Gold | |
| 2019 | Sound of Metal | Joe | |
| 2022 | Butcher's Crossing | McDonald | |
| 2023 | The Mother | Jons | |
| The Secret Art of Human Flight | Mealworm | ||
| Sing Sing | Brent Buell | ||
| 2024 | This Is Me... Now: A Love Story | Group Leader |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Baywatch | Dan | Episode: "Big Monday" |
| L.A. Law | INS Agent Gruber | Episode: "P.S. Your Shrink Is Dead" | |
| 1995 | Æon Flux | Tweeka / Onan | 2 episodes; voice role |
| The Marshal | Photographer | Episode: "These Foolish Things" | |
| 1997–1999 | Todd McFarlane's Spawn | Additional Voices | 6 episodes |
| 1998 | The Visitor | Dark Grey Suit | Episode: "The Trial" |
| 2000 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Lie Detector Operator | Episode: "Blood Drops" |
| 2002 | ER | Mr. Spencer | Episode: "It's All in Your Head" |
| 2003 | The Handler | Nicky | Episode: "Under Color of Law" |
| 10-8: Officers on Duty | Manager | Episode: "The Wild Bunch" | |
| 2004 | The Practice | Ralph 'Spinny' Spinaci | Episode: "New Hoods on the Block" |
| 2006 | Scrubs | Drunk Guy | Episode: "My Jiggly Ball" |
| Las Vegas | Kenny Roman | Episode: "And Here's Mike with the Weather" | |
| Lucky Louie | Cal | Episode: "Drinking" | |
| Heroes | Ernie the Weasel | Episode: "Chapter Six 'Better Halves'" | |
| 2008 | Life | Scruffy Man | Episode: "Jackpot" |
| 2009 | Free Radio | Homeless Man | Episode: "KDOG" |
| 2010 | Parks and Recreation | Eugene | Episode: "The Possum" |
| Persons Unknown | Sherman Golightly | Episode: "And Then There Was One" | |
| 2011 | Switched at Birth | Interpreter | 2 episodes |
| 2012 | Rizzoli & Isles | Apartment Manager | Episode: "Welcome to the Dollhouse" |
| 2018 | Goliath | Dwight | Episode: "Diablo Verde" |
| 2019 | Baskets | Bart / Peter Gabriel's Drummer | Episode: "Homemakers" |
| 2023 | Perry Mason | Lydell McCutcheon | Recurring; 8 episodes |
Awards and nominations
editReferences
edit- ^ "Sound Of Metal Supporting Actor Paul Raci Gets His Big Break After 40 Years". The Eddie Mata Show. January 25, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "Paul Raci". IMDb.
- ^ "International star, BJ Sam, brings the groove back home". guardian.ng. 12 May 2008.
- ^ "Paul Raci on Instagram: "My Deaf parents Mitchell and Laurel Raci"".
- ^ "Wyborcza.pl".
- ^ Lopez, Kristen (December 8, 2020). "'Sound of Metal' Star Paul Raci Challenges Hollywood: Deaf People Are Sick of Saintly Portrayals".
- ^ ‘Sound of Metal’ Star Paul Raci Challenges Hollywood: Deaf People Are Sick of Saintly Portrayals. IndieWire. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ 207: Actor Paul Raci 'Sound of Metal'. Archived 2021-04-29 at the Wayback Machine Pop Culture Confidential. Retrieved February 13, 2021.
- ^ "Paul Raci Is The Guidance Of Deaf Souls In Sound Of Metal [Exclusive]". LRM. November 20, 2020.
- ^ "With Merry Christmas, BJ Sam sets global record". The Sun (Nigeria). December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "BJ Sam sets global record with Merry Christmas". Vanguard (Nigeria). December 6, 2021. Retrieved December 7, 2021.
- ^ "First Wave of Honorees Announced for the 4th Annual Hollywood Critics Association Awards". Daily Dead. 2020-12-21. Retrieved 2021-03-23.
- ^ Davis, Clayton (December 13, 2020). "'Nomadland' Named Best Picture at Boston Society of Film Critics Awards, Paul Raci and Yuh-jung Youn Among Winners". Variety. Archived from the original on December 16, 2020. Retrieved December 13, 2020.
- ^ "L.A. Film Critics Association Names 'Small Axe' As Best Picture Of 2020; Carey Mulligan, Chadwick Boseman Honored With Acting AwardsList". Deadline Hollywood. December 20, 2020. Archived from the original on January 12, 2021. Retrieved December 20, 2020.
- ^ Partridge, Jon (March 13, 2021). "2020 Austin Film Critics Association Award Nominations". Austin Film Critics Association. Retrieved March 14, 2021.
- ^ Partridge, Jon (March 19, 2021). "2020 Austin Film Critics Association Award Winners". Austin Film Critics Association. Retrieved March 20, 2021.
- ^ "BAFTA Nominations 2021: 'Nomadland' & 'Rocks' Lead Highly Diverse Field". Deadline Hollywood. March 9, 2021. Retrieved March 9, 2021.
- ^ "Critics Choice Awards: 'Mank' Leads With 12 Nominations, Netflix Makes History With Four Best Picture Nominees". Variety. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ "DFW FILM CRITICS NAME "NOMADLAND" BEST PICTURE OF 2020". Dallas–Fort Worth Film Critics Association. February 10, 2021. Retrieved February 11, 2021.
- ^ "The 2020 Detroit Film Critics Society (DFCS) Nominations". March 4, 2021. Retrieved March 5, 2021.
- ^ "Dorian Film Awards: 'Minari' Tops Nominations From LGBTQ Entertainment Critics". The Hollywood Reporter. February 11, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ "Georgia Film Critics Association: 2020 Awards". Retrieved March 7, 2021.
- ^ "Hollywood Critics Association 2021 Award Nominations". ThatsItLA. February 2, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ ""Minari" Leads the 2020 Seattle Film Critics Society Nominations". Seattle Film Critics Society. February 8, 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.
- ^ ""Nomadland" Named Best Picture of 2020 by Seattle Film Critics Society". Seattle Film Critics Society. February 15, 2021. Retrieved February 17, 2021.
- ^ "'Nomadland' Takes Top Prizes at Toronto Critics' Awards, Riz Ahmed Wins Best Actor". Variety. 8 February 2021. Retrieved February 10, 2021.