Paul Schneider

Paul Schneider studied at Asheville High School, University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Carolina Day School. The recorded working language is English. Works named in the authority record are Parks and Recreation. Distinctions recorded are National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor.

• Name — Paul Schneider • Birth Name — Paul Andrew Schneider • Born — 16 March 1976 • Birthplace — Asheville, North Carolina, U.S. • Occupation — Actor • Years Active — 1996–present • Education — University of North Carolina School of the Arts[7] (BFA) • Children — 2 Paul Andrew Schneider (born March 16, 1976) is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Dick Liddil in the epic western film The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007) and his lead role as Mark Brendanawicz on the first and second seasons of the NBC political satirical sitcom Parks and Recreation (2009–10).[1] He also appeared in lead roles in the romantic drama film All the Real Girls[8] (2003) and the comedy film The Babymakers (2012), the former of which he co-wrote with David Gordon Green and was nominated for the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Performer. He has since appeared in supporting roles in films such as Elizabethtown (2005), Lars and the Real Girl (2007), Away We Go (2009), Water for Elephants (2011), Hello Carter (2013), Rules Don't Apply (2016), Brothers by Blood (2020), and American Murderer (2022).[2] For his portrayal of Charles Armitage Brown in the biographical romantic drama film Bright Star (2009), Schneider won the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was also awarded Best Actor in a Narrative Feature at the Tribeca Film Festival for his performance in the romantic comedy drama film Goodbye to All That (2014).[3][4]

Schneider was born and raised in Asheville, North Carolina.[5][6] He graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts.

In 2000, Schneider made his film debut in David Gordon Green's George Washington and starred in All the Real Girls. As research for his role as Jesse Baylor in Elizabethtown, director Cameron Crowe suggested that Schneider tour with the band My Morning Jacket for five days. Schneider accompanied the band to concerts held in such locations as Irving Plaza, the Webster Theater, the Theater of the Living Arts, and Stone Pony Landing. After Elizabethtown, Schneider had supporting roles in The Family Stone and Live Free or Die. In 2007, he portrayed Gus Lindstrom in Lars and the Real Girl and Dick Liddil in The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford. That year, he was named one of "Ten Actors to Watch" by Variety.[10] In 2008, he made his directorial debut with the independent film Pretty Bird.[11] Also in 2008, Schneider played President William Henry Harrison in episode No. 4 of the web series Drunk History.[12] In 2009, Schneider appeared as Charles Armitage Brown in Bright Star, for which he won the Best Supporting Actor Award from the National Society of Film Critics. The award was shared with Christoph Waltz for Inglourious Basterds.[13] He portrayed Courtney Farlander in Away We Go. In arguably his most mainstream role, Schneider co-starred as Mark Brendanawicz in the NBC series Parks and Recreation, appearing in the first two seasons from 2009 to 2010 before leaving the series.[14] In an April 2014 interview with ScreenCrush, Schneider said that he had felt sidelined:[15] In 2018, Schneider made his Broadway debut in Young Jean Lee's play Straight White Men as Matt. Schneider's performance earned praise, with The New York Times critic Jesse Green singling him out as one of the highlights of the production.[16]

On April 16, 2016, Schneider married Theresa Avila, an occupational therapist and co-founder of The World Lens Foundation, of which Schneider is a board member.[17][18] The couple have two daughters, Lou and Rae. Schneider is an Innocence Project Ambassador.[19]

• Year || Title || Role || class="unsortable"|Notes • 2003 — Third Watch — Thomas Warner — Guest role; 3 episodes • 2008 — Drunk History — William Henry Harrison — Episode No. 4 • 2009–2010 — Parks and Recreation — Mark Brendanawicz — Main role (seasons 1–2); 30 episodes • 2012 — The Newsroom — Brian Brenner — Guest role; 2 episodes • 2014 — The Divide — Clark Rylance — Main role; 6 episodes • 2016 — The Tunnel — Artem Baturin — Guest role; 4 episodes • Channel Zero: Candle Cove — Mike Painter — Main role; 6 episodes • 2017 — Chance — Ryan Winter — Main role (season 2); 9 episodes • 2018 — The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story — Paul Beck — Episode: "Ascent" • 2020 — Tales from the Loop — George — 6 episodes • NOS4A2 — Jonathan "The Hourglass" Beckett — 3 episodes • 2022 — A Friend of the Family — Marty — Episode: "Revelation" • 2023 — Law & Order — Daniel Strawn — Episode: "Bias" • Florida Man — Officer Andy Boone — Recurring role • 2025 — The Righteous Gemstones — Officer Powell — Episode: "Prelude" • The Runarounds — Henry Kinney — 3 episodes • Murdaugh: Death in the Family — Billy — 4 episodes • 2026 — Cape Fear — Grayson — Recurring role

Paul Schneider is recorded at birth as Paul Andrew Schneider. Recorded as having studied at Asheville High School, University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Carolina Day School.