Who Is Stanley Tucci?

Born in along the Hudson River in Peekskill, NY, Stanley Tucci is an American actor. He began his career playing a string of Italian-American tough-guys. In a break from the stereotype he made appearances in 2001's Conspiracy , 2006's The Devil Wears Prada , as Julia Child 's husband in 2008's blockbuster hit Julie & Julia , and delivered an Oscar-nominated performance in 2009's The Lovely Bones. In 2012 he appeared in The Hunger Games . Recent films include Spotlight (2015) and Beauty and the Beast (2017).

Movies and TV Shows

'The Pelican Brief,' 'Winchell'

Returning to the big screen in 1992, Tucci was cast in the independent comedy In the Soup , then portrayed the famous gangster Lucky Luciano in Billy Bathgate in 1993. Also in 1993, Tucci played a Middle Eastern assassin in the critically acclaimed The Pelican Brief . After years of playing the tough guy in a variety of television and movie roles, Stanley Tucci was cast in the title role in Winchell , the HBO biopic about the tabloid reporter Henry Winchell's life, in 1998. Tucci's performance earned him his first Emmy and Golden Globe award wins.

'Big Night'

Tucci began working behind the camera in the early 90s, after growing frustrated with what he felt were stereotypical Italian roles in Hollywood. Tucci began shopping a script he wrote, Big Night , around to various studios in the early '90s. He eventually landed a deal to make the film, which told the story of two Italian immigrant brothers and their failing restaurant. Due to budget constraints, Tucci co-directed the film with the help of his old friend, Campbell Scott . The movie was highly regarded at the Sundance Film Festival, earning a Grand Jury Prize nomination and winning a Waldo Salt Screenwriting Award at the gathering. He followed up this project with a starring role in The Impostors (1998), a period comedy which he also wrote and directed. Tucci also stepped into the director role for the 2000 indie drama, Joe Gold's Secret (2000).

'A Midsummer Night's Dream,' 'Sidewalks of New York,' 'The Road to Perdition'

Tucci returned to big screen blockbusters in 1999's film remake of the Shakespeare classic, A Midsummer Night's Dream which featured Michelle Pfeiffer ; followed by the comedy Sidewalks of New York (2001); and the romantic America's Sweethearts , a Julia Roberts vehicle. He then reprised his role as a gangster in 2002's critically acclaimed The Road to Perdition , which also starred actor Tom Hanks .

'Conspiracy'

In 2001 Tucci returned to TV, earning another Emmy nomination and his second Golden Globe win for his portrayal of Adolf Eichmann in the HBO film, Conspiracy . He earned a third Emmy nod, this time for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, when he guest-starred on former cast mate Tony Shalhoub 's cable hit, Monk . His next performance, a recurring role on the long running hit ER in 2007 and 2008, landed Tucci his fourth Emmy nomination.

'Julie & Julia,' 'The Lovely Bones'

In 2009 Tucci came back to the attention of film audiences and critics as the co-star in Nora Ephron 's critically acclaimed dramatic comedy Julie & Julia . Tucci played opposite Meryl Streep , playing the husband of Julia Child. The film received a host of awards and nominations for Streep, and was a fan favorite. Tucci earned his own Oscar nomination for his turn as the creepy neighbor, George Harvey, in Peter Jackson 's The Lovely Bones . Tucci's next project, the comedy Easy A , hit theaters in 2010.

'The Hunger Games,' 'The Company You Keep'

Tucci continues to tackle a broad range of roles on film and television. In 2012, he began playing over-the-top TV host Caesar Flickerman on the hugely popular science fiction film The Hunger Games . He reprised this part in the film's four sequels. Around this time, Tucci also starred in the fairy tale-inspired adventure Jack the Giant Slayer (2013) and the dramatic thriller The Company You Keep (2013). 

'Spotlight'

Showing his comedic side, Tucci had a memorable cameo in 2014's Muppets Most Wanted . He starred in the big budget action film Transformers: Age of Extinction that same year. In 2015 Tucci appeared in the critically acclaimed drama Spotlight . The film explores how the Boston Globe newspaper broke the story about the sexual abuse of children by priests in the Catholic Church and the church's efforts to cover up these crimes. 

That same year, Tucci had a leading role on the TV series Fortitude . In 2017 he starred in the musical fantasy film  Beauty and the Beast with Emma Watson , Ewan McGregor and Emma Thompson . 

Wife Felicity Blunt & Children

Tucci married his wife Kate on April 18, 1995. The couple had three daughters together, daughter Camilla and twins Isabel and Nicolo. Tucci separated from his wife in 2003, amid gossip that he was seeing actress Edie Falco , whom he met that year while performing in a Broadway production of Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune . The couple reunited in 2005. Kate Tucci died from breast cancer on April 27,  2009. He married Felicity Blunt in 2012 and the couple welcomed a son, Matteo Oliver, in 2015.

Early Life and Career

Stanley Oliver Tucci, Jr. was born on November 11, 1960, in Peekskill, New York. Tucci grew up in Katonah, New York, as the eldest of three siblings. Tucci came from an Italian-American, middle class family: His father, Stanley Tucci, Sr., was an art teacher, and his mother, Joan Tucci, worked as a secretary. Tucci showed an interest in theater at an early age, studying drama at John Jay High School. Tucci's high school friend Campbell Scott, the son of actress Colleen Dewhurst, helped Tucci land his professional acting debut as an extra in a Broadway production starring Dewhurst. After graduation in 1978, Tucci enrolled in SUNY Purchase, where he studied drama.

Tucci earned his bachelor's degree from SUNY Purchase in 1982, and moved almost immediately afterward to New York City. Working part-time as a server in order to make ends meet, Tucci spent his evenings performing in Broadway and off-Broadway productions. After several years of hard work, Tucci made his film debut in 1985's Prizzi's Honor , which starred Jack Nicholson and Kathleen Turner . The dark comedy landed critical recognition, including a Golden Globe for Turner and an Oscar nod for Nicholson. Tucci's role in the movie helped him land more work, including his first memorable television role as the recurring character Frank Mosca on Miami Vice , beginning in 1986. Tucci would reprise the role two more times in 1987 and 1988. He also portrayed a tough guy in five episodes of Wiseguy from 1988 to 1989.