Jeff Daniels: No Oscar Attention–Yet
Best Performance: “The Squid and the Whale” (2005)
Distributed by: Samuel Goldwyn Films
Written, Directed by: Noah Baumbach
Role: Bernard Berkman
Other notable performances: “Terms of Endearment” (1983), “The Purple Rose of Cairo” (1985), “Something Wild” (1986), “Speed” (1993), “Dumb and Dumber” (1994), “Pleasantville” (2000), “The Hours” (2002)
Jeff Daniels is a thespian of stage, television and film, an actor’s actor who is beloved and revered in the business.
But strangely he’s still without Oscar recognition–neither in the lead nr in the supporting category–despite having played roles in several best picture-nominated movies.
Too modest? Too humble? Too many parts as an actor in ensemble-driven movies?
He has excelled as Bill Johnson in Gary Ross’ fable Pleasantville and as the arrogant novelist father in Noah Baumbach’s semi-autobiographical portrait (and best film to date), The Squid and the Whale.
