Who is Stephen Root?
American actor Stephen Root was born in Sarasota, Florida USA, on 17 November 1951, making his zodiac sign Scorpio. He’s had roles in nearly 300 movies and TV series, but is perhaps still best known for his playing of Milton in the 1999 comedy movie “Office Space”, which Mike Judge wrote and directed, and which starred David Herman, Jennifer Aniston and Ron Livingston. It follows three workers who’ve teamed up against their boss; the film won one of its three award nominations.
Stephen’s still highly active in the movie industry, and is currently shooting for the upcoming movies “Paint” and “Thelma”, as well as for the upcoming series “Velma”.
Education and early life
Stephen was raised in Sarasota as an only child, by his father Rolland Clair Root who worked on major civil engineering projects in both the US and Mexico as a site manager and project superintendent, and mother Leona Estelle who was a housewife.
Stephen enjoyed his childhood because the family moved whenever his father had completed a project, and he was thus able to see a lot of the US and Mexico, as well as to meet many people. He studied at Vero Beach High School in Florida, and it was during his four years there that he began dreaming of becoming a famous actor.
Upon matriculating in 1970, Stephen enrolled at the University of Florida, graduating with an Associate of Arts degree in 1973; he then pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in acting, but quit during his final semester, wanting to focus on his acting career. Because of his successful career in the film industry, he was awarded an honorary Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 2008.
Stephen appeared in many plays between 1975 and 1988, but the names of these haven’t been disclosed, except that it’s known that his Broadway debut was his playing of King Vaughnum III in a 1986 production of “So Long on Lonely Street”, and that he later portrayed Frank Lubey in the play “All My Sons”.
Roles in movies
Stephen’s debut film appearance was his playing of DEA Agent in the 1988 action adventure comedy “Crocodile Dundee II”, and some of his following roles were in the 1988 science fiction horror “Monkey Shines”, 1989 action crime thriller “Black Rain”, and in the same year the biographical drama “Cross of Fire”.
He gained recognition in 1990, with his playing of Police Sergeant in the evergreen romantic fantasy “Ghost”, which Jerry Zucker directed, and which starred Whoopi Goldberg, Demi Moore and Patrick Swayze. It follows a man who’s just been murdered, and has chosen to remain on Earth as a ghost, wanting to warn his girlfriend of an impending danger; the movie won 20 of its 43 award nominations, including two Oscar wins for Best Actress in a Supporting Role (Whoopi) and Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.
Stephen could then have been seen playing supporting characters in the 1991 drama “Guilty by Suspicion”, the 1992 action fantasy comedy “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”, and the 1993 action crime science fiction “RoboCop 3”.
The year 1995 saw him play Frank, one of the lead characters in the science fiction horror “Night of the Scarecrow”, directed by Jeff Burr, and which also starred Elizabeth Barondes and John Mese. It follows a group of teenagers who’ve accidently released the spirit of an evil warlock; the film was nominated for a Fangoria Chainsaw Award for Best Makeup FX.
Now, I don't think Hudson's casting is accidental.
Hudson is played by Stephen Root and Root was memorably in a favorite film of mine: O Brother Where Art Thou (2000).
In that film, a chain gang of men break free from their bondage and go on the lam. pic.twitter.com/5oKkynnHEV
— kyle alex brett (@kyalbr) May 15, 2018
Some of Stephen’s notable performances in the remainder of the ‘90s were in the horror thriller comedy “Natural Selection”, the science fiction drama “Bicentennial Man”, and the comedy “Gut Feeling”, all released in 1999.
He played Radio Station Man in the critically acclaimed 2000 adventure crime comedy “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”, which the Coen brothers directed, and which starred Tim Blake Nelson, John Turturro and George Clooney. It follows three convicts who’ve escaped from jail, and the movie won eight of its 49 award nominations, including two Oscar nominations for Best Cinematography and Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published.
Stephen could then have been seen playing and voicing characters in the 2002 animated adventure comedy “Ice Age” (voice role), the 2004 crime thriller comedy “The Ladykillers”, and the 2006 adventure science fiction comedy “Idiocracy”.
In 2009, he portrayed Curt Reynolds in the biographical musical drama “The Soloist”, which Joe Wright directed, and which starred Catherine Keener, Robert Downey Jr. and Jamie Foxx. It follows a journalist who’s trying to help a homeless musical genius, and the movie won one of its four award nominations.
Stephen’s also known for his portrayal of Colonel Al Lingo in the 2014 biographical historical drama “Selma”, directed by Ava DuVernay, and which starred David Oyelowo, Carmen Ejogo and Oprah Winfrey. It follows the life of Dr. Martin Luther King, and the movie won 59 of its 150 award nominations, including an Oscar win for Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song.
Stephen’s three most recent film roles have been in the 2021 mystery thriller drama “The Tragedy of Macbeth”, and in 2022 the drama “To Leslie” and the animated science fiction comedy “Beavis and Butt-Head do the Universe” (voice role).
Roles in TV series
Stephen’s debut TV series appearance was his playing of Peter Lundy in the 1990 episode “Fender Bender” of the comedy drama “Roseanne”, and he was then cast to appear in an episode of the romantic western “The Young Riders”, the comedy “Head of the Class”, and the mystery crime drama “Wiseguy”.
In 1993 and 1994, he played R. O. in the western comedy drama “Harts of the West”, created by Robert Moloney, and which co-starred Sean Murray and Beau Bridges. It follows the Hart family who’ve moved to a Nevada ranch which they’ve just purchased; the series was nominated for three awards.
The remainder of the ‘90s saw Stephen appear in an episode or two of many critically acclaimed series, with some of the most popular amongst these having been the mystery thriller drama “Chicago Hope”, the comedy “Seinfeld”, and the romantic comedy “NewsRadio”.
Between 2004 and 2007, he voiced Chode in the animated fantasy comedy “Tripping the Rift”, created by Chuck Austen and Chris Moeller, and which starred Stephen Root, Maurice LaMarche and John Melendez. The series is somewhat of a parody on “Star Wars”, and follows Chode and his group of outlaws as they’re taking on odd-jobs.
What also marked the 2000s for Stephen was his playing of Dwight Dixon in the 2008 fantasy comedy drama “Pushing Daisies”, created by Bryan Fuller, and which starred Lee Pace, Anna Friel and Chi McBride. It follows a pastry chef and his childhood sweetheart (whom he resurrected using his supernatural power) as they’re solving murder mysteries together; the series won 40 of its 107 award nominations.
Stephen guest starred in many series in the next decade, such as the comedy “Childrens Hospital”, the crime drama “Boardwalk Empire” and the action crime drama “Justified”; what marked the decade for him was probably his voicing of Bud Gleeful and other characters in the hit animated action adventure “Gravity Falls”, created by Alex Hirsch, who also starred in it, alongside Jason Ritter and Kristen Schaal. It follows twins Mabel and Dipper Pines as they’re spending summer at their great-uncle’s house; the series aired from 2012 to 2016 and won 15 of its 51 award nominations.
Stephen’s three most recent roles in TV series have been in 25 episodes of the action crime comedy “Barry”, the episode “Edamame Duffle Bag” of the animated science fiction comedy “Solar Opposites” (voice role), and the episode “I Won’t Leave You Alone” of the animated short action “Bee and PuppyCat” (voice role), all released in 2022.
Other credits
Stephen’s sung various songs in seven TV series, including “King of the Hill”, “Grounded for Life”, and “First Viewing”.
He’s made a guest appearance in podcasts “Life is Short with Justin Long”, “The Cinnamon Bear: A Holiday Adventure”, and “Truest Blood”.
Stephen’s also been invited to make a guest appearance in numerous talk-shows, such as “Lights Out with David Spade”, “Stars in the House” and “Josh Gates Tonight”.
https://www.facebook.com/balladofbuster/photos/a.499702633845627/499702967178927/
Awards and nominations
Stephen’s won one of his 11 award nominations: a 2008 Gold Derby Film Award for Ensemble Cast, for his and his colleagues’ performance in the critically acclaimed movie “No Country for Old Men”, which won four Oscars, including for Best Achievement in Directing, Best Motion Picture of the Year, and Best Writing, Adapted Screenplay.
Wife and children
Stephen’s married twice. His first wife was American non-celebrity Laura Joan Hase, with whom he exchanged vows in 1984; they have a son Cody, whose date of birth hasn’t been disclosed, but Stephen and Laura divorced in August 1997.
He married his second wife, American actress Romy Rosemont in a large ceremony on 14 December 2008, attended by many of their friends from the film industry. Romy’s had roles in over 150 movies and TV series, and is perhaps still best known for her playing of Betty Likens in the 2007 biographical film “An American Crime”. Stephen and Romy were to star alongside in the 2011 horror movie “Red State”, but Romy was forced to reject the offer because she had to shoot for the series “Glee”.
Stephen hasn’t mentioned other women whom he’s dated; he’s married to his second wife Romy Rosemont as of November 2022, and has a son with his first wife Laura Joan Hase.
Interesting facts and hobbies
Stephen’s a philanthropist, and has donated to various causes, including a $100,000 donation to the University of Florida, which was used to fund their Stephen Root Acting Studio.
American moviemakers Ethan Jesse Coen and Joel Daniel Coen, also known as the Coen brothers, are fans of Stephen, and have invited him to appear in many of their movies, including “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs, “No Country for Old Men”, and “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
He has quite a large fanbase, and has revealed that his fans often send him funny and cute letters.
Stephen’s acting career’s taken him to almost all US states, and he’s also been to many countries all around the world, with his favorite city to travel to being Beijing, China.
His favorite actors are Clint Eastwood and Jim Carrey, and some of his favorite movies include “The Mule”, “Unforgiven” and “The Trouble with the Curve”.
Height, eyes and wealth
Stephen’s age is 70. He has brown eyes and hair, weighs around 175lbs (79kgs) and is 5ft 9ins (1.75m) tall.
Stephen’s net worth’s been estimated at over $6 million, as of November 2022.
Leave a Comment