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Craig Sheffer

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Craig Sheffer
Born
Craig Eric Sheffer

(1960-04-23) April 23, 1960 (age 64)
Alma materEast Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania
OccupationActor
Years active1982–present
Spouse
(m. 2003; div. 2004)
PartnerGabrielle Anwar (ended 1990s)

Craig Eric Sheffer (born April 23, 1960) is an American film and television actor. He is known for his starring roles as Hardy Jenns in Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), Aaron "Cabal" Boone in Nightbreed (1990), Norman Maclean in A River Runs Through It (1992), Joe Kane in The Program (1993), Joseph in Bliss (1997), and as Keith Scott on the television series One Tree Hill (2003–12).

Early life

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Sheffer was born in York, Pennsylvania, where his father worked as a prison guard. He began acting in school plays while attending York Suburban Senior High School,[1] competing regional and state drama competitions. He attended East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania for two years on a sports scholarship, playing baseball and football, until sustaining a knee injury. He dropped out in 1980 to pursue his acting career.[2][3]

Sheffer moved to New York City at the behest of his then-girlfriend, but they broke up shortly thereafter, and Sheffer spent sometime homeless. He "slept under the marble staircase" in Grand Central Terminal for weeks while living off Unification Church spaghetti dinners," and made a living selling newspapers.[4]

Career

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After appearing in commercials, Sheffer was first seen on a nationwide basis as Ian Hayden on the ABC daytime soap opera One Life to Live in 1982, and on the short-lived primetime drama The Hamptons in 1983. In 1984, he was cast in his first film role, as the romantic lead opposite Pia Zadora in the genre-bending musical Voyage of the Rock Aliens. He also starred in the Broadway play Torch Song Trilogy, replacing Paul Joynt midway through its run.[5]

He subsequently had starring roles in films as the best friend of troubled teenager Emilio Estevez in That Was Then... This Is Now (1985), a reformatory camp inmate in Fire with Fire (1986), an antagonistic rich kid in Some Kind of Wonderful (1987), and the romantic love interest of an overweight cosmetician in Baby Cakes (1989). In 1990, he played the leading role of Aaron "Cabal" Boone in Clive Barker's horror film Nightbreed.

In 1992, Sheffer starred as author Norman Maclean in the Oscar-winning biographical film A River Runs Through It, directed by Robert Redford. He then played Heisman Trophy candidate quarterback Joe Kane in The Program in 1993.

Sheffer's other films include Fire in the Sky (1993), Head Above Water (1996), and Sleep With Me (1994) (as the apex of a romantic triangle which included Eric Stoltz and Meg Tilly). Sheffer played the leading role in Clive Barker's franchise sequel, Hellraiser: Inferno. He also played the main character in 1997's Bliss which starred Sheryl Lee, Terence Stamp and Leigh Taylor-Young.

Sheffer played Constant Bradley in the 1996 miniseries A Season in Purgatory. He played Keith Scott on the CW Network series One Tree Hill for three seasons before his character was killed off halfway through season 3 (he also had several guest appearances in season 4). He directed the feature film American Crude, a dark comedy starring Ron Livingston and Rob Schneider; it was released straight to DVD in June 2008. Sheffer had a cameo appearance in the movie Stand Up Guys.

In 2016, Sheffer starred alongside Steven Seagal in Code of Honor.

In 2021, he was cast to play American President Richard Nixon on the horror anthology American Horror Story: Double Feature.

Personal life

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Sheffer was in a relationship with Gabrielle Anwar from 1989 and until the early-1990s.[6] They have a daughter, actress Willow Anwar (b. 1993). Sheffer is the godfather to his ex-partner's children, Hugo and Paisley, from her subsequent marriage to John Verea.[7]

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1984 Voyage of the Rock Aliens Frankie
1985 That Was Then... This Is Now Bryon Douglas
1986 Fire with Fire Joe Fisk
1987 Some Kind of Wonderful Hardy Jenns
1988 Split Decisions Eddie McGuinn
1990 Nightbreed Aaron Boone / Cabal
Instant Karma Zane
1991 Blue Desert Randall Atkins
Eye of the Storm Ray
1992 A River Runs Through It Norman Maclean
1993 Fire in the Sky Allan Dallis
The Program Joe Kane
Fire on the Amazon R.J.
1994 The Road Killers Cliff
Sleep with Me Frank
1995 Wings of Courage Henri Guillaumet Short film
The Desperate Trail Jack Cooper
1996 The Grave King
Head Above Water Lance
1997 Executive Power Nick Seger
Bliss Joseph
1998 Double Take Connor McEwen
1999 The Fall Adam Ellis
Flypaper Bobby Ray
Turbulence 2: Fear of Flying Martin
2000 Net Worth Woody Miller
Deep Core Brian Goodman
Hellraiser: Inferno Det. Joseph Thorne
Maze Mike
Merlin: The Return Mordred
2001 Ritual Paul Claybourne
Turbulence 3: Heavy Metal Nick Watts
Flying Virus Martin Bauer
2002 Truth Be Told Det. Stratten
Deadly Little Secrets Dr. Gordon Childs
2003 Water Under the Bridge Marco
Dracula II: Ascension Lowell
2004 Prodigal Son Alan Short film
The Pavilion Frank Cassilis
Berserker Boar
2005 Tom's Nu Heaven Tom Mitchell
The Second Front Frank Hossom
2006 Find Love Interviewer
2008 Love Lies Bleeding Morton
While She Was Out Kenneth
2010 Ashley's Ashes Bill
2012 Bad Ass Attorney
Stand Up Guys Jargoniew
The Mark Chad Turner
2013 The Mark 2: Redemption
2016 Code of Honor William Porter
2017 Destruction: Los Angeles John Benson
2019 Widow's Point Thomas Livingston
2023 Velocity Girl Sheriff Earl Gentry
2024 Guns & Moses Tibor Farkas

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 One Life to Live Ian Hayden Unknown episodes
1983 The Hamptons Brian Chadway Episode: "Pilot"
1986–88 Teen Wolf Mick (voice) 21 episodes
1989 Baby Cakes Rob Television film
1995 In Pursuit of Honor Lt. Marshall Buxton
Bloodknot Mike
1996 A Season in Purgatory Constant Bradley Miniseries
1997 Miss Evers' Boys Dr. Douglas Television film
Merry Christmas, George Bailey Ernie Bishop / Ed / Bridgekeeper
1998 Rhapsody in Bloom Jack Safrenek
2001 Family Law Martin Antenelli Episode: "Separation"
2002 Fastlane Andrew Kane Episode: "Pilot"
Cabin Pressure Peter 'Bird Dog' Dewmont Television film
2003 Without Malice Dr. Paul Venters
2003–07, 2012 One Tree Hill Keith Scott 58 episodes
2005 Into the West Older Robert Wheeler Episode: "Ghost Dance"
2006 Long Lost Son Quinn Halloran / John Williams Television film
2010 Psych Federal Marshal Daniel Wayne Episode: "A Very Juliet Episode"
Criminal Minds James Thomas Episode: "Compromising Positions"
Lies Between Friends Sheriff Zach Watts Television film
2012 The Mentalist Gary Philo Episode: "Cheap Burgundy"
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Jack Gilmore 2 episodes
2013 Battledogs Major Brian Hoffman Television film
2021 American Horror Story: Double Feature Richard Nixon 3 episodes

References

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  1. ^ McClure, Jim. "Prominent actor Craig Sheffer hails from overlooked Windsor Park". York Daily Record. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  2. ^ Thompson, Simon. "Craig Sheffer On His 'The Shining' Inspiration For 'Widow's Point' And A 'Nightbreed' TV Series". Forbes. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  3. ^ Report, Morning Call | Staff (1992-10-30). "'KING OF THE B MOVIES' ACTOR CRAIG SHEFFER FINALLY EARNS HIS 'A'". The Morning Call. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  4. ^ Brunette, Peter (1992-10-04). "UP AND COMING: Craig Sheffer; Off Streets, Into Movies". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-09-30.
  5. ^ "Craig Sheffer – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  6. ^ Register, Luaine Lee | Orange County (2007-06-19). "Gabrielle Anwar hopes to 'Burn' up the screen". Orange County Register. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
  7. ^ "Craig Sheffer reflects on his time in Wilmington, his new Hallmark movie and his role on "One Tree Hill" – We Love TV - Wilmington Star News - Wilmington, NC - Archive". 2010-08-03. Archived from the original on 2010-08-03. Retrieved 2024-08-07.
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