John C. Reilly (born May 24, 1965 in Chicago, Illinois) is an Academy Award-nominated American actor of Irish descent from the South Side of Chicago. He is a graduate of Brother Rice High School and the Goodman School of Drama at DePaul University. A proud member of the Chicago theater, Reilly credits the Windy City with helping him gain experience as he was working for his big break. Reilly made his film debut in Casualties of War (1989) and has consistently appeared in often acclaimed supporting roles since then.
His profile as a film actor was significantly raised in 2002 when he appeared in three of the year's Academy Award for Best Picture nominees - Chicago, Gangs of New York and The Hours. He received a nomination for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Renée Zellweger's trusting husband in Chicago. He more recently appeared in The Aviator (2004) as Howard Hughes's (Leonardo DiCaprio) trusted financial advisor, Noah Dietrich. Two years earlier Reilly had appeared as a nemesis to DiCaprio's Amsterdam Vallon in Gangs of New York.
Reilly played drums in the comedy rock band, Tenacious D, as "Sasquatch".
Talladega Nights (2006)
