Faxon is a talented actor and Academy Award®-winning writer with a longstanding presence across comedic films and notable television series.
Recently, Faxon can be seen in feature films Sex Tape and Tammy. In addition to starring in FX’s Married, Faxon recently starred in the FOX comedy Ben and Kate where he played a spontaneous brother who moves in with his sister to help raise her daughter and in turn finds a sense of direction and purpose he never knew. For his portrayal of “Ben Fox,” the free-spirited and over- the-top brother of “Kate” (Dakota Johnson), critics have applauded Faxon’s performance calling him “a force of nature.” The series premiered in September 2012 and was nominated for a People’s Choice Award in the category of “Favorite New TV Comedy.”
In 2012, Faxon won an Oscar® for Best Adapted Screenplay of The Descendants, which he co-wrote alongside Alexander Payne and Jim Rash. Starring George Clooney, Judy Greer and Shailene Woodley, the comedic drama was released in December 2011. In 2013, Faxon directed his first original feature alongside Jim Rash, titled The Way, Way Back, starring Steve Carell, Toni Collette, Sam Rockwell, Allison Janney and Maya Rudolph. Additionally, Faxon is writing and directing with Rash an action comedy for Indian Paintbrush starring Kristen Wiig, tentatively titled The Heart, as well as another project for Alexander Payne’s production company Ad Hominem and Fox Searchlight.
Prior to his Oscar win, Faxon appeared in numerous films including recent releases The Babymakers starring alongside Olivia Munn; the family comedy Zookeeper, starring Rosario Dawson and Leslie Bibb; as well as Bad Teacher starring Cameron Diaz, Jason Segel and Justin Timberlake. Other film credits include the Golden Globe® nominated Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story, Beerfest and Jake Kasdan’s Orange County.
In television, Faxon has made his mark appearing in a number of notable shows such as the FOX sitcom Happy Hour, where he starred as a series regular, and The WB’s Grosse Pointe. Other television credits include the irreverent parenting comedy Up All Night starring Christina Applegate; NBC’s Are You There, Chelsea? ; the ABC sitcom, Happy Endings starring Zachary Knighton and Eliza Coupe; a guest appearance in the critically-acclaimed AMC drama Mad Men; the Paul Rudd comedy, Party Down, starring Adam Scott; the mystery thriller, NCIS; and recurring roles on NBC’s Joey and Comedy Central’s Reno 911!
Originally from Boston, Massachusetts, Faxon is a graduate of Hamilton College in upstate New York where he received a degree in Theater. Upon graduating, Faxon made his way to Los Angeles to pursue acting as a career. Faxon joined the main company of the Groundlings in 2001 and was a member for ten years.
