Paul Sparks

{{short description|American actor (born 1971)}}
{{distinguish|Paul Sparkes}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{use American English|date=November 2022}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Paul Sparks
| image              = Paul Sparks (cropped).jpg
| caption            = Sparks in 2016
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1971|10|16}}
| birth_place        = [[Lawton, Oklahoma]], U.S.
| alma_mater         = [[New York University]]
| occupation         = Actor
| years_active       = 1998–present
| spouse             = [[Annie Parisse]]
| children           = 2
}}
'''Paul Sparks''' (born October 16, 1971)<ref>{{cite news |author=<!-- Not stated --> |date=2014-10-16 |title=Celebrating a Birthday Today |work=[[The Modesto Bee]] |page=2A |agency=[[The Associated Press]] |quote=Actor Paul Sparks ('Boardwalk Empire') is 43.}}</ref> is an American actor. He is known for his roles as gangster [[Mickey Doyle]] in the [[HBO]] period drama series ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]'', writer Thomas Yates in the [[Netflix]] political drama series ''[[House of Cards (American TV series)|House of Cards]]'', mall owner John Breem in the [[Apple TV+]] comedy-drama series ''[[Physical (TV series)|Physical]]'', attorney David Tellis in the [[Starz]] anthology drama series ''[[The Girlfriend Experience (TV series)|The Girlfriend Experience]]'', and a recurring role in the limited series ''[[The Night Of]]''. Sparks has also starred in the films ''[[Deception (2008 film)|Deception]]'' (2008), ''[[Afterschool]]'' (2008), ''[[The Missing Person]]'' (2008), ''[[Mud (2012 film)|Mud]]'' (2012), ''[[Parkland (film)|Parkland]]'' (2013), ''[[Stealing Cars]]'' (2015), ''[[Thoroughbreds (2017 film)|Thoroughbreds]]'' (2017), and ''[[The Greatest Showman]]'' (2017).

==Early life and career==
Sparks was born in [[Lawton, Oklahoma]],<ref name="allmovie">{{cite web |url=https://www.allmovie.com/artist/paul-sparks-vn15482443 |title=Paul Sparks |author=<!-- Not stated -->  |website=[[Allmovie]] |access-date=2023-11-07 |quote=Born - Oct 16, 1971 in Lawton, Oklahoma, United States.}}</ref> and grew up in nearby [[Marlow, Oklahoma|Marlow]].<ref>{{Cite news |last=Hayer |first=Melissa |date=September 27, 2013 |title=From Marlow to New York City, Paul Sparks Has Followed Path to Acting Success |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/entertainment/television/2013/09/27/from-marlow-to-new-york-city-paul-sparks-has-followed-path-to-acting-success/60879534007/ |access-date=2024-04-07 |work=[[The Oklahoman]]}}</ref> He attended Marlow High School, where his father coached football,<ref name="nyt">{{cite news|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2010/06/20/theater/20sparks.html?_r=0|title=Embracing a Tragic Masculinity|first=David|last=Rooney|work=[[The New York Times]]|date=July 15, 2010|access-date=March 10, 2013}}</ref> graduating in 1990. While attending school in Marlow, Paul was a part of the Marlow Outlaw Speech Team (M.O.S.T.) where he was coached by Paula and Gary McConnell.<ref name="Family">{{cite web|url=http://newsok.com/boardwalk-to-success-oklahoma-native-paul-sparks-turns-advice-acting-experiences-into-successful-career/article/3887357|title="Boardwalk to Success": Oklahoma native Paul Sparks turns advice, acting experiences into successful career|website=[[The Oklahoman]]|first=Melissa|last=Hayer|access-date=December 7, 2014}}{{dead link|date=November 2022}}</ref> Sparks earned a scholarship to [[Oklahoma State University]] to study chemistry, but later transferred to [[New York University|New York University's]] [[Tisch School of the Arts]].<ref name="Family"/><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.hbo.com/boardwalk-empire/cast-and-crew/mickey-doyle/bio/paul-sparks.html|title=Boardwalk Empire Cast & Crew: Paul Sparks|website=[[HBO]].com}}</ref> He graduated with a [[Bachelor of Fine Arts]] degree in drama in 1995.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://tisch.nyu.edu/special-programs/news/2011/01/tisch-alumni-rack-up-accolades|title=Tisch Alumni Rack Up Accolades|website=[[New York University]]. [[Tisch School of the Arts]]|first=Mariangela|last=Lardaro|date=January 31, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160502060127/https://tisch.nyu.edu/special-programs/news/2011/01/tisch-alumni-rack-up-accolades|archive-date=May 2, 2016|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

In 2010, Sparks began portraying the regular role of Mickey Doyle on [[HBO]]'s drama series ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]'', which was created by [[Terence Winter]] and executive produced by [[Martin Scorsese]] and [[Mark Wahlberg]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126203-Hedda-Gablers-Sparks-Signed-for-HBO-Pilot-Boardwalk-Empire|title=Hedda Gabler's Sparks Signed for HBO Pilot "Boardwalk Empire"|first=Adam|last=Hetrick|website=[[Playbill]]|date=February 11, 2009|access-date=March 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121102150247/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/126203-Hedda-Gablers-Sparks-Signed-for-HBO-Pilot-Boardwalk-Empire|archive-date=November 2, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref> The series ended in 2014, after completing five seasons.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://connect.hbo.com/events/boardwalk-empire/live-q-paul-sparks/|title=Q&A with Paul Sparks|website=[[HBO]].com|date=October 25, 2012|access-date=March 10, 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121027235740/http://connect.hbo.com/events/boardwalk-empire/live-q-paul-sparks/|archive-date=October 27, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>

==Personal life==
Sparks is married to actress [[Annie Parisse]], after meeting in 2005.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/SB10001424052702304023504577319662121884338|title=The Theater Of Discomfort|website=[[The Wall Street Journal]]|first=Lizzie|last=Simon|date=April 2, 2012}}</ref> Together they have two children, son Emmett (born 2009),<ref name="Family"/> and daughter Lydia (born 2014).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/american-horror-story-star-transitions-to-the-stage-with-the-help-of-her-buried-child-cast|title=''American Horror Story'' Star Transitions to the Stage With the Help of Her ''Buried Child'' Cast|website=[[Playbill]]|first=Marcus|last=Scott|date=March 28, 2016}}</ref> Sparks has [[diabetes mellitus type 1]] and works with the [[JDRF|Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.iconvsicon.com/2014/08/29/on-the-rise-paul-sparks-on-his-career-role-in-clark-greggs-trust-me-and-more/|title=On the Rise: Paul Sparks On His Career, Role In Clark Gregg's 'Trust Me' & More!|website=Icon vs Icon|date=August 29, 2014}}</ref> He is good friends with fellow actor [[Michael Shannon]]; the two have worked together on a number of projects including [[Waco (miniseries)|''Waco'']], ''[[The Missing Person]]'', ''[[Mud (2012 film)|Mud]]'', ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]'', and ''[[Midnight Special (film)|Midnight Special]]''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://thelabmagazine.com/2011/03/29/michael-shannon/|title=Film: Michael Shannon – Interviewed by Paul Sparks|website=The Lab Magazine|date=March 29, 2011|access-date=March 28, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160416174355/http://thelabmagazine.com/2011/03/29/michael-shannon/|archive-date=April 16, 2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Filmography==

===Film===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Headspace (film)|Headspace]]''
| Jason
|
|-
| 2006
| ''[[The Treatment (2006 film)|The Treatment]]''
| Andre
|
|-
| 2007
| ''[[Blackbird (2007 film)|Blackbird]]''
| Baylis
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Synecdoche, New York]]''
| Derek
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Rachel Getting Married]]''
| 12 Step Member
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Deception (2008 film)|Deception]]''
| Detective Burke
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[Afterschool]]''
| Detective Eclisse
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[The Missing Person]]''
| Gus Papitos
|
|-
| 2008
| ''[[The Understudy (2008 film)|The Understudy]]''
| Bobby
|
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Please Give]]''
| Blind Date
|
|-
| 2010
| ''[[Edge of Darkness (2010 film)|Edge of Darkness]]''
| Police Detective
|
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Return (2011 film)|Return]]''
| Ed
|
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Forgetting the Girl (film)|Forgetting the Girl]]''
| Tanner
|
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Mud (2012 film)|Mud]]''
| Carver
|
|-
| 2012
| ''[[Sparrows Dance]]''
| Wes
|
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Trust Me (2013 film)|Trust Me]]''
| Ray
|
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Parkland (film)|Parkland]]''
| Harry McCormick
|
|-
| 2015
| ''[[Stealing Cars]]''
| Conrad Sean Lewis
|
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Midnight Special (film)|Midnight Special]]''
| Agent Miller
|
|-
| 2016
| ''All the Birds Have Flown South''
| Stephen
|
|-
| 2016
| ''[[In the Radiant City]]''
| Michael Yurley
|
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Thoroughbreds (2017 film)|Thoroughbreds]]''
| Mark
| 
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Greatest Showman]]''
| [[James Gordon Bennett Sr.]]
| 
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Human Capital (2019 film)|Human Capital]]''
| Jon
| 
|-
| 2020
| ''[[The Lovebirds (2020 film)|The Lovebirds]]''
| Moustache
|
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Giving Birth to a Butterfly]]''
| Daryl
|
|-
| 2021
| ''[[Hands That Bind]]''
| Andy Hollis
| 
|-
|TBA
|''[[Eric Larue]]'' 
|
|
|-
|}

===Television===
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! class="unsortable"| Notes
|-
| 1998
| ''[[Trinity (U.S. TV series)|Trinity]]''
| Rod
| Episode: "In a Yellow Wood"
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Law & Order]]''
| Paul Luterik
| Episode: "Panic"
|-
| 2001
| ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]''
| Marvin Posey
| Episode: "Manhunt"
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]''
| Keith Durbin
| Episode: "Shibboleth"
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Brotherhood (U.S. TV series)|Brotherhood]]''
| Aaron
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2010–2014
| ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]''
| [[Mickey Doyle]]
| 36 episodes
|-
| 2011
| ''[[Mildred Pierce (miniseries)|Mildred Pierce]]''
| Ted Hobey
| Episode: "Part Five"
|-
| 2012–2013
| ''[[Underemployed (TV series)|Underemployed]]''
| Guy Doyle
| 3 episodes
|-
| 2013
| ''M.Y.C.''
| Mickey Mothstein
| Television short
|-
| 2013
| ''[[Person of Interest (TV series)|Person of Interest]]''
| Wilson
| Episode: "[[Relevance (Person of Interest)|Relevance]]"
|-
| 2014
| ''[[Believe (TV series)|Believe]]''
| Karl McKenzie
| Episode: "Bang and Blame"
|-
| 2015–2017
| ''[[House of Cards (American TV series)|House of Cards]]''
| Thomas Yates
| 27 episodes
|-
| 2016
| ''[[The Girlfriend Experience (TV series)|The Girlfriend Experience]]''
| David Tellis
| 12 episodes
|-
| 2016
| ''[[The Night Of]]''
| Don Taylor
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2017
| ''[[Get Shorty (TV series)|Get Shorty]]''
| Owen
| Episode: "The Pitch"
|-
| 2017
| ''[[The Crown (TV series)|The Crown]]''
| [[Billy Graham]]
| Episode: "Vergangenheit"
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Waco (miniseries)|Waco]]''
| Steve Schneider
| 6 episodes
|-
| 2018–2019
| ''[[Sweetbitter (TV series)|Sweetbitter]]''
| Howard
| Main role
|-
| 2019
| ''[[Castle Rock (TV series)|Castle Rock]]''
| John "Ace" Merrill
| 10 episodes
|-
| 2021–2023 
| ''[[Physical  (TV series)|Physical]]''
| John Breem 
| Main role
|-
|2021
|[[Joe Pickett (TV series)|''Joe Pickett'']]
|Wacey Hedeman
|Main role
|}

==Stage==
{| class="wikitable sortable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Location/Company
|-
| 2000
| ''[[Coyote on a Fence]]''
| Bobby Reyburn
| Urban Stages
|-
| rowspan="3"| 2003–2004
| rowspan="3"| ''[[Take Me Out (play)|Take Me Out]]''
| Jason Chenier
| rowspan="3"| [[Walter Kerr Theatre]]
|-
| Shane Mungitt
|-
| Kippy Sunderstrom
|-
| 2004
| ''Blackbird''
| Baylis
| rowspan="2"| Edge Theater Company
|-
| 2005
| ''[[Orange Flower Water]]''
| Brad Youngquist
|-
| 2006
| ''[[Landscape of the Body]]''
| Marvin Holahan
| [[Signature Theatre Company (New York City)|Signature Theatre Company]]
|-
| 2007
| ''Essential Self-Defense''
| Yul Carroll
| Edge Theater Company
|-
| 2009
| ''[[Hedda Gabler]]''
| Ejlert Lovborg
| [[American Airlines Theatre]]
|-
| 2010
| ''Dusk Rings a Bell''
| Ray
| [[Atlantic Theater Company]]
|-
| 2016
| ''[[Buried Child]]''
| Tilden
| [[The New Group]]
|-
| 2018
| ''[[Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo]]''
| Jerry
| [[Signature Theatre Company (New York City)|Signature Theatre]]
|-
| 2023
| ''[[Grey House (musical)|Grey House]]''
| Henry
| [[Lyceum Theatre (Broadway)|Lyceum Theatre]], Broadway
|}

==Awards and nominations==
{| class="wikitable" 
|-
! Year
! Association
! Category
! Work
! Result
|-
| 2000
| rowspan="4"| [[Drama Desk Award]]s
| rowspan="2"| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play|Outstanding Actor in a Play]]
| ''[[Coyote on a Fence]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2004
| ''Blackbird''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2005
| [[Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play|Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play]]
| ''[[Orange Flower Water]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2007
| Outstanding Actor in a Play
| ''Essential Self-Defense''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2010
| rowspan="2"| [[Screen Actors Guild Award]]s
| rowspan="2"| [[Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series|Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series]]
| rowspan="2"| ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2011
| {{won}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award]]s
| Outstanding Actor in a Play
| ''Dusk Rings a Bell''
| {{nom}}
|-
| 2012
| rowspan="2"| [[Screen Actors Guild Award]]s
| rowspan="2"| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
| rowspan="2"| ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2013
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Film Independent Spirit Awards]]
| [[29th Independent Spirit Awards|Robert Altman Award]]
| ''[[Mud (2012 film)|Mud]]''
| {{won}}
|-
| 2014
| [[Screen Actors Guild Award]]s
| Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series
| ''[[Boardwalk Empire]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="2"| 2016
| [[Lucille Lortel Awards]]
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
| ''[[Buried Child]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Primetime Emmy Award]]s
| [[Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series|Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series]]
| ''[[House of Cards (American TV series)|House of Cards]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| rowspan="4"| 2018
| [[Lucille Lortel Awards]]
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
| rowspan="4"| ''[[Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo]]''
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama Desk Award]]s
| Outstanding Actor in a Play
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Drama League Award]]s
| Distinguished Performance
| {{nom}}
|-
| [[Outer Critics Circle Award]]s
| Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play
| {{nom}}
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{IMDb name|0817027}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name|16088}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sparks, Paul}}
[[Category:1971 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Male actors from Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Oklahoma State University alumni]]
[[Category:People from Lawton, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:People from Marlow, Oklahoma]]
[[Category:Tisch School of the Arts alumni]]
[[Category:People with type 1 diabetes]]