Alexander Draper Wolff (born November 1, 1997)[1] is an American actor, musician, and filmmaker. He first gained recognition for starring alongside his older brother Nat in the Nickelodeon musical comedy series The Naked Brothers Band (2007–09), which was created by the boys' mother Polly Draper. Wolff and his brother released two soundtrack albums for the series, The Naked Brothers Band and I Don't Want to Go to School, which were co-produced by their father Michael Wolff. Subsequent to the conclusion of the Nickelodeon series, Wolff and his older brother formed a duo called Nat & Alex Wolff, and released the albums Black Sheep (2011), Public Places (2016) and Table for Two (2023). The brothers also co-starred in their mother's comedy-drama film Stella's Last Weekend (2018).
Alex Wolff | |
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 Wolff in 2019 | |
| Born | Alexander Draper Wolff November 1, 1997 New York City, U.S. |
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| Years active | 2005–present |
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| Musical career | |
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| Member of | Nat & Alex Wolff |
| Formerly of | The Naked Brothers Band |
Wolff focused his career on film roles, portraying Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in Patriots Day (2016) and John "Derf" Backderf in My Friend Dahmer (2017). His other acting roles include My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 (2016), Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle (2017), and Hereditary (2018). Wolff made his directorial debut with the drama film The Cat and the Moon (2019).
Early and personal life
Wolff was born in Manhattan, New York City,[1] to actress and writer Polly Draper and jazz pianist Michael Wolff. He is the younger brother of actor and musician Nat Wolff. His father is Jewish[2][3][4] and his mother is Christian.[5] Wolff is a maternal grandson of venture capitalist and civic leader William Henry Draper III,[6] a nephew of venture capitalist Tim Draper,[7] a cousin of actress Jesse Draper,[8] and a great-grandson of banker and diplomat William Henry Draper Jr.[9][10]
Wolff has Tourette's syndrome, which he inherited from his father.[11]
Career
Wolff began his acting career at the age of 6 in the 2005 musical comedy film The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie, written and directed by his mother. It was commissioned by Nickelodeon as the pilot to the television series The Naked Brothers Band (2007–2009) which was also created, showran, written and directed by his mother.[8][12] He contributed lyrics, vocals, and instrumentation for both the film and series; their father produced and supervised the music. The show released two soundtrack albums and the song "Crazy Car" ranked #83 on the Billboard Hot 100 charts.
In 2007, he portrayed the young boy in the Fall Out Boy music video "The Take Over, the Breaks Over". Wolff made a cameo in the Nickelodeon TV movie Mr. Troop Mom and the USA police-procedural, comedic television drama Monk, both in 2009. He also starred in his playwriting What Would Woody Do? at The Flea Theater—which was directed by his mother—and the HBO medical drama In Treatment, both in 2010. Wolff later appeared in the comedy film The Sitter (2011) and starred alongside Brendan Fraser in the independent film HairBrained (2012).[13]
In 2015, he starred in the indie drama Coming Through the Rye. In 2016, he had a supporting role in the comedy sequel My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 and played terrorist Dzhokhar Tsarnaev in the drama Patriots Day, about the Boston Marathon bombing.
In 2018, Wolff starred in the supernatural horror film Hereditary. He made his directorial debut with 2019's The Cat and the Moon, which he also wrote and starred in.[14]
In 2020, Wolff participated in Acting for a Cause, a live classic play and screenplay reading series, created, directed and produced by Brando Crawford. Wolff played Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde and Warren Straub in This Is Our Youth by Kenneth Lonergan. The reading raised funds for non-profit charities including Mount Sinai Medical Center. Wolff co-produced the second reading.[15][16]
Awards
For Wolff's work on The Naked Brothers Band series and film, he obtained a Broadcast Music, Inc. Cable Award in 2007, Audience Award for a Family Feature Film at the Hamptons International Film Festival in 2005,[17] and was nominated for a Young Artist Award both in 2008 and 2009.[18][19] He also received a Certificate of Outstanding Achievement for Best Actor at the Brooklyn International Film Festival for his lead role in the film HairBrained in 2013.[20] On October 11, 2018, Wolff received the Auteur Award at the San Diego International Film Festival.[21]
He received a Canadian Screen Award nomination for Best Actor at the 9th Canadian Screen Awards in 2021, for his performance in the film Castle in the Ground.[22]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2005 | The Naked Brothers Band: The Movie | Alex Wolff | |
| 2011 | From Up on Poppy Hill | Riku Matsuzaki (voice) | English dub |
| The Sitter | Clayton | ||
| 2012 | The Empty Room | Allen | Short film |
| 2013 | A Birder's Guide to Everything | Timmy Barsky | |
| Hair Brained | Eli Pettifog | ||
| 2015 | Coming Through the Rye | Jamie Schwartz | |
| Boots | Noah | Short film | |
| 2016 | My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2 | Bennett | |
| The Standoff | Zane | ||
| Patriots Day | Dzhokhar Tsarnaev | ||
| 2017 | Thoroughbreds | Party Friend | Uncredited |
| The House of Tomorrow | Jared Whitcomb | ||
| My Friend Dahmer | John 'Derf' Backderf | ||
| Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle | Spencer Gilpin | ||
| 2018 | Hereditary | Peter Graham | |
| Dude | Noah | ||
| Stella's Last Weekend | Oliver | ||
| 2019 | The Cat and the Moon | Nick | Also writer and director |
| Castle in the Ground | Henry Fine | ||
| Bad Education | Nick Fleishman | ||
| Human Capital | Ian | ||
| Jumanji: The Next Level | Spencer Gilpin | ||
| 2021 | Pig | Amir | |
| Old | Trent Cappa | ||
| 2022 | Susie Searches | Jesse | |
| 2023 | A Good Person | Mark | |
| The Line | Tom Backster | ||
| Oppenheimer | Luis Walter Alvarez | ||
| 2024 | A Quiet Place: Day One | Reuben |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2007–2009 | The Naked Brothers Band | Alex Wolff | Main cast |
| 2009 | Mr. Troop Mom | Alex Wolff | Television film |
| Monk | Brian Willis | Episode: "Mr. Monk Goes Camping" | |
| 2010 | In Treatment | Max Weston | 7 episodes |
| 2016 | Divorce | Cole | 2 episodes |
| 2017 | Red Oaks | Director | Episode: "Summer in the City" |
| Crash & Burn | Gabriel | Television film | |
| 2020 | Acting for a Cause | Algernon / Warren Straub | 2 episodes |
| 2024 | So Long, Marianne | Leonard Cohen | Post-production[23] |
Music videos
| Year | Song | Artist | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | "Lithonia" | Childish Gambino | Drummer |
References
- ^ a b "Alex Wolff: Biography". TVGuide.com. Archived from the original on April 1, 2016. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
- ^ Seidel, Mitchell (September 1, 2007). "Michael Wolff". JazzTimes. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ "Celebrity Jews". J. The Jewish News of Northern California. May 18, 2007. Archived from the original on May 13, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ Smason, Alan (March 8, 2013). "Jeff Berlin to Join Wolff and Clark Expedition Here". Crescent City Jewish News. Archived from the original on June 17, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2018.
- ^ Smason, Alan (November 2, 2006). "Cleveland Set to Enjoy Smooth Jazz Stylings of Michael Wolff". Cleveland Jewish News. Archived from the original on January 16, 2016. Retrieved February 16, 2007.
- ^ Europa Publications (2003). The International Who's Who 2004. Routledge. p. 454. ISBN 1857432177.
- ^ Saracevic, Al (January 26, 2007). "The Technology Chronicles: Six Degrees of Tim Draper". SFGate. Archived from the original on February 2, 2009. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ a b Lee, Felicia R. (January 25, 2007). "A TV Family Bound by Blood and a Band". The New York Times. Archived from the original on June 5, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
- ^ Lim, Jason (June 3, 2011). "Baidu Early Investor, Tim Draper Is the Risk Master". TechNode.com. Archived from the original on January 24, 2012. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ P.V, Sahad (October 16, 2008). "Next Tech Giant Will Be a Cellphone Application Company: Tim Draper". VCCircle.com. Archived from the original on March 16, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2012.
- ^ "Alex Wolff says He, Brother Nat and Tourmate Billie Eilish 'Have Bonded' Over Having Tourette's: 'She's One of Us'". People. October 4, 2024.
- ^ Steinberg, Jacques (September 22, 2007). "Famous for Playing Rock Stars". The New York Times. Archived from the original on August 26, 2017. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
- ^ "Alex Wolff – Filmography". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2015. Archived from the original on July 8, 2015. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
- ^ Couch, Aaron (March 12, 2018). "Alex Wolff Sets Cast for Directorial Debut 'The Cat and the Moon' (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 13, 2018.
- ^ "Young Hollywood Actors Perform Online for Charity". BBC News. Archived from the original on November 3, 2020. Retrieved September 18, 2020.
- ^ Acting for a Cause (TV Series 2020– ) - IMDb, archived from the original on June 11, 2020, retrieved September 18, 2020
- ^ "Naked Brothers Band TV Movie: Awards". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 25, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
- ^ "29th Annual Awards 2008". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on July 6, 2008. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
- ^ "30th Annual 2009 Nominations and Recipients". Young Artist Awards. Archived from the original on July 19, 2011. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
- ^ "2013 Winners". Brooklyn International Film Festival. Archived from the original on April 2, 2014. Retrieved March 10, 2014.
- ^ Gray, Tim (August 29, 2018). "Alex Wolff, Dominique Fishback to Receive San Diego Festival Honors". Variety. Archived from the original on August 30, 2018. Retrieved August 30, 2018.
- ^ Brent Furdyk, "Canadian Screen Awards Announces 2021 Film Nominations" Archived August 29, 2021, at the Wayback Machine. ET Canada, March 30, 2021.
- ^ Whittock, Jesse (April 13, 2023). "'So Long, Marianne': Alex Wolff to Play Leonard Cohen As Crave Boards NRK Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on April 13, 2023.