Giamatti attended the elite boarding school Choate Rosemary Hall, was an English major at Yale, and has a Master's degree in Fine Arts from the Yale School of Drama. Following his graduation, he performed in numerous theatrical productions (including Broadway) before appearing in some small television and film roles in the early 1990s.

Giamatti's first high profile role was in the film Private Parts. He appeared in a number of supporting roles in big-budget movies such as The Truman Show, Saving Private Ryan, and The Negotiator (all 1998). In 1999 he played in Man on the Moon.
Giamatti continued to appear in major studio releases such as Big Momma's House (2000) and the Planet of the Apes remake (2001), and co-starred in Big Fat Liar (2002).

Giamatti's most acclaimed performances were in lead roles in American Splendor (2003) and Sideways (2004). He was nominated for a Golden Globe for the latter. Giamatti received his first Academy Award-nomination for Best Supporting Actor in 2005 for his role in Cinderella Man.

Giamatti has been married to Elizabeth Cohen since 1997 and they have a son, Samuel, born in 2001.

Public Name: Paul Giamatti
Birth Name: Paul Edward Valentine Giamatti 
Date of Birth: June 6, 1967
Place of Birth: New Haven, Connecticut

Filmography

• Tender Interface (2007)
• Bubba Nosferatu and the Curse of the She-Vampires (2008)
• "Untitled John Adams Miniseries" (2007)
• Fred Claus (2007)
• The Nanny Diaries (2007)
• Shoot Em Up (2007)
• The Haunted World of El Superbeasto (2007)
• The Amazing Screw-On Head (2006)
• The Ant Bully (2006)
• Lady in the Water (2006)
• The Illusionist (2006)
• Astérix et les Vikings (2006)
• The Hawk is Dying (2006)
• Cinderella Man (2005)
• The Fan and the Flower (2005)
• Robots (2005)
• "Saturday Night Live" (1 episode, 2005)
• Sideways (2004)
• Paycheck (2003)
• The Pentagon Papers (2003)
• American Splendor (2003)
• Confidence (2003)
• Thunderpants (2002)
• Big Fat Liar (2002)
• Planet of the Apes (2001)
• Storytelling (2001)
• "King of the Hill" (1 episode, 2001)
• Duets (2000)
• Big Momma's House (2000)
• If These Walls Could Talk 2 (2000)
• Man on the Moon (1999)
• Cradle Will Rock (1999)
• Winchell (1998)
• Safe Men (1998)
• The Negotiator (1998)
• Saving Private Ryan (1998)
• Doctor Dolittle (1998)
• The Truman Show (1998)
• Tourist Trap (1998)
• "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1 episode, 1998)
• A Further Gesture (1997)
• Deconstructing Harry (1997)
• My Best Friend's Wedding (1997)
• Private Parts (1997)
• Donnie Brasco (1997)
• Arresting Gena (1997)
• Breathing Room (1996)
• "The Show" (1 episode, 1996)
• Before and After (1996)
• Ripper (1996)
• Sabrina (1995)
• "New York News" (1 episode)
• Mighty Aphrodite (1995)
• "NYPD Blue" (1 episode, 1994)
• Singles (1992)
• Past Midnight (1992)
• She'll Take Romance (1990)

Awards

• Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role "Cinderella Man" 2006
• Boston Film Critics Best Supporting Actor "Cinderella Man" 2005
• Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Best Supporting Actor "Cinderella Man" 2005
• Independent Spirit Award Best Male Lead "Sideways" 2005
• Screen Actors Guild Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture "Sideways" 2005
• Toronto Film Critics Best Supporting Actor "Cinderella Man" 2005
• Boston Society of Film Critics Best Ensemble Cast "Sideways" 2004
• Broadcast Film Critics' Choice Best Acting Ensemble "Sideways" 2004
• New York Film Critics Best Actor "Sideways" 2004
• San Francisco Film Critics Best Actor "Sideways" 2004
• Toronto Film Critics Best Actor "Sideways" 2004
• National Board of Review Breakthrough Performance "American Splendor" 2003