Giovanni Ribisi was born on December 17, 1974 in Los Angeles. As his mother was a manager for actors and writers, he already started acting at a young age. He studied acting at The Beverly Hills Playhouse. He appeared in small roles on a lot of well-known TV shows like Married With Children, My Two Dads, Blossom, The Wonder Years, Ellen, NYPD Blue, Walker, Texas Ranger and the X-Files. His big breakthrough came when he appeared in Spielberg’s Saving Private Ryan. He has since appeared in many movies and TV shows including Lost in Translation, Friends, Cold Mountain, Public Enemies, Avatar, Ted and Gangster Squad.
My favorite roles are those in Boiler Room, The Rum Diary and Middle Men.
What’s your favorite Giovanni Ribisi role?
Great actor! I first noticed him in an episode of The X Files (D.P.O.), but i’m also impressed by his acting in Boiler Room and Contraband.
His part in Gangster Squad is also great!
Yeah, he’s very talented. Yeah, he was cool in Gangster Squad.
Love Ribisi, he is a very interesting guy to watch on screen. Nice pick Nostra
Thanks Scott!
He was amazing in saving private Ryan. Love him and that movie
Am a big fan of Mr. Ribisi! I always get a smile on my face when he turns up in films. He was great in Friends, as Phoebe’s brother. Awesome in Boiler Room, Sky Captain, Gone in 60 Seconds and Gangster Squad.
Yeah, I always enjoy his performances as well.
He was great in Saving Private Ryan.
I really have to rewatch it, has been way too long and I can’t remember much of his role in it.
Me neither! One of the movies that i want to rewatch this year.
It wasn’t on my rewatch pile yet, but think I should put it there.
I forgot he has been acting for a long time.
He has a great face. Though he basically looks the same he is able to play anything convincingly. He is one of my favorite character actors.
I didn’t know and was surprised by it. He’s shown that he can do anything and love it when he twists his voice like he did in The Rum Diary
I love GR. I agree, Boiler Room was one of his best roles. And, The Other Sister, he was great in that one, too.
Boiler Room is also a very good movie, which I don’t hear many people talk about. Haven’t seen The Other Sister myself.
Is it bad when i saw your tweet about this i thought “Who?”
No it isn’t Julian, I’ll have to admit that I actually didn’t know his name either but always loved it when he showed up in movies. So that was a reason for me to look at his roles with this post.
Another terrific “Many Faces” post! For me, his most memorable role was in The Gift.
Thanks a lot Steph!
He’s a good character actor, you always remember him even in bit parts. He’s sort of wasted in Gangster Squad though, but then again, most everyone was.
Yeah, he didn’t have much to do in Gangster Squad but I liked the fact he was in it.
I LOVE Ribisi. His death in Saving Private Ryan is horrific and one of the best bits in the whole film. That said I’ll always love him as Phoebe’s brother in Friends.
He really can take any role!
Yeah, I agree he can do anything!