Todd Louiso
About
Biography
Biography
Actor Todd Louiso was immersed in the entertainment industry from a young age, born to a dancer/choreographer father and singer/producer mother. A compact player usually sporting a shaved head, Louiso essayed a variety of characters and was most effective in evincing through physical as well as verbal performance the innate awkwardness of characters uncomfortable in their own skin. He attended Cincinnati's School for the Creative and Performing Arts from the fourth grade through high school, landing roles in the syndicated "Young People's Specials" educational programs "That Funny Fat Kid" (1986) and "Narc" (1988). Louiso subsequently earned a degree in film (after a brief stint as a theater major) from NYU, and worked as an intern in the film production unit of NBC's "Saturday Night Live." He made his feature acting debut in 1990 with a small role in the melodrama remake "Stella" and had a similarly minor part in 1991's "Billy Bathgate." Working on the latter, Louiso established a friendship with screenwriter Tom Stoppard that led to his adaptation of Stoppard's play "The Fifteen Minute Hamlet" into a boisterous 1995 short film which he directed, produced and starred in (as Ophelia). The film met with praise from critics and audiences alike upon screenings at the Sundance Film Festival, among others.
Prior to this success, he acted in a 1991 episode of the New York City-lensed TV series "Law & Order" and appeared the following year in the feature "Scent of a Woman." A regular role on the ABC sitcom "Phenom" (1993-94) landed the actor in Los Angeles, where he essayed the part of the title teen tennis star's older brother. The series was a forgettable venture, but Louiso stayed busy, with voice acting roles on Fox's "The Critic" and Nickelodeon's "AAAHH!!! Real Monsters" (both 1995). That same year he was featured in the hit feature "Apollo 13" and the USA Network's TV-movie thriller "Letter to My Killer." In 1996 he racked up more feature credits, appearing in "The Rock" and "Jerry Maguire," making a particularly strong impression as a jazz-loving nanny in the latter. He co-starred in 1997's abominable comedy "8 Heads in a Duffel Bag," playing the ill-at-ease medical student roommate of David Spade's snarky character, unwittingly caught up in an unfathomable mix up with a hit man.
A recurring role as the uptight and conscientious assistant to Dr Lisa Catera (Stacy Edwards) on "Chicago Hope" followed in 1998, and the popular CBS drama introduced the actor to a large audience. The following year he returned to the big screen with a role in the little seen drama "A Cool, Dry Place" before impressing moviegoers with his featured role opposite John Cusack, Jack Black and Lisa Bonet in the irreverent romantic comedy "High Fidelity" (2000). Stephen Frears' Chicago-set adaptation of British author Nick Hornby's novel featured Louiso as Dick, a shy and awkward record store clerk with a specialized knowledge of pop music and a gentle, almost shrinking demeanor. He gave an impressive co-starring performance in the hit film, and took the odd role to delightfully charming heights in a scene-stealing turn that marked him as a performer on the ascent.
Filmography
Director (Feature Film)
Cast (Feature Film)
Cinematography (Feature Film)
Writer (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1980
Made acting debut in a fourth grade school production of "Don Quixote" (date approximate)
1984
Acted in the syndicated "Young People's Specials" titled "That Funny Fat Kid" and "Narc"
1990
Landed cameo in the drama remake "Stella"
1991
Guest starred on an episode of "Law & Order" (NBC)
1991
Appeared in the feature "Billy Bathgate"; established a friendship with screenwriter Tom Stoppard
1992
Appeared in the feature "Scent of a Woman"
1993
Cast as a regular on ABC sitcom "Phenom"
1995
Produced, directed, and starred as Ophelia in the acclaimed festival-screened short "The Fifteen Minute Hamlet," based on Tom Stoppard's play
1995
Landed voice acting stints on Fox animated series "The Critic" (Fox) and "AAAHH!!! Real Monsters" (Nickelodeon)
1995
Featured in the fact-based space travel drama "Apollo 13"
1995
Appeared in the USA Network TV-movie thriller "Letter to My Killer"
1996
Cast in action thriller "The Rock"
1996
Delivered memorable supporting role as Chad, the jazz-loving nanny in Cameron Crowe's "Jerry Maguire"
1997
Featured as the medical student roommate of David Spade in the panned comedy "8 Heads in a Duffel Bag"
1997
Guest starred on an episode of NBC sitcom "Fired Up"
1998
Played an uptight medical assistant in a recurring role on "Chicago Hope" (CBS)
1999
Appeared in the drama "A Cool, Dry Place"
2000
Co-starred as an awkward and reserved record store clerk in the Stephen Frears comedy "High Fidelity"
2002
Screened his feature directorial debut, "Love Liza" at Sundance
2006
Co-starred with Aaron Eckhart in Jason Reitman's satirical comedy "Thank You for Smoking"
2006
Played Eli, a shy guy looking for female companionship in Todd Phillips' "School For Scoundrels"
2010
Appeared opposite Jennifer Aniston and Jason Bateman in the romantic comedy "The Switch"
2012
Helmed romantic comedy "Hello I Must Be Going," starring Melanie Lynskey and Blythe Danner
Family
