Happy Birthday: Jeff Daniels

Jeff Daniels

Born: February 19, 1955 in Athens, Georgia, USA

Married to:
Kathleen Rosemary Treado (13 July 1979 – present) (3 children)

[on how he got through filming a sex scene in The Squid and the Whale (2005) with Anna Paquin, who had 9 years earlier played his daughter in the goose-filled family film Fly Away Home (1996)]: We tried not to think about … you know, geese.

One of the more noble things the Oscars can do is pay attention to movies no one knows about. Blockbusters don’t need much help.

(2009 – on living in Michigan) I love living in Michigan, which has been great for my kids and my family. I just never did buy this idea that you have to live in Los Angeles to be an actor. I didn’t see that as a requirement in my job description. We do have an airport in Michigan.

Basically, years ago we had a child and wanted to raise our baby in a part of the country that we understood. My agent said, ‘If you’re willing to go to L.A. at your own expense for a meeting, then we’re fine. Don’t ever tell us that you can’t afford it.’ I think Michigan keeps you sane and on an even keel through the ups and downs. In Michigan, I do fireworks, shovel snow and live life.

[on the death of James Gandolfini] If Broadway has a version of a guy you want in your foxhole, Jim Gandolfini was mine. During our time together in “God of Carnage” we played 320 performances together. He didn’t miss one. Sadly, I now miss him like a brother.

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