Personal details
Born:
- Birthday: 1979-03-25
- Born Place: Chickasha, Oklahoma, USA
Also Known As:
Lee Grinner Pace
Lee Pace
Lee Grinner Pace, born on March 25, 1979, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, is a versatile American actor known for his commanding presence and diverse range across film, television, and theatre. His early childhood included living in Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates due to his father's work in the oil industry before his family settled in Texas. Pace developed an interest in acting during high school, performing in local theatre productions at Houston's Alley Theatre. He later honed his craft at the prestigious Juilliard School's Drama Division, graduating in 2001.Pace began his professional career in Off-Broadway theatre, earning critical acclaim and a Lucille Lortel Award nomination for his performance in Small Tragedy. His breakthrough on screen came with his role as a transgender woman in the 2003 film Soldier's Girl, which earned him a Gotham Award for Breakthrough Actor and a Golden Globe nomination. He gained further recognition for his starring role as Ned in the quirky and beloved ABC series Pushing Daisies (2007–2009), which garnered him an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor.Internationally, Pace is widely recognized for his captivating portrayal of Thranduil, the Elvenking of the Woodland Realm and Legolas's father, in Peter Jackson's "The Hobbit" film trilogy (2012–2014). He also became a significant figure in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the formidable villain Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and Captain Marvel (2019). Beyond these blockbusters, he has showcased his dramatic depth in films like The Fall (2006) and Lincoln (2012), and in the critically acclaimed AMC television series Halt and Catch Fire (2014–2017), where he played the complex protagonist Joe MacMillan. More recently, he has starred as Brother Day in Apple TV+'s epic science fiction series Foundation (2021-present), based on Isaac Asimov's novels. Pace continues to be a prominent actor, consistently delivering compelling performances that highlight his range and talent.
