Adam Baldwin: Biography
The acting career of Adam Baldwin -- no relation to the famous Baldwin brothers Alec, William, and Stephen -- has been filled with ups and downs as he aspires to the stardom that as yet, seems to elude him. Due to his muscular 6'4" frame, the handsome Baldwin is frequently cast as hulking bad guys and psychopathic killers. He has been involved with films since he appeared in My Bodyguard (1980), the story of a victimized teenager seeking the protection of the school bully (Baldwin) who is believed to have killed his brother. While he did a fine job as the taciturn, deeply traumatized young man who affects a violent facade to conceal his inner pain, it was his costar Matt Dillon who became famous. Baldwin then went on to play supporting roles in three lesser films before playing the lead in the 1986 bomb Bad Guys, where he dyed his naturally dark hair bright blond and played a young cop who becomes a wrestler after he is suspended from the force. One year later he appeared in his most memorable role as the psychopathic war-loving soldier Animal in Stanley Kubrick's Full Metal Jacket (1987). In 1992, Baldwin played a drunken, abusive stepfather in Radio Flyer
Adam Baldwin: Career
From large studio projects to gritty independent films, Adam Baldwin has been cast in over 60 feature films in the past 25 years. Currently he is reprising his role as the larger-than-life Jayne Cobb in Joss Whedon's sci-fi pic SERENITY (inspired by the television series FIREFLY).
Adam was discovered by Tony Bill and the late Don Devlin while a teenager in Chicago. They chose him from 4,000 aspiring actors to play the title role in MY BODYGUARD (1980). Later that year Adam caught Robert Redford's attention, and was cast in ORDINARY PEOPLE, along with Timothy Hutton, Donald Sutherland and Mary Tyler Moore.
Adam went on to work with Stanley Kubrick in FULL METAL JACKET, which many consider the greatest war film of all time. He collaborated with director Roland Emmerich and writer/producer Dean Devlin on INDEPENDENCE DAY and played alongside Mel Gibson in THE PATRIOT. He has worked with Robert DeNiro and Lawrence Kasdan, THE SOPRANOS' Lorraine Bracco in Richard Donner's RADIO FLYER, and with Kevin Costner in Lawrence Kasdan's WYATT EARP.
On television Adam has played great all-American characters, as in HBO's acclaimed EARTH TO THE MOON, produced by Tom Hanks; SMOKEJUMPERS; and IN THE LINE OF DUTY. He starred in THE CAPE (playing an astronaut) and in Francis Ford Coppola's DR. JEKYLL & MR. HYDE.
Sci-fi audiences know Adam well, from his lead and recurring roles on THE X-FILES (final two seasons), ANGEL (final six episodes) and, of course, Joss Whedon's FIREFLY.
In the fall of 2004 Adam starred in the remake of THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE a story about a cruise ship which succumbs to a terrorist act and capsizes on New Year's eve. A rag-tag group of survivors, spearheaded by a priest and a homeland security agent, must journey through the upside down vessel and attempt an escape.
Just recently Adam Balwin joined the cast of Fox's upcoming drama series THE INSIDE. THE INSIDE, from 20th Century Fox Television and studio-based Imagine Television, centers on a young, ambitious FBI agent Rachel Nichols who is assigned to the agency's Los Angeles Violent Crimes Division. Baldwin plays a tough, seasoned FBI agent, a man's man with 25 years on the job.
Adam Baldwin: Films
Serenity (2005), Evil Eyes (2004), Control Factor (2003), Gacy (2003), Lady Jayne: Killer (2003), Double Bang (2002), Hypersonic (2002), Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (2001), Jackpot (2001), Farewell My Love (2000), Right Temptation (2000), The Patriot (2000), Indiscreet (1998), Sawbones (1996), Star Quest II (1996), Lover's Knot (1996), Independence Day (1996), How to Make An American Quilt (1995), Blind Justice (1994), Digital Man (1994), Trade Off (1994), Wyatt Earp (1994), 800 Leagues Down the Amazon (1993), Bitter Harvest (1993), Cold Sweat (1993), Treacherous (1993), Cruel Doubt (1992), Where the Day Takes You (1992), Radio Flyer (1992), Guilty By Suspicion (1991), Predator 2 (1990), Next of Kin (1989), Cohen and Tate (1989), The Chocolate War (1988), Full Metal Jacket (1987), Bad Guys (1986), 3:15 (1986),D.C. Cab (1984), Reckless (1984), My Bodyguard (1980), Family Hour Special - Out of Time
