Billy Crudup

**William Gaither Crudup**, known professionally as *Billy Crudup*, is an acclaimed American actor born on July 8, 1968. Crudup was born in Manhasset, New York with his early years marked notably by his parents' divorce and subsequent remarriage. His acting career became eminent with formidable roles in high-profile films like *Jesus' Son* (1999), *Almost Famous* (2000), *Big Fish* (2003), and *Mission: Impossible III* (2006), earning him reputation in both lead and supporting roles. He is a four-time Tony Award nominee and has enjoyed success in both stage and screen. Crudup's acting flair isn't limited to films, he has also made significant contributions to the theatre world receiving a Tony Award for his performance in Tom Stoppard's play *The Coast of Utopia* in 2007. His education, like his career, was primarily focused on the arts. He received his undergraduate degree from the University of North Carolina, and later pursued a Master of Fine Arts from New York University's Tisch School of the Arts. Crudup took to the film industry starting out in movies such as *Sleepers* (1996), *Inventing the Abbotts* (1997), and *Without Limits* (1998), in which he played the Olympian Steve Prefontaine. He had his run in television as well, starring in the Apple TV+ series *The Morning Show*, fetching him a Primetime Emmy Award in 2020 and 2024. His personal life made headlines when he began dating British/Australian actress Naomi Watts, whom he later married in 2023.