Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum (/ˈɡoʊldbluːm/; born October 22, 1952) is an American actor and musician. He has starred in some of the highest-grossing films of his era, such as Jurassic Park (1993) and Independence Day (1996), as well as their sequels.
Goldblum made his acting film debut in Death Wish (1974) with early roles in California Split (1974), Nashville (1975), and Annie Hall (1977). He gained wider attention for his roles in Invasion of the Body Snatchers (1978), The Big Chill (1983), and The Fly (1986). In 1996 he received an Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film nomination for Little Surprises.
His career had a resurgence with his roles in the Wes Anderson films The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou (2004), The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014), and Isle of Dogs (2018). He's also known for his role as Grandmaster in the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) films Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 and Thor: Ragnarok (both in 2017) as well as the Disney series What If...? (2021).
He has also appeared in several TV series, including Will & Grace, for which he received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series nomination. He also appeared in Friends, Portlandia, and Inside Amy Schumer. He currently hosts his own series The World According to Jeff Goldblum (2019-present). His jazz band released their first album, The Capitol Studios Sessions, in 2018.
Early life
Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum was born to Jewish parents in West Homestead, Pennsylvania, located just outside of Pittsburgh. His mother, Shirley Jane Goldblum (née Temeles; October 30, 1926 – January 9, 2012), was a radio broadcaster who later ran a kitchen equipment and appliances sales firm; his father, Harold Leonard Goldblum (April 25, 1920 – February 23, 1983), was a physician and major in the U.S. Army during World War II. His family is from Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire, with roots in Starobin and Zolochiv. He has a sister, Pamela, and an elder brother, Lee. His other brother, Rick, whom Goldblum has described as a "kind of hero of mine", died in 1971 at age 23 while travelling in Morocco, having contracted dysentery which led to kidney failure. Goldblum credits his interest in jazz music to Rick's influence while they were growing up. He has stated that his brother's early death made him "more focused" and gave him a determination to "save myself and survive".
During his childhood, Goldblum attended an Orthodox synagogue and had a bar mitzvah ceremony. His family also celebrated Christmas, and he was raised to believe in Santa Claus. His parents were interested in show business. His father nearly studied acting before deciding to pursue medical studies, going on to become chief of medicine at a Pittsburgh hospital. Goldblum moved to New York City at 17 to become an actor. He worked on the stage and studied acting at the renowned Neighborhood Playhouse under the guidance of acting coach Sanford Meisner. He made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award-winning musical Two Gentlemen of Verona. He is an accomplished jazz pianist.
