Adam Paul Scott (born April 3, 1973) is an American actor, comedian, and producer. He is known for his role as Ben Wyatt in the NBC sitcom Parks and Recreation for which he was twice nominated for the Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Actor in a Comedy Series. He has also appeared as Derek Huff in the film Step Brothers, Johnny Meyer in The Aviator, Henry Pollard in the Starz sitcom Party Down, Ed Mackenzie in the HBO series Big Little Lies, and Trevor in the NBC series The Good Place. In 2022, he began starring in the Apple TV psychological drama series Severance, for which he was nominated for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series.

Early life :

Scott was born in Santa Cruz, California, to Anne (née Quartararo) and Simon Dougald Scott, both of whom are retired teachers. He is of one quarter Sicilian descent, on his mother's side. He has two older siblings, Shannon and David. He graduated from Harbor High School and the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in Los Angeles, California.

Career :

Film

Scott at the 2012 Toronto International Film Festival
Scott has appeared in several feature films, including Hellraiser: Bloodline (1996), Star Trek: First Contact (1996), The Lesser Evil (1998), High Crimes (2002), The Aviator (2004), Torque (2004), Monster-in-Law (2005), Who Loves the Sun (2006), Knocked Up (2007), Step Brothers (2008), August (2008), Piranha 3D (2010), and Leap Year (2010).

Scott's name appears next to Jon Hamm's name in the film Anchorman in one of the broadcast's credits. In an appearance on G4's Attack of the Show! program on April 21, 2011, he confirmed that this was due to his and Hamm's friendship with producer Shauna Robertson, who put their names in the credits as an Easter egg. He played Ted Hendricks, Walter Mitty's detestable corporate boss, in the 2013 remake of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty.

Scott appeared in the films Our Idiot Brother (2011) as Jeremy and Bachelorette. He also starred as Jason Fryman in Friends with Kids (2012). He starred as Caleb Sinclaire in the 2010 film The Vicious Kind, a more dramatic role than his previous comedic endeavors, for which Scott was nominated for an Independent Spirit Award for Best Actor. The film itself received positive reviews, and he won two individual awards at two separate film festivals. He starred in the film Passenger Side, released on DVD on October 26, 2010.

Scott's film A.C.O.D. premiered at the 2013 Sundance Film Festival. In 2015, he worked as executive producer on, and portrayed Alex in, the comedy film The Overnight, and also co-starred in the Christmas comedy slasher film Krampus.