Biography
Stephen Ellis, a Texas native, is an actor recently featured on Whatculture’s list of “10 Rising Actors Who Could Be the Next Big Thing.” His career spans the stage and screen, from New York to LA. “An expert comedian” “imbued with a surprising depth of emotion,” Ellis’ characters “walk the line between outlandish comedy and genuine drama.”
Recently, Stephen played Carl in Season 4 of FX’s You’re the Worst and stars in the upcoming feature film Arid Cut, directed by Rob Nilsson (past winner of the Camera d’or at Cannes Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival Grand Jury Prize).
Other feature film roles include the DreamWorks comedy Delivery Man (opposite Vince Vaughn), the Coen Brothers’ comedy Hail Caesar!, Rehearsal (w/Bruce Greenwood), The Lears (w/Bruce Dern, Sean Astin, Anthony Michael Hall), As You Like It (w/Graham Greene), The Revival (Dir. Jen Gerber), and 200 Hours, directed by Philip Guzman and from the creator of Final Destination. On TV, Stephen has joined the cast of The Britishes (DirecTV’s Downtown Abby spoof) and has guest-starred on several television shows.
In 2015, Stephen starred opposite John Ennis in the award-winning short A Reasonable Request, which won him two Best Actor Awards. The film garnered international acclaim with official selections into Sundance Film Festival, SXSW, Raindance (London, UK), Portland Film Festival, Seattle Film Festival, in addition to many more around the world. The film has been considered Whatculture’s no. 5 of the “10 Most Intriguing Short Films of 2015,″ “The Best 2015 Short Films You Can Watch Online” -Vice.com, “Best Short Films of 2015” [. . .] “the kind of film you dream of finding…a masterful high-wire act of writing and performance.” -Shortoftheweek.
In New York, Stephen began his career on stage, acting in world premieres at Lincoln Center/LCT3 in Nick Jones’ Obie-winning comedy The Coward (helmed by Tony Award-Winning director, Sam Gold). Critics remarked, “imbued with a surprising depth of emotion by Stephen Ellis.” He also appeared in Melissa Ross’ Thinner Than Water with the critically acclaimed Labyrinth Theater Company, and Dance Dance Revolution (directed by Tony Award-Nominee, Alex Timbers).
In Los Angeles, Stephen has performed on stage in Kimber Lee’s Different Words for the Same Thing with the Center Theater Group, and most recently in Bekah Brunstetter’s Going to a Place Where You Already Are at South Coast Repertory Theater. Critics remarked, “played with adorable sweetness” by the “uniquely charismatic Stephen Ellis.”
Stephen studied at The National Theater Institute and graduated Cum Laude from Kenyon College, where he won the Paul Newman Award for Acting. He is represented by Haven Entertainment and Abrams Artists for Commercials.