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Top 10 Facts about Giovanni Ribisi

Antonio Giovanni Ribisi was born on December 17, 1974. He is an American actor known for his roles in the Amazon series Sneaky Pete 2009, and the films Avatar 2009, Lost In Translation 2003, Ted 2012, and its sequel Ted 2. He is also known for his recurring roles in television series such as The Wonder Years, My Name Is Earl and Friends.

He is also known for the films Gardener of Eden 2007, Selma 2014, A Million Ways to Die in the West 2014, and Contraband 2012. In 2016, Giovanni directed a music video for Siberian Nights which is the third single from Ash & Ice by The Kills.

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1. His Life Before Fame

Giovanni was born in Los Angeles, his father Al Ribisi is a musician who has been the keyboard player in People! His mother called Gay is a manager of actors and writers. Giovanni is the twin brother of actress Marissa Ribisi and the brother of voice actress Gina Ribisi.

Giovanni had a passion for acting since he was young and began his career in the 1980s sitcom My Two Dads and in films during the 1990s. After that, he attained a prominent part as a recurring character in the famous 1990s sitcom Friends. His role was the half-brother of the main cast Phoebe Buffay. 

2. His Role in My Name Is Earl

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In this television series, Giovanni played Ralph Mariano who was the former stealing partner of Earl Hickey. His character was a supporting character and sometimes a mild antagonist. Some critics rated his character as the worst person on My name is Earl.

Giovanni’s performance in the series earned him a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

3. His Performance in Avatar

After multiple supporting roles in television series and films, Giovanni landed a leading role in James Cameron’s Avatar. The film was based on Pandora, a lush habitable moon of a gas giant in the Alpha Centauri star system. The main civilization in the film was the Na’vi, a humanoid species.

His role was Parker Selfridge, a human corporate administrator for the RDA mining operation. His character was at first willing to destroy the Na’vi civilization in Pandora. Parker becomes reluctant to authorize the attacks on the Na’vi but after some persuasion, he agrees that the attacks are in fact necessary.

Giovanni’s performance in the film was rated as convincing and amazingly accurate to the character.

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4.  Giovanni’s Relationships

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In 1997, Giovanni married actress Mariah O’Brien and together they have a daughter. The couple divorced in 2001. Later in 2007, Giovanni began dating Cat Power, with indie rock singer-songwriter. The couple lived together before they ended their relationship in 2012. 

In the latter year, Giovanni married English model Agyness Deyn on June 16. He filed for divorce in January 2015. In 2018, Giovanni announced the birth of his fraternal twins with his girlfriend Emily Ward in December 2018. 

5. His Involvement in Scientology

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Giovanni is an active Scientologist. He grew up as a Scientologist as his parent were dedicated members of the church. In 2017, in an interview, he said that it was a personal thing and it works for him on a daily basis. Giovanni participated in the gala opening of Scientology’s Psychiatry: An Industry of Death museum in December 2005.

Even though his daughter Lucia decided not to join the church, she says that her parents are very supportive of her decision and even raised her away from the church.

6. His Nominations From 1986 to 1990

In 1986 and 1990, Giovanni was nominated for the Young Artist Award under the categories, Best Younger Guest Actor in a Television Series for the series Highway to Heaven, Best Actor in a Television Film for the film Promised a Miracle, Best Actor Starring in a Television Series for the series My Two Dads, and Best Actor in a Comedy Series for the latter series.

From 1999 to 2002 Giovanni was nominated for the following Awards, Screen Actors Guild Award for Best Ensemble Cast, Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor, and American Film Institute Award for Best Actor in a Television Film.

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7. His Works Outside of Acting

From 2003 to 2009, Giovanni helped in the world of video games like Call of duty where he had the voice role of Private Elder, In Marc Ecko’s Getting Up: Contents Under Pressure he had the voice role of Kry 1. In 2009, Giovanni’s character Parker Selfridge was revived in James Cameron’s Avatar: The Game.

Other than video games, Giovanni has helped bring music videos to life either by acting in them or by directing them. In 1998, acted in Talk About the Blues music video by the artist Jon Spencer Blues Explosion. Later in 2006, he acted in the music video Crystal Ball by artist Keane. In 2016 and 2020, Giovanni directed the music video Siberian Nights by The Kills, and Exhale by Jonsi.

8. Giovanni’s Nomination and Awards in The 2000s

 Giovanni was later nominated for the Saturn Award in 2005 under the category of Best Supporting Actor for the film Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow, the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2007 under the category of Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for the series My Name is Earl and the Teen Choice Award under the category Choice Hissy Fit for his role in the film Avatar.

In 1999, Giovanni won the Online Film Critics Society for Best Cast in Saving Private Ryan. Later in 2002, Giovanni won Golden Arena Award for Best Actor Foreign Film for the film Heaven. 

9. Giovanni’s Social Ratio

Most of Giovanni’s fans rate him a 10 out of 10 on the good celebrity chart. Many of the interviewers and celebrities that have come across Giovanni rate him as a really nice guy. He is noted as polite, and soft-spoken, and can talk at length about the importance of values and family.

Many of his co-stars describe him as dedicated and a very generous actor even though he plays the antagonist in most of his films. Normally in interviews, he is normally asked why he is so good at playing the villain even though he is a naturally good guy and his answer is simple ” Maybe I’m so nasty onscreen that I get it out of my system.

10. Giovanni’s Interest in Computer Graphics

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A couple of years back Giovanni took a break from acting to study computer graphics at the Gnomon School of Visual Effects. In 2008, Giovanni formed a small visual effects company called Stereo D when Avatar director James Cameron needed a visual effects company to convert a shot for the film. Many other companies took a week to do one version but Giovanni’s company delivered five versions of the shot in 24 hours.

Giovanni is currently a partner in the company Stereo D, the company’s main goal is to convert 2D images into 3D.

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