Lee Pace Bio
Lee Grinner Pace (born March 25, 1979) is an American actor, known for his roles in The Hobbit trilogy and as Joe MacMillan in Halt and Catch Fire. He is notable for portraying Ronan the Accuser in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, earning critical acclaim and an Emmy nomination for his role in Pushing Daisies. Pace has also starred in the Foundation adaptation, showcasing his versatility and depth as an actor.
Early Life and Background
Lee Pace was born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to Charlotte, a schoolteacher, and James, an engineer. He has a brother and a sister. As a child, Pace spent several years in Saudi Arabia, where his father worked in the oil business; the family later moved to Houston, Texas. He was raised Catholic. Pace attended Klein High School in Spring, Texas, a suburb of Houston, where he briefly stopped attending high school to act at Houston’s Alley Theatre before returning to graduate. At the Alley, he appeared in productions of The Spider’s Web and The Greeks. In 1997, he was accepted by the Juilliard School’s Drama Division as a member of Group 30 (1997–2001), which also included actors Anthony Mackie and Tracie Thoms. While at Juilliard, he participated in several plays, including Romeo and Juliet as Romeo and Richard II in the title role. He graduated from Juilliard with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Path to Hollywood
After graduation, Lee Pace starred in several off-Broadway plays, including The Credeaux Canvas and The Fourth Sister. He also starred in a production of Craig Lucas’s Small Tragedy, for which he received a nomination for a Lucille Lortel Award as Outstanding Actor. In 2006, Pace starred in the two-character play Guardians by Peter Morris, which earned him his second nomination for a Lortel Award as Outstanding Actor. Pace made his Broadway debut in Larry Kramer’s play The Normal Heart, portraying Bruce Niles. The show opened at the Golden Theatre on April 27, 2011, and ran for a total of 96 performances. Pace was cast as composer Vincenzo Bellini in Golden Age, which began previews in November 2012.
Lee Pace Career
Early Career (2001–2006)
Pace first gained recognition for his role in the 2003 film Soldier’s Girl, based on real events, in which he played the central role of Calpernia Addams. He won a Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor and was nominated for several other awards, including a Golden Globe Award, for his work in this film. In 2006, Pace starred in Tarsem Singh’s The Fall, which received mixed reviews among critics and was a box office failure. His next film was Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day, and he also played supporting roles in The White Countess, Infamous, When in Rome, and The Good Shepherd.
Breakthrough (2007–2014)
Lee Pace’s breakthrough came with his role as Ned in the television series Pushing Daisies, which debuted on ABC in October 2007. He received a Primetime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series for his performance. Pace played Aaron Tyler in the acclaimed but short-lived 2004 television series Wonderfalls, which was co-created by Bryan Fuller. In 2011, he was cast as the king of the Mirkwood Elves, Thranduil, in Peter Jackson’s film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s The Hobbit. The character appeared in the prologue of The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey released in December 2012, and had a larger role in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug released in December 2013 and in The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, released on December 17, 2014. In 2014, he played the villain, Ronan the Accuser, in the Marvel Studios film Guardians of the Galaxy, a role he reprised in Captain Marvel.
Notable Works and Milestones
Lee Pace’s signature works include his performances in The Hobbit trilogy and Guardians of the Galaxy. He has received critical acclaim for his versatility across various genres, from fantasy to drama, and has been recognized with award nominations for his performances.
Lee Pace Award Nominations
Throughout his career, Lee Pace has received several award nominations, most notably for his role in Pushing Daisies, where he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series.
Lee Pace Awards Won
Lee Pace has won the Gotham Independent Film Award for Breakthrough Actor for his role in Soldier’s Girl, marking a significant early achievement in his career.
Lee Pace Family
Lee Pace is married to Matthew Foley, an executive at Thom Browne, since 2022.
Personal Life
Lee Pace’s sexual orientation became a topic of public discussion after he was accidentally outed as gay by Ian McKellen in 2012. In interviews, Pace has mentioned having dated both men and women and has spoken about being a queer actor. He continues to navigate his personal and professional life with openness and authenticity.
