Paul Hipp's journey in the world of acting began in the Philadelphia area, where he spent his formative years. At the age of 17, he made the bold decision to relocate to New York City to pursue his passion for acting, enrolling in classes with esteemed instructors William Hickey and Mira Rostova. To support himself during this time, Hipp honed his musical talents, playing guitar and performing on the streets as a busker.
As his skills improved, Hipp began to land gigs at the legendary clubs of Greenwich Village, as well as securing occasional commercial roles. It was during one of these performances, on Bleecker Street, that director Abel Ferrara spotted him and encouraged him to audition for his film China Girl (1987). Hipp's impressive audition earned him the role of Nino Villache, beating out hundreds of other aspiring actors. This marked the beginning of a long and illustrious career for Hipp, with subsequent work on both the big and small screens, as well as on the stages of off-Broadway, Broadway, and the London West End.
In 1990, Hipp received a prestigious Olivier Award nomination for his outstanding performance as rocker Buddy Holly in the musical "Buddy". The following year, he brought the show to Broadway's Shubert Theater, where it received rave reviews and earned him a Tony Award nomination. Hipp's impressive debut performance on Broadway earned him a Theater World Award for best Broadway debut.
Throughout his extensive career, Hipp has appeared in over 25 feature films, including Ernst Gossner's South of Pico (2007). On television, he has made numerous appearances on various shows. Hipp has also ventured into directing, making his feature film debut with Death of a Dog (2000),executive produced by Abel Ferrara and starring Julie Kessler and Edie Falco. His second film as writer/director was We Are Not Animals (2013).
