Timothy Olyphant's acting career began with a two-minute appearance in The First Wives Club (1996),followed by a significant role as "Nicko" in A Perfect Getaway (2009),showcasing his versatility as an actor.
Born in Hawaii, Timothy David Olyphant spent his childhood in Modesto, California, where he was raised by his parents, Katherine Lyon (Gideon) and John Vernon Bevan Olyphant, a college teacher and executive at E & J Gallo Winery. He is the eldest of three brothers, including Andy, who works in A&R for Warner Bros. Records, and Matt, the lead singer of the punk rock group Fetish and an artist.
Olyphant's ancestry is a rich tapestry of Russian Jewish, English, German, Scottish, Dutch, and Irish heritage, and he is a descendant of the prominent Vanderbilt and Olyphant families of businesspeople.
Growing up in Modesto, Timothy excelled in swimming and drawing, but it was an acting course that he took on a whim that ultimately led him to pursue a career in the performing arts. He enrolled in an acting course as an elective and, after studying the craft in New York City, began auditioning for roles.
Throughout his career, Olyphant has sought to take on diversified roles, experimenting with different genres and approaches. He has married his college sweetheart, Alexis Knief, and they have three children, one son and two daughters, whom they raise in California. Despite his success in Hollywood, Olyphant has managed to keep his personal life out of the tabloids, a testament to his priorities.
Some of Olyphant's most notable roles include his portrayal of "Sheriff Seth Bullock" in HBO's Deadwood (2004),for which he received critical acclaim, and his role as "Raylan Givens" in FX's Justified (2010),where he brought intensity and complexity to the character.
On the big screen, Olyphant has appeared in a range of films, including The Crazies (2010),where he infused his character with humanity in an inhumane situation, and I Am Number Four (2011),a sci-fi thriller in which he played the adult mentor to the teen cast.
