Jeff Goldblum

Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum (born October 22, 1952) is an American actor, musician, and television host renowned for his eccentric, intellectual screen persona and versatile performances across film, television, and stage. Born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to a Jewish family—his mother was a radio broadcaster and an appliance company executive, while his father was a doctor—Goldblum grew up as one of four children and developed an early interest in acting, training at the Neighborhood Playhouse in New York City after high school. He began his career on stage in the early 1970s, making his Broadway debut in Two Gentlemen of Verona (1971), before transitioning to film with small roles in movies like Death Wish (1974) and Nashville (1975).

Goldblum rose to prominence in the 1980s and 1990s with lead roles that showcased his unique blend of charm, wit, and quirkiness, including the scientist Seth Brundle in David Cronenberg's body horror classic The Fly (1986), mathematician Ian Malcolm in Steven Spielberg's blockbuster Jurassic Park (1993) and its sequel Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (2018), and presidential advisor David Levinson in the science-fiction hits Independence Day (1996) and Independence Day: Resurgence (2016). His filmography spans over 100 credits, including supporting turns in Woody Allen's Annie Hall (1977), the ensemble drama The Big Chill (1983), and more recent Marvel Cinematic Universe appearances as the Grandmaster in Thor: Ragnarok (2017) and Avengers: Infinity War (2018). On television, he earned an Emmy nomination for his guest role on Will & Grace (2005) and starred as Detective Zach Nichols in Law & Order: Criminal Intent (2009–2011), while hosting the National Geographic series The World According to Jeff Goldblum (2019–2021), which explored everyday topics through his curious lens. In 2025, Goldblum played the Wizard in the film adaptation Wicked: For Good, contributing to promotional campaigns and events that highlighted his enduring appeal in musical theater.

Jeffrey Lynn Goldblum was born on October 22, 1952, in West Homestead, Pennsylvania, a suburb near Pittsburgh. He grew up in a Jewish family of Russian and Austro-Hungarian descent, in a household that valued creativity and the arts. His parents were Harold L. Goldblum, a physician, and Shirley Jane (née Temeles) Goldblum, who worked as a radio broadcaster before running a kitchen equipment and appliances rental business. The family belonged to an Orthodox synagogue, where Goldblum participated in a bar mitzvah ceremony that introduced him to the thrill of performing before an audience.