Greg Germann Biography

GREG GERMANN

Date of Birth: February 26, 1958

Born in Houston, Texas, Germann was raised in Colorado by his father, an award-winning children's playwright and theatre professor. Germann majored in theatre at the University of Northern Colorado, and following graduation he headed to New York where he joined the Circle Rep and Ensemble Studio Theatre.

While with this group, he accumulated credits in such off-Broadway and Broadway plays as A Narrow Bed, Remedial English, the musical Assassins, Apocalyptic Butterflies and The Person I Once Was opposite Holly Hunter, Biloxi Blues, and David Mamet's War Games.

During his struggles in New York, Germann actually turned down the opportunity to star in a TV series in Los Angeles. He feared the experience would limit his acting career as to the kind of characters he would be allowed to play following the series.

He decided to take on feature films instead and landed a few small roles in films like Child's Play 2 (1990). He also decided to work on a couple of television films. As his experience grew, Germann started to get into larger big budget films like So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993) and Clear and Present Danger (1994).

In 1994, Germann decided to take the risk of a television series and landed a role on Sweet Justice. He moved on to Ned and Stacey before finding the role he is best known for - money-grubbing, morally questionable attorney Richard Fish on the popular, award-winning TV series Ally McBeal.

Despite the self-confident character he plays on the show, Germann is very critical about his work. "I don't know if I share this with all actors, but acting is hard for me," he said. "It's hard for me to have perspective about what I'm doing. I go beyond being self-critical. When we did the pilot for Ally McBeal, I was convinced I was horrible."

Ally McBeal stint, he is also building careers for himself as a writer and director. He recently penned The Observatory, a play performed at Ensemble Studio Theatre. Germann also wrote, directed and starred in the short film Pete's Garden.

Germann has gone on to other projects, including more feature films such as Jesus' Son (1999), Sweet November (2001) and Friends with Money (both 2006).

Germann is married to actress Christine Mourand, and the two have been blessed with a son.

Filmography:

Bolt (2008) (voice)
Quarantine (2008)
Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby (2006)
Kill Your Darlings (2006)
Friends with Money (2006)
Crazylove (2005)
Self Medicated (2005)
Down and Derby (2005)
Bigger Than the Sky (2005)
Heart of the Beholder (2005)
Special Ed (2005)
Hair Show (2004)
Joe Somebody (2001)
Down to Earth (2001)
Sweet November (2001)
The Last Producer (2000)
Jesus' Son (1999)
Culture (1998)
Pete's Garden (1998)
I.Q. (1994) (uncredited)
Imaginary Crimes (1994)
Clear and Present Danger (1994)
The Night We Never Met (1993)
So I Married an Axe Murderer (1993)
Big and Mean (1991)
Once Around (1991)
Child's Play 2 (1990)
Miss Firecracker (1989)
The Whoopee Boys (1986)
Streetwalkin' (1984)