Jackie Earle Haley

Jackie Earle Haley, after disappearing from Hollywood for almost 15 years, recently resurfaced and earned an Academy Award® nomination in the process. This remarkable return to the limelight began in October 2004, when Academy Award® winner Steven Zaillian wanted Haley to audition for the part of Sugar Boy in his film All the King's Men. Zaillian eventually tracked Haley down in France enjoying his honeymoon. Haley sent in an audition tape and won the part. After completing the film, Haley was determined to continue working on projects that had meaning for him. After reading an early draft of Todd Field's Little Children, Haley set his sights on playing Ronald J. McGorvey, a role that earned him an Academy Award® nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

This past spring, Haley starred as Rorschach in the feature film adaptation of Watchmen, based on the best-selling graphic novel. Next up, he will star opposite Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Ruffalo in director Martin Scorsese's mystery-thriller ShutterIsland. He will also portray iconic killer Freddy Krueger in the upcoming A Nightmare on Elm Street, a reimagining of the 1980s horror classic, scheduled for release in 2010.

After coming to prominence in the 1970s as the cigarette-smoking, motorcycle-riding hellion Kelly Leak in the feature film comedy Bad News Bears and its two sequels, Haley went on to play the practical, laid-back but short-tempered Moocher in the Academy Award®–winning film Breaking Away. In 1983, he played the sex-obsessed Dave in Curtis Hanson's Losin' It opposite Tom Cruise, and, on Broadway, he performed with Sean Penn, Kevin Bacon and Val Kilmer in Slab Boys.

The successful transition from child actor to adult actor proved elusive, and Haley was forced to rethink his career path. He turned his attention to directing, and tried his hand at various professions, including limousine driver and security officer, in an effort to pay the bills. Haley struggled for years until finally gaining some success directing industrial videos and television commercials. 

Haley moved to San Antonio, Texas, where he eventually started his own company, JEH Productions, Inc., making regional commercial spots for companies. He continues to reside in the Lone Star State when not on location for a role.