User:Dpotopoulis/Bruce Spielbauer

Bruce Spielbauer is an American actor. Spielbauer is known for both independent feature films and stage performances. He first came to prominence in the film Qwerty, in 2011. More recently, he is known for a supporting role in Zack Parker’s thriller Proxy.

Early Life
Spielbauer was born on September 10, 1956 in Cedar Rapids, IA, and was mostly raised in Dallas, TX and Quincy, IL. He graduated from Quincy Senior High School and attended Quincy University as an acting major, graduating with a B.F.A. in theatre arts in 1980.

Career
Spielbauer began his professional career at the (now defunct) Golden Eagle Riverboat Dinner Theatre in Canton, MO. He spent seven summers there, performing as full-time member of their professional company.

In the mid-eighties, Spielbauer relocated to the Chicago area, and began directing for stage and acting on occasion. In the 1990s and early 2000s, he often worked as a background performer doing extra roles in major studio feature films such as The Fugitive, Home Alone 2, The Babe, and U.S. Marshals. His final work as an extra was in the 2009 film The Dark Knight.

In 2008, Spielbauer portrayed his first lead role in a low-budget horror film, Body in A Dumpster. He followed this with supporting roles in several low-budget independent films, including The Truth About Average Guys, New Day, and Ballbusters. In 2009, he made his television debut in a re-enactment on the TV series Undercover: Investigation on the Discovery ID network. Since then, he has done similar roles on several cable television shows.

On stage, Spielbauer has several stage credits in the Chicago area, especially working in their legendary storefront theatre scene. In 2012, he appeared in the stage version of The Hobbit, portraying Gandalf. He also appeared in the play Harold and Maude (2013), and played Lizzie Borden’s father in the play Axe Lizzie (2011). More recently, he appeared as Titus in the Lincoln Square Theatre production of The Romans, in March of 2014.

Other roles of note include Spielbauer’s portrayal of Sam Dale in the feature film Bled White, which won a number of awards on the film festival circuit. He appeared opposite Bai Ling in the western Yellow Hill: The Stranger’s Tale (2012). That same year, he played a Scrabble judge named Jerry Turnbauer in the film Qwerty, where he received his one and only positive review from critic Roger Ebert.

Bruce has appeared in more than 40 short films, including many award winners and festival favorites. His best known shorts include "Total Eclipse" and The Viper" -- both directed by George Streicher and photographed by Dillon Schneider. In late 2012, Spielbauer portrayed the Blind Man in the film Frankenstein: Day of the Beast. He played the antagonist in a feature film based on Poe’s short story "The Tell-Tale Heart."  In 2013, he appeared in the coming of age film, Dearest Jane, playing the father of the female lead, played by Sydney Pierick. http://www.dearestjane.com/#!about/c1dd5  He has a role in the upcoming film based on a legendary haunted cemetery -- Bachelor's Grove.

In 2013, Spielbauer played the father to Joe Swanberg’s character in the feature film Proxy. Proxy was directed by Zack Parker, and also featured Alexia Rasmussen, The edgy, provocative thriller was an official selection of the Toronto International Film Festival in September 2013, and will have its American premiere in theaters on April 2014.

Links

 * http://www.brucespielbauer.com/
 * http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2820689/?ref_=fn_al_nm_1
 * http://www.fearnet.com/news/review/fearnet-movie-review-proxy
 * http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2191888/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1
 * http://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/qwerty-2012
 * http://lahorror.com/2012/04/24/la-horror-presents-george-streicher-and-bruce-spielbauer/
 * http://www.spadeheartclub.com/bruce-spielbauer/
 * http://www.nctv17.com/napervillenews17/article.php?id=862
 * http://www.dearestjane.com/#!about/c1dd5