Sawyer Avery Spielberg (born March 10, 1992) is an American actor and director. He is the son of director Steven Spielberg and actress Kate Capshaw.
Early life
He received a diagnosis of dyslexia and he attended a private high school for students with language-based difficulties. He went by his middle name, Sawyer Avery, at the beginning of his career in 2012.[1] When he was a teenager he enrolled in an acting workshop at Edgemar Center for the Arts near Venice Beach in Santa Monica, California. At 18 years old, he left home to move to New York and was accepted into the Atlantic Repertory Theatre’s conservatory.[2][3]
Career
As a youngster, he would spend time on his father’s film sets and told People magazine the first set he remembered was Saving Private Ryan.[2] As a teenager, he worked as a production assistant on some of his father’s films, including Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.[4] He told USA Today that his experiences initially drew him away from film and more towards stage acting. This was, he said, because "what the audience can give you has always energised me in a big way", whereas he had experience of seeing actors on film sets for whom there seemed to be "a lot of waiting around and there wasn't enough action.”[5]
In 2012, he made his off-Broadway debut in Belgrade Trilogy at the 4th Street Theatre, using his stage name Sawyer Avery.[6][7] He appeared in a production of The Diary of Anne Frank at the Guild Hall of East Hampton Bay Street Theatre in Sag Harbor, New York and in 2014 directed, and had the lead role, in a staged reading of Neil Simon’s Biloxi Blues at the Guild Hall's John Drew Theater.[3]
In 2016, he directed a short film entitled Breathe.[4] He made his feature film acting debut in 2017 film The Post, playing a protestor who delivers a monologue. In April and May 2019, he appeared in a production of Art directed by Yasmine Reza at the Guild Hall, New York.[8] In 2020 he had a lead role in the horror film Honeydew, directed by Devereux Milburn and also featuring Lena Dunham.[9]
In January 2023, in New York State he began principal photography on upcoming independent film Martyr of Gowanus in which he has the lead role and appears alongside Holt McCallany.[10][11] That year, he could be seen in the Christmas-movie Merry Good Enough.[12] In 2023 he also filmed the independent short thriller film Pink Flags playing opposite his real-life wife Raye Levine Spielberg, a figure skater who believes she is being stalked.[13][14]
In January 2024, he appeared in the Apple TV+ historical drama series Masters of the Air.[15][16] He will feature in the upcoming film Christmas Eve at Miller's Point alongside Michael Cera, amongst others.[17]
Personal life
In 2018, he married the actress Raye Levine Spielberg, whom he met whilst they were both performing. They have a daughter.[18][19]
Partial filmography
| † | Denotes works that have not yet been released |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | The Post | Plaza Protestor | |
| 2020 | Honeydew | Sam | Lead role |
| 2023 | Merry Good Enough | Sam | |
| 2024 | Masters of the Air | Lt. Roy Claytor | Recurring role |
| 2024 | Christmas Eve in Miller's Point† | Splint | |
| TBA | Martyr of Gowanus† | TBA | Lead role |
References
- ^ Schuster, Dana (September 7, 2012). "A stage for Spielberg's son". nypost. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ a b Wenger, Stephanie; Huver, Scott (January 11, 2024). "Sawyer Spielberg on the 'Perseverance' Taught By Mom Kate Capshaw — and Visiting Dad Steven's Sets as a Kid (Exclusive)". People. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ a b McMorrow, T.E. (28 January 2014). "Taking on 'Biloxi Blues'". East Hampton Star. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ a b Akdeniz, Eliz (29 March 2021). "Hollywood scion Sawyer Spielberg on his onscreen debut". Tatler. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Truitt, Brian. "Meet Sawyer Spielberg, Steven Spielberg's son taking a bite out of Hollywood with 'Honeydew'". USA Today. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Spielberg's Son Debuts in Bulgarian-Tied NYC Play". novinite.com. September 28, 2012. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ McKittrick, Chris (September 10, 2012). "Sawyer Avery, Son of Steven Spielberg, Makes His Off-Broadway Acting Debut". Daily Actor. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Meyer, Lee (23 April 2019). "Sawyer Spielberg Makes 'Art' on the Guild Hall Stage". Dan’s Papers. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Ewing, Jeff (May 13, 2021). "Interview: Chatting 'Honeydew' With Director Devereux Milburn And Star Sawyer Spielberg". Forbes. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ "Steven Spielberg's son Sawyer filming new indie movie in Syracuse". Syracuse.com. June 22, 2023. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Wiseman, Andreas (November 3, 2023). "Filming Wraps On Indie 'Martyr Of Gowanus' Starring Sawyer Spielberg & Holt McCallany". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Drury, Sharareh (November 9, 2023). "Holiday Feature 'Merry Good Enough' Acquired By Freestyle Digital Media for December Release". Variety. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Complex, Valerie (June 20, 2023). "Raye Levine Spielberg & Sawyer Spielberg Set To Star In Indie Thriller Short 'Pink Flags'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (January 5, 2024). "Pink Flags' Thriller Short Starring Raye Levine Spielberg, Sawyer Spielberg Debuts First Look Photos; Freestyle Acquisitions – Film Briefs". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ King, Jack (9 November 2023). "Masters of the Air, which finally has a trailer, looks like peak Dad TV". GQ. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Golby, Joel (20 January 2024). "Masters of the Air: Hanks and Spielberg's spectacular war story is the first must-watch show of 2024". The Guardian. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (June 15, 2023). "Michael Cera, Elsie Fisher, Maria Dizzia, Francesca Scorsese & More Set For Tyler Taormina's Comedy 'Christmas Eve In Miller's Point'". Deadline Hollywood.
- ^ Sager, Jessica (1 December 2023). "Steven Spielberg's 7 Children: Everything to Know". People. Retrieved 24 January 2024.
- ^ Wood, Becca (7 March 2023). "Steven Spielberg's kids: What to know about the director's 7 children ahead of the Oscars". Today. Retrieved 24 January 2024.