|
Background:
“I feel like I’m just doing a job. It's amazing to think that you affect other
peoples’ lives on such a grand scale. I’m so thankful for that, and I’m so
lucky. It’s hard to stop and think that people are interested in me.” Kip Pardue
Atlanta-born model and actor Kip Pardue became famous after portraying Victor
Johnson in Roger Avary’s edgy version of Brett Easton Ellis’ The Rules of
Attraction (2002). He was garnered with a 2002 Young Hollywood Award. He is also
well-remembered for playing high school football player Ronnie ‘Sunshine’ Bass
in the Danzel Washington box office smash hit Remember the Titans (2000) and a
young racecar driver, opposite Sylvester Stallone, in the box office hit Driven
(2001).
Pardue fans can watch him in the recent and forthcoming The Iris Effect (2004),
Imaginary Heroes (2004), The Heart Is Deceitful Above All Things (2004), the
drama Loggerheads (2005), Laura Smiles (2005), Undiscovered (2005), the comedy
Chasing Fate (2005), Farewell Bender (2005), Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
(2005), Glamorama (2005) and Philippe Caland’s drama Ripple Effect (2006).
Ivy League
Childhood and Family:
“No one ever taught me how to shave; no one ever sat down to watch a Braves game
with me. I paid for Yale myself. I lived by myself. I taught myself how to play
the guitar. I did this all on my own.” Kip Pardue on growing up in a
single-parent household
Born Kevin Ian Pardue, on September 23, 1976, Kip Pardue had to deal with the
divorce of his parents at a young age. After the breakup, 11-year-old Kip was
left in the custody of his single mom and hasn’t seen his dad since. As a child,
he enjoyed football and baseball.
A native of Atlanta, Georgia, Kip was educated at Dunwoody High School and
graduated in 1994. He attended Yale University, the prestigious Ivy League
School, where he continued to play football until his senior year. In 1998, Kip
earned a degree in Economics and subsequently moved west to model. By 1999, Kip
had added acting to his endeavors.
A big fan of Radio head, Remy Zero, Wilco, Son Volt and Badly Drawn Boy, Kip
enjoys surfing, as well as practicing ashtanga yoga. He also plays the guitar.
Driven
Career:
Before acting, Kip Pardue received his first taste of showbiz as a model. Upon
receiving a degree in Economics, he made his way west and enjoyed triumph as a
clothing model for such top fashion names as Armani, Ambercrombie & Fitch, Polo,
and Ralph Lauren. Soon afterward, he broke into acting with a guest starring
role in the long-running series “7th Heaven” (1999) and was cast as Josh Ford in
the WB pilot “Popular” (1999), but was replaced by another actor when the show
became a series. The same year, Pardue portrayed a young gay man enduring
“treatment” at a rehabilitation camp in the racy independent flick But I’m a
Cheerleader, starring Natasha Lyonne.
Two film projects knocked on his door in the new millennium. Pardue was first
featured as Harris in Whatever It Takes (2000). His big break quickly arrived
when director Boaz Yakin cast him in the supporting role of high school football
player Ronnie ‘Sunshine’ Bass in his sport-themed Remember the Titans (2000).
Starring Denzel Washington, the film received huge commercial success.
Pardue’s career began to take flight. He costarred opposite Robert Forster and
Rose McGowan in the independent comedy/drama Strange Hearts (2001) and again
gained blockbuster exposure with the Renny Harlin-directed Driven (2001). In the
action movie, Kip starred as Sylvester Stallone’s Indy racing protégé Jimmy Bly.
After the victory, Pardue was named one of Armani Exchange’s “Top 10 Upcoming
Actors” and was listed as one of Variety’s “10 to Watch” for that year.
Pardue further increased his popularity in the following year. After rejoining
McGowan for the offbeat comedy Vacuums (2002), the young actor starred as Victor
Johnson in writer-director Roger Avary’s jittery adaptation of Brett Easton
Ellis’ The Rules of Attraction (2002). Also in 2002, Pardue nabbed a Young
Hollywood for New Style Maker – Male.
From 2003-2004, Pardue put six motion pictures under his belt. He first played
Luke, alongside Holly Hunter and Evan Rachel Wood, in Catherine Hardwicke’s
critically acclaimed drama Thirteen (2003), then was cast as Mitch in Devil’s
Pond (2003). After This Girl’s Life (2003), he portrayed Paul Bergamo in The
Iris Effect (2004) and Matt Travis in Imaginary Heroes (2004). Pardue also
appeared as Luther in the Asia Argento-directed biography The Heart Is Deceitful
Above All Things (2004).
Blonde-haired, blue-eyed Kip Pardue kept busy with film work in 2005. He played
the role of Mark in Tim Kirkman’s drama Loggerheads (2005, starring Tess Harper
and Bonnie Hunt), starred opposite Ted Hartley and Petra Wright, in the drama
Laura Smiles (2005) and found himself acting with Pell James and Steven Strait
in the comedy/romance Undiscovered (2005). Pardue will soon costar with Jordana
Brewster in director Nigel Dick’s comedy Chasing Fate (2005). He is also
scheduled to play characters in the upcoming drama Farewell Bender (2005, stars
with Eddie Kaye Thomas and Josh Cooke), the Kelly Masterson-scripted thriller
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead (2005, starring Patricia Arquette and Sean
Astin), Roger Avary’s screen version Glamorama (2005) and the drama Ripple
Effect (2006, helmed by Philippe Caland).
Awards:
- Young Hollywood: New Style Maker – Male, 2002
|
