Despite being a part of a Hollywood legacy, actor Jason Schwartzman squarely earned his own regard as an actor with his knack for thoughtful, melancholy characters with a dry sense of humor. His unique screen presence was apparent from his debut as an oddly adult prep school student in Wes Andersons Rushmore (1998). After the release of that critical darling, he would reteam with the hit-and-miss director to co-script the less popular The Darjeeling Limited (2007) and voice the hailed Roald Dahl adaptation The Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), making his quirky relationship with Anderson a highlight in his onscreen career. Schwartzman also had supporting roles in a few mainstream studio films, but his sensibility leaned towards more inventive, character-driven projects like, I (heart) Huckabees (2004), in which he played an idealistic young activist, and Shopgirl (2005), Steve Martins novella adaptation that pitted Schwartzman as a ragtag roadie and aspiring artist against Martin as the sophisticated older man vying for the love of a woman. Schwartzman also found creative success as a musician with the moderately popular indie band Phantom Planet and as a composer whose work appeared on well-known film and television soundtracks. His first outing as a television cast member was short-lived but he found more success when he was cast in the lead in HBOs Bored to Death (HBO, 2009-), a quirky comedy well tailored to the actors talent for frustrated artists with an offbeat, intellectual charm.
Born on June 26, 1980 in Los Angeles, Schwartzman was the son of producer Jack Schwartzman and actress-director Talia Shire. Also among his family of Hollywood notables were his grandfather, Oscar-winning composer Carmine Coppola, cousin Nicolas Cage, uncle Francis Ford Coppola, and filmmaking cousin Sofia Coppola. Although he auditioned for the role of Tom Hanks' matchmaking son in 1993's "Sleepless in Seattle" a role that went to Ross Malinger acting was not Schwartzman's primary focus, and he was actually reluctant to embark on a career in the movie industry, which he accurately labeled "the family business." At age 14, he made his first mark as a musician, forming the alternative pop rock band Phantom Planet, in which he served as drummer and songwriter. Phantom Planet was signed to Geffen Records and released its debut album, Phantom Planet Is Missing, in late 1998, promoting the new release with a band guest spot on the series Sabrina the Teenage Witch (ABC, 1996-2000; WB, 2000-03). That was just one of the landmark events of Schwartzmans eighteenth year. He also graduated from the L.A.s Windward School that spring and made his feature film debut in Wes Andersons smart, stylized indie comedy Rushmore (1998). The leery actor was introduced to the films casting director by cousin Sophia, who was familiar with Andersons screenplay and thought Schwartzman was a good fit for the part that of a creatively talented, non-academic overachiever with a penchant for older women.
"Rushmore" was released to rave reviews, and the engaging newcomer with the bushy eyebrows and perpetually thoughtful expression seemed entirely at ease acting opposite comedy veteran Bill Murray as the high school seniors fifty-something executive mentor and rival for the affections of luminous first grade teacher (Olivia Williams). Schwartzmans impeccable comic timing and deadpan delivery earned the actor a YoungStar Award for Best Young Actor in a Comedy, and nominations from the Chicago Film Critics and Chlotrudis Awards. Incidentally, the films buzz also helped usher in a new era of viability for Murrays flagging career, and put Anderson at the top of the indie filmmaker watch list. With his debut earning such an endearing spotlight, Schwartzman chose his subsequent roles carefully, making his next appearance in the short-lived but critically acclaimed high school drama, Freaks and Geeks (NBC, 1999-2000) in a guest spot as a student who deals in fake IDs. Schwartzman remained partial to smaller projects with his role as a horror filmmaker brought in to assist a sci-fi movie production in 1960s Paris in cousin Roman Coppola's directorial debut "CQ" (2001), but gave in to the allure of mainstream Hollywood first, in the anti-high school comedy "Slackers" (2002), followed that same year, with a small supporting role in "S1mone" (2002), starring Al Pacino as a down-and-out Hollywood director who turns a computer-generated woman (Rachel Roberts) into a star.
Meanwhile Schwartzman continued recording and performing with Phantom Planet, whose second album, The Guest, marked their breakthrough thanks to the track California being picked up as the theme song for the popular teen drama series, The O.C. (Fox, 2003-07). Schwartzman toured and supported the album with the band but the following year, while recording a follow-up, the actors increasing show business demands led to his decision to put his music career on hold. He was back in front of film festival audiences in the gritty but darkly comic "Spun" (2003), a generally well-received effort that starred Schwartzman as a meth addict enduring a high drama weekend and running afoul of the law. In the spring of 2004, Schwartzman was cast by screenwriter Mike White to star in the sitcom "Cracking Up" (Fox, 2004), about a dysfunctional Beverly Hills family, but even a rotating guest roster of alternative comedy kingpins (Jack Black, Kyle Gass, Amy Sedaris) and positive reviews were not enough to draw in viewers. Schwartzman rebounded with his return to offbeat, cerebral feature films, playing an environmental activist who hires husband and wife "existential detectives" (Dustin Hoffman and Lily Tomlin) to help him uncover meaning in his life in writer-director David O. Russell's "I [Heart] Huckabees" (2004).
From his supporting role as Will Ferrell's truth-impaired Hollywood agent in the dismal adaptation of the 1960s TV series "Bewitched" (2005), Schwartzman went on to earn critical notice for Shopgirl" (2005), the screen adaptation of Steve Martin's bestselling novella in which he co-starred as an uncultured, not-so-successful bachelor competing with a wealthy sophisticate (Martin) for the affections of a salesgirl (Claire Danes). Next, Schwartzman was recruited and miscast by cousin Sophia Coppola to play the romantic male lead in her stylish costume romance, Marie Antoinette (2006), where he gave a slyly detached performance as the young King Louis XVI who weds the daughter of Austrian nobility (Kirsten Dunst), only to spend the next several years failing to consummate the marriage, much to the chagrin of the court advisors wanting an heir to the throne. Following the failure of the fluffy offering, Schwartzman was inspired to return to music. Under the moniker, Coconut Records, he released the album Nighttiming. The commercially successful venture produced the track West Coast, which was featured on The O.C. and on the soundtrack to the film Cloverfield (2008), as well as the single Summer Day which appeared on the Spider-Man 3 (2007) soundtrack.
The actor, musician, composer and songwriter revealed further talents in 2007 when he co-scripted The Darjeeling Limited (2007) with filmmaker Wes Anderson and cousin Roman Coppola. Since Anderson and Schwartzmans coinciding breakouts a decade earlier, both had been accused of revisiting similar territory in their careers, but with Darjeeling Limited, both showed an admirable attempt to find greater depth in their work. The self-conscious, emotionally distant fa
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