Paul Hipp

Paul Hipp(born July 16, 1963) is an American actor, singer, songwriter and filmmaker.

Paul Hipp
Born	(1963-07-16)July 16, 1963 Philadelphia,Pennsylvania,U.S.
Years active	1987–present

Early life

Paul Hipp was born inPhiladelphia,Pennsylvania,and grew up inWarminster.He left Pennsylvania for New York City immediately after high school, starting his career playing guitar and singing for tips on the streets ofGreenwich Villagewhile studying acting with acting coachMira Rostovaand atHB StudiowithWilliam Hickey.

Career

Hipp found employment as a musician at various clubs. At the same time, he started landing roles on TV shows and commercials. He made his New York stage debut in the off-BroadwayshowRockabilly Roadat the West Bank Theater.

New York filmmakerAbel Ferrarasaw one of Hipp's shows and asked him to audition for the role of Nino Valacci in his upcoming filmChina Girl.Hipp landed the role, and a decades-long collaboration began as he became a mainstay in Ferrara's core group of actors that includesChristopher Walken,Harvey KeitelandWillem Dafoe.During the filming ofChina Girl,Hipp wrote his first published song, “Midnight For You”, used as the film's end credit theme song.

Hipp then co-starred in the off-Broadway showA Minor IncidentwithCarole King.Hipp played “Midnight For You” for King, who later credited this song for inspiring her to come out of musical retirement. The two started writing songs together, and King often sat in with Hipp at his New York gigs. The two collaborated on songs for herCapitol RecordsreleaseCity Streets,including the song "I Can't Stop Thinking About You", which Hipp co-wrote and plays guitar and performs backing vocals on. A tour followed the LP release which featured Hipp joining King onstage for a duet on that song. While on stage with King at London'sRoyal Albert Hall,the producers of a newWest EndmusicalBuddy: The Buddy Holly Storysaw Hipp. They invited him to audition for the role ofBuddy Holly,and he was cast in the role.Buddyopened to rave reviews on October 12, 1989, at TheVictoria Palace Theatre,and Hipp was nominated for theLaurence Olivier Awardfor Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Musical. The following year, Hipp opened as 'Buddy' atBroadway'sShubert Theaterin New York. He was nominated for aTony Awardfor his performance and won aTheater World Award.

Hipp appeared in the filmsFathers & Sons,withJeff Goldblum,and asJesus ChristoppositeHarvey Keitelin Abel Ferrara'sBad Lieutenant,for which he also performed the title song, "Bad Lieutenant", with Ferrara.He also appeared asGene VincentoppositeDonal Logue(asEddie Cochran) in the playBe-Bop-A-Lulaat Hollywood's Theater-Theater before returning to the London stage for the 25th anniversary revival ofHairat theOld Vic,in the role of Berger oppositeJohn Barrowmanas Claude. After the show closed, Hipp stayed in London, living inNotting Hill,studying painting, writing songs and performing at various venues in and around London.

Subsequent feature film roles includeJohn Woo'sFace Off,Waking The Dead,More Dogs Than Bones(in which Hipp andJoe Mantegnaplay a pair of bungling hit men), andJoe OdominMidnight in the Garden of Good and Evil.On TV, he was a series regular on NBC'sThree Sisters,among other appearances. In 2000, Hipp made his feature film directorial debut withDeath of a Dog,which stars Julie Kessler andEdie Falco,executive produced by Ferrara. Hipp wrote the script, soundtrack and score for the film.

In 2005 Hipp played the half-man-half-woman circus performer Bert/Bertha Hagenbach on the second season of theHBOseriesCarnivàle.He co-starred inTwo Tickets to Paradise(2006) and appeared inSouth of Pico(2007). He also co-starred in theShowtimepilotManchild.During the same decade, was a guest star on the TV showsER,Scrubs,CSI: NY,CSI: Miami,The Closer,Without a TraceandUgly Betty.

In 2006, forThe Huffington Post,Hipp wrote a blog with videos that included satirical musical parodies like his take onJohnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues"(withDick Cheneysinging about his hunting mishap) andThe Beatles' "I Am the Walrus"(a take-off ofGeorge W. Bush's "I’m the Decider" quote).Some of the videos created forThe Huffington Postwere picked up by national news outlets.

Hipp had a recurring role in theF/XseriesTerriersand appeared inThe Last Godfather.Ferrara directed him in4:44 Last Day on Earthas well as 2014'sWelcome to New York.Hipp contributed the opening and closing credit themes of this film. Hipp guest-starred as guitar-slingingministerReverend Tim Tomin the ABC's comedyThe Middlefrom 2009 until 2018. He co-starred in and co-wrote theArgentine-American filmNo Somos Animales.

Music

Hipp wrote and produced several songs sung byHilary Dufffor the filmWar, Inc.

He wrote and recorded an album of songs culled from his work forThe Huffington Post,calledBlog of War.His song,We're Number 37was circulated on social media and led to an appearance onThe Dylan Ratigan Show.

Hipp released a CD of original music calledThe Remote Distance.Norman Learappears in the video to "Happy Birthday to Me", the first single from the album.

He also released a CD of songs from and inspired by the filmNo Somos Animales,calledBuenos Aires,in the fall of 2015.

Discography

• Blog of War(2008)
• The Remote Distance(2015)
• Sometimes I'm Rudy(2017)

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1987	China Girl	Nino
1988	Sticky Fingers	Michael
1992	Fathers & Sons	Doogy
1992	Lethal Weapon 3	Doctor
1992	Bad Lieutenant	Jesus
1992	Bad Channels	Dan O'Dare	Direct-to-video
1996	The Funeral	Ghouly
1997	Face/Off	Fitch
1997	Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil	Joe Odom
1997	Vicious Circles	Dylan
1998	Cleopatra's Second Husband	Robert Marrs
1998	Another Day in Paradise	Richard Johnson
2000	Waking the Dead	Danny Pierce
2000	More Dogs Than Bones	Quinn
2000	Death of a Dog	Dick
2006	Two Tickets to Paradise	Jason Klein
2007	South of Pico	Comma
2010	The Last Godfather	Rocco
2011	4:44 Last Day on Earth	Noah
2013	We Are Not Animals	Rudy Maravilla
2013	Jay & Silent Bob's Super Groovy Cartoon Movie!	Ring-Wearing Alien	Voice
2014	Welcome to New York	Guy

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1987	The Equalizer	Jarret	Episode: "Inner View"
1988	Liberace: Behind the Music	Elvis Presley	Television film
1990	Nothing Like a Royal Show	Buddy Holly
1992	Tales from the Crypt	Nick Bosch	Episode: "On a Deadman's Chest"
1992	Parker Lewis Can't Lose	Harry	Episode: "Love Is Hell"
1993	The Hat Squad	McCauley	Episode: "Lifestyles of the Rich and Infamous"
1993	The Last Shot	Peter Tullis	Television film
1995	The Cosby Mysteries	Charlie Nevers	Episode: "Dial 'H' for Murder"
1996	Nash Bridges	Aaron Crow	Episode: "Vanishing Act"
1997	Pacific Blue	Lewis Abernathy	Episode: "Black Pearl"
1997	Men Behaving Badly	Simon	Episode: "Testing, Testing"
1997	Van Helsing Chronicles	Det. Ken Tugman	Television film
1998	Fantasy Island	Richard 'Freefall' Burns	Episode: "Pilot"
2000	The Chippendales Murder	Nick De Noia	Television film
2001	Cover Me	Lon Colomby	2 episodes
2001–2002	Three Sisters	Elliot Quinn	13 episodes
2002	Teenage Caveman	Shaman	Television film
2002	ER	Craig Turner	2 episodes
2005	CSI: Miami	Vince Fisher	Episode: "Game Over"
2005	Carnivàle	Bert Hagenbeck	3 episodes
2006	Scrubs	Marc Coleman	Episode: "My Chopped Liver"
2006	CSI: NY	William Mamet	Episode: "Stealing Home"
2006	The Closer	Dr. Woods	Episode: "Heroic Measures"
2006	Without a Trace	Detective Chris Pappas	Episode: "The Damage Done"
2007	Women's Murder Club	Miles Van Aiken	Episode: "Welcome to the Club"
2007	Girlfriends	Steve	Episode: "Snap Back"
2007	Manchild	Tom	Television film
2008	Ugly Betty	Phil Roth	Episode: "A Thousand Words Before Friday"
2009	Numbers	Gray McClaughlin	Episode: "Arrow of Time"
2010	Terriers	Barry	2 episodes
2010–2018	The Middle	Reverend TimTom	12 episodes
2013	Burn Notice	Al Sapienza	Episode: "Down Range"
2014	See Dad Run	Fred	Episode: "See Dad Roast the Toast"
2020	The Conners	Zach	2 episodes

External links

• Paul HippatIMDb
• Paul Hippat theInternet Broadway Database
• Paul HippofficialFacebook
• Paul HippofficialYouTube