David Warshofsky

A veteran character actor on both stage and screen, actor David Warshofsky believed in educating the next generation of talent as much as he did in nurturing his own. Originally born David Warner in San Francisco, CA, the aspiring actor studied in New York City at NYU's prestigious Tisch School of the Arts and reverted to his family's Russian surname upon joining the theatrical performer's union The Actor's Equity. His talent for finding the heart of even the most minor characters first surfaced in 1989's "Last Exit to Brooklyn," which he followed with a string of appearances on everything from the gadget-happy "Home Improvement" (ABC, 1991-99), to the medical drama "Chicago Hope" (CBS, 1994-2000).

Many of Warshofsky's film roles showcased his signature mix of everyman amiability and stoic intensity: there's the low-key cop in "The Bone Collector" (1999); his greedy oil executive in "There Will Be Blood" (2007); and a longtime CIA agent in "Taken" (2008). He served as an assistant professor of theatre acting at the University of Southern California, and later juggled his promotion to Head of Acting with a supporting role in the Oscar-nominated "Lincoln" (2012). Devoted to both acting and teaching, David Warshofsky made his passion his life's work.

Born in San Francisco in 1961, David Warshofsky always knew he'd end up in show business. After graduating from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts in 1984, he spent several years honing his skills in the New York City theatre scene. Since there was already another David Warner in The Actor's Equity, the young actor changed back to his family's original Russian name, Warshofsky. His new name signaled a new chapter in his life, and he soon landed a minor part in the critically-acclaimed adaptation of Hubert Selby Jr.'s classic novel "Last Exit to Brooklyn." He landed one-off guest spots on such primetime hits as "Home Improvement" and "Chicago Hope," and returned to the big screen in the late '90s alongside Demi Moore in "G.

I Jane" (1997). The father of two juggled a steady stream of work with his appointment as an assistant professor at the University of Southern California's School of Drama, where he was later promoted to Head of Acting. After appearing in Paul Thomas Anderson's epic "There Will Be Blood" as a 1920s Standard Oil tycoon, Warshofsky switched gears with "Taken," where he put his quiet authority to good use as a veteran CIA agent. Shortly afterwards Warshofsky was cast as an argumentative Congressman in "Lincoln," which he followed with a small role opposite Tom Hanks in the gripping "Captain Phillips" (2013).