Adam Goldberg

An acerbic, wry Californian who seemed to embody a Jewish New York intellectual vibe, Adam Goldberg broke through as a neurotic high school student in Richard Linklater's classic "Dazed and Confused" (1993). He followed up with roles in John Singleton's "Higher Learning" (1995), "The Prophecy" (1995) with Christopher Walken, and as Chandler Bing's (Matthew Perry) insane roommate in several episodes of "Friends" (NBC, 1994-2004). On the big screen, he dazzled critics and viewers as a tough, cynical but ultimately doomed Jewish soldier in Steven Spielberg's Oscar-winning epic "Saving Private Ryan" (1998). Goldberg embraced his career as a journeyman character actor, appearing in projects as varied as Ron Howard's Oscar-winning "A Beautiful Mind" (2001) as a physics colleague of John Nash (Russell Crowe), Matthew McConaughey's snarky best friend in the Kate Hudson romantic comedy "How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days" (2003), and a Jewish superhero in "The Hebrew Hammer" (2003). A writer-director who penned-helmed "Scotch and Milk" (1998) and "I Love Your Work" (2003), Goldberg also essayed brief but memorable turns in "Stay Alive" (2006), "Zodiac" (2007) and on "Entourage" (HBO, 2004-2011). Although he achieved a more under-the-radar success than was predicted for him at the beginning of his career, Goldberg earned a loyal following for his vivid onscreen intelligence and charisma, always proving a welcome addition to any project.