Anecdotes

His favorite films are Alphaville, une étrange aventure de Lemmy Caution (1965), La valse des pantins (1982), Dekalog (1989), Crumb (1994) and Seul contre tous (1998).

Partner of actress Kate Arrington and father of their daughters, Sylvia and Marion.

One of his favorite shows is Dr. Katz, Professional Therapist (1995).

Is the first non-British actor to play Superman's enemy General Zod.

Does his own singing as George Jones in "George & Tammy".

Currently resides in Red Hook, Brooklyn, New York. (janvier 2011)

His father was an accounting professor at DePaul University and his mother is a lawyer.

He was awarded the 2013 Equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Principal Actor in a Play for "Simpatico" at the A Red Orchid Theater in Chicago, Illinois.

Attended and graduated from New Trier High School in Winnetka, Illinois.

He was nominated for a 2002 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Bug" at the A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Grandson of well-known entomologist Raymond Corbett Shannon (1894-1945).

Formed the indie rock band, Corporal, in 2002. More recently, he has joined former Superchunk and Bob Mould band bassist, Jason Narducy, to front an REM cover band that has toured the US in both 2024 and 2025.

He was nominated for a 2007 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Supporting Role in a Play for "The Pillowman" at the Steppenwolf Theatre Company in Chicago, Illinois.

Despite starring in multiple acclaimed films in 2016, many of them under-performed at the box office. Animaux nocturnes (2016) grossed $10.6 million domestic and $30.7 million worldwide on a $22.5 million budget. Loving (2016), produced on a $9 million budget, grossed little over $9.1 million. Le lieu secret (2016) with its $18 million budget grossed $3.7 million domestic and a mere $6.2 million worldwide. Elvis & Nixon (2016) grossed little over $1 million on a $4 million budget. Frank & Lola (2016) earned just $9,188 domestic. And Batman vs Superman: L'aube de la justice (2016), while not critically acclaimed, needed to gross $800 million in order to recoup its $300 million production and $165 million marketing budgets, according to financial analysts. In the end, it earned $873.3 million worldwide but it was still considered a disappointment by Warner Bros given the film's hefty investment.

He was awarded the 1992 Joseph Jefferson Award Citation for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Fun/Nobody" at the Next Lab Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Film critic Amy Nicholson believes he is the perfect actor to play Jack Reacher.

Avid longtime fan of pulp novelist Jim Thompson.

He was nominated for a 2010 Joseph Jefferson Award for Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for "Mistakes Were Made" at the Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

He was awarded the 2018 Joseph Jefferson Equity Award for Midsize Play Director for "Traitor" at A Red Orchid Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Parents are Donald Sutherlin Shannon and Geraldine Hine; has one brother: Dave.