Biography
At times bearing a resemblance to a slightly stockier
Tim Roth, former Golden Gloves contender Ron Eldard first became familiar to television audiences with his standout role as the love interest of
Julianna Margulies on the hit television drama
ER. Though Eldard had been appearing in film and television since the late '80s, it was the dawn of the new millennium that found Eldard's career reborn with roles in such acclaimed films as
Barry Levinson's
Sleepers (1996), Mystery, Alaska (1999), and
Black Hawk Down (2001). Eldard was born into a large family of six siblings in New York City in 1965; his mother died when he was very young, forcing the siblings apart in order to live with various relatives. The second youngest of his siblings, Eldard sought a boxing career in the Golden Gloves after discovering his remarkable strength early in life. Following his graduation from New York's renowned High School of the Performing Arts, Eldard's passion for drama was ignited, and he went on to appear on
One Life to Live before he made his feature debut in 1989's
True Love. After competing for the love of
Phoebe Cates in
Drop Dead Fred, Eldard would subsequently appear in numerous roles in film (
Scent of a Woman [1992] and
The Last Supper [1995]) and television (Arresting Behavior and
Men Behaving Badly). Eldard's onscreen romance with Margulies blossomed into true-life romance shortly after the two were paired up on
ER, and the couple became an offscreen item as well. Though subsequent feature roles increased Eldard's recognition factor, he had yet to parlay his acting career into leading-man territory. The new millennium, however, found the now-established actor edging ever closer to headline status with roles in
Just a Kiss (2002),
Ghost Ship (also 2002), and
House of Sand and Fog (2003). As a stage actor, Eldard has impressed Broadway audiences with roles in Biloxi Blues, On the Waterfront, and Death of a Salesman. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide