Consistently appearing in both mainstream and independent films,
DAVID ARQUETTE has emerged as one of the most gifted actors in
the industry today, with an impressive body of work that spans
television, theater and film. Having tried almost all genres,
Arquette seems at his best in quirky roles.
Born in Chicago on September 8, 1971 to a family of entertainers,
Arquette is the youngest brother of actors Rosanna Arquette,
Patricia Arquette, Alexis Arquette, and Richmond Arquette (who had
roles in "Seven" and "Scream 3"), the son of the late veteran
actor Lewis Arquette (who appeared with David in several films,
including "Scream 2"), and the grandson of the late comedian Cliff
Arquette (known as Charley Weaver of Hollywood Squares
fame). During Arquette's early years the family lived on a
California commune, but moved to Los Angeles so that Rosanna
could pursue an acting career. Soon after, Patricia, Alexis and
finally, David, followed suit.
Arquette first brought his quirky, eccentric persona to the small
screen in 1989 with a television adaptation of the film, "The
Outsiders," produced by Francis Ford Coppola. He made his big
screen debut in 1992 with a small role in the cult classic spoof
"Buffy the Vampire Slayer" and later that year portrayed a
homeless teen trying to survive, in the acclaimed drama "Where the
Day Takes You." Small and major roles in subsequent features
followed, including 1994's outrageous comedy "Airheads," for
director Michael Lehman and Walter Hill's unsuccessful "Wild
Bill" opposite Jeff Bridges.
In 1996, Arquette delivered a critically acclaimed performance
as a struggling male prostitute in "johns," and had a secondary
role in Ted Demme's "Beautiful Girls" starring Timothy Hutton and
Uma Thurman, but it wasn't until his turn as a bumbling deputy in
Wes Craven's $100 million-grossing "Scream" in December that he
began to receive wider recognition.
1997 brought with it "Scream"'s highly successful sequel, the
accurately titled "Scream 2." He earned the 1998 Blockbuster
Entertainment Award for Favorite Male in Horror for his
performance in the film, proving his popularity among mainstream
audiences. In addition, 1997 marked Arquette's return to
independent features, with the acclaimed "Dream with the Fishes,"
a film that Arquette both acted in and co-produced.
1999 was a busy year for the actor, signaling that Hollywood was
finding more room to accommodate his offbeat talent. In addition
to his recurring spot in a series of creepy AT&T commercials,
Arquette had major roles in three movies, the Drew Barrymore
romantic comedy "Never Been Kissed," which brought him another
Blockbuster Entertainment Award, "Muppets From Space" and
Antonia Bird's much maligned "Ravenous." Additionally, he had a
supporting role in the independent film "Kiss and Tell."
In 2000, Arquette reprised his role in the successful conclusion
of the "Scream" trilogy, and starred in his first leading role
in a mainstream feature, the wrestling comedy "Ready to
Rumble," which unfortunately did not do well with both critics
and audiences.
Aside from the "Scream" trilogy, Arquette worked on three other
films with his wife Courteney Cox Arquette, whom he met during
the first "Scream" and married before filming on "Scream 3"
began: 1999's "The Runner," the little-seen romantic comedy "The
Shrink Is In," and the unsuccessful "3000 Miles to Graceland"
with Kevin Costner and Kurt Russell. Arquette and Cox received
the Best Onscreen Chemistry at the 2000 Teen Choice Award for
"Scream 3."
Following the release of "3000 Miles to Graceland," Arquette
appeared in the lead role in "See Spot Run," a Warner Bros.
comedy about a postal worker who takes in a stray dog that turns
out to be a refugee from the Witness Protection Program. Despite
opening to negative reviews, the film was a fairly substantial
success. Arquette again plays the lead in the recent release
"Eight Legged Freaks" and will soon be seen in "Happy Here and
Now," "The Grey Zone," an intense World War II drama which
premiered at the Toronto Film Festival, "Stealing Sinatra" and "A
Foreign Affair," which he also produced.
Arquette also has the distinction of appearing in five films that
were selected for the Sundance Film Festival for five consecutive
years. He starred in the drama "Fall Time," which was screened
at the 1995 Sundance Film Festival. "johns" was in competition
at Sundance '96. "Dream With the Fishes" competed at Sundance
'97, and "The Alarmist," in which he starred opposite Stanley
Tucci and Kate Capshaw, was selected for Sundance 1998.
Aside from "The Outsiders," Arquette's television work includes
regular series roles on "Parenthood," for producer Ron Howard,
the Showtime movie "Roadracers," directed by Robert Rodriguez,
Diane English's "Double Rush," and the ABC mini-series "Dead
Man's Walk," Larry McMurtry's prequel to the epic "Lonesome
Dove," in which he starred as the young Texas Ranger Gus McRae.
He has guest starred on several television series, including
"Blossom," "Beverly Hills, 90210," "Friends," playing Phoebe's
(Lisa Kudrow) stalker, "Sin City Spectacular," "The Hughleys,"
"Son of the Beach" and "All That."
Arquette made his stage debut in Los Angeles at the Tiffany
Theatre, performing the lead role of Frank-n-Furter in the 25th
Anniversary revival of Richard O'Brien's "The Rocky Horror Show."
Arquette also leads the band Ear 2000, whose single, "The Race,"
is on the gold-selling "Scream 2" soundtrack. Ear 2000's next
single, "Click Click," is on the "Scream 3" soundtrack.
Arquette trained with his father at the famed Second City
Theatre Group.
![[David Arquette]](davida.jpg)