& Biography & |
Our story begins on July 29, 1973 (under the Astrological Sign of Leo) in Atlanta, Georgia, when Mrs. Steve Dorff gave birth to a star, a beautiful boy with brown eyes and brown hair, who was named Stephen. Mrs. Dorff and her husband Steve, a film composer, only stayed in Atlanta a short while. Soon after the birth of younger brother Andrew, Stephen and his family moved to Los Angeles. This move was beginning of Stephen's future. It was in LA Stephen began to dream of becoming an actor, although there were other normal childhood longings. "I had an obsession with Spider-Man for a few years," Stephen says about his early years. "When I was real young, I had a Spider-Man costume. I put it on every day after school." Spidey obsession aside, Stephen still had dreams of acting. Although his parents never wanted him to become an actor, he never gave up.
At the age of 13, his got a starring role in the 1987 horror flick, "The Gate" and TV movie, "In Love and War". Stephen's career blossomed. He soon began to have guest appearances is well-known shows as "Roseanne", "Married...With Children", "Blossom", and more. In addition, he also starred in the TV Series "What a Dummy" as Tucker at the age of 16. It only lasted 24 episodes. He persevered, appearing in many TV Movies, such as "The absent-minded Professor" (1988), "Quiet Victory: The Charlie Wedemeyer Story" (1988), "Wonderworks: Hiroshima Maiden" (1988), "I Know My First Name Is Steven" (1989), "Do You Know the Muffin Man?"(1989), "A Son's Promise" (1990), and "I Will Always Remember You" (1990).
This work lead to a break-through performance in "Power of One" (1992). At the age of 18, he beat out 2000 young actors for the role of PK, the lead character who learns how to box and learns even more about the struggle of apartheid. Soon he sees his struggle with racial discrimination forces him to grow up more than his fighting ever could. After being put through weeks of boxing training and learning a South African accent, Stephen nailed the part perfectly. His face was soon put into numerous magazines. He had become a teen idol. Although the movie was not commercially successful, Stephen had begun his career in film and was soon to begin his first lesson in romance. After coming back from Africa, he fell in love with Courtney Wagner, daughter of Robert Wagner and Natalie Wood. However, the romance did not last. Stephen says, "I fell in love so strong at such a young age. I met her when I was eighteen, right after I got back from Africa, and I fell in love with her and she's still on my mind, but it's just too much. I mean I love her, but I cannot be with her. It doesn't work."
His next movie was Judgement Night (1993), playing John Wyatt, Frank Wyatt's (Emilio Estevez) brother. "I did Judgement Night, but I not really proud of it", Stephen has said. He once told a reporter, "I was advised by my agent to do a major film because it would help my career. I hadn't found a script I was interested in doing at the same time, so I took the part because I wanted to work. I also needed some money! OK, it wasn't challenging, but it paid the bills! It wasn't hard work either. I hardly had to try because it wasn't expected." Later that year he starred in "Rescue Me" in 1993 as Fraser Sweeney. In addition, in 1993, he stared in his favorite and most critically acclaimed film, "Backbeat". Stephen appeared as Stuart Sutcliffe, the fifth unknown member of the Beatles. Around this time, Stephen also appeared in a dark independent film that was never released to theatres, "An Ambush of Ghosts". His next move was starring as rock star Cliff Spab in the 1994 film "S.F.W". It co-starred Resse Witherspoon, who later told a report that she had a crush on her stunning co-star. In 1995, he starred in two French films, "Les Cent et une nuits" and "Halcyon Days". He also had a role in "Reckless" the same year as Tom Junior.
Being turned down for a role in "To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar", led him to the role of Candy Darling, a drag queen, in "I Shot Andy Warhol" in 1996. For the part, Stephen had his whole entire body shaved, and eyebrows waxed. Then came the role of Mike Pucci in "Space Truckers", co-starring Dennis Hopper. Space Truckers is known for being Stephen's worst movie. The reason people think Stephen chose to do this film was to work with well-known actor Dennis Hopper. This is the same reason he chose to do "Blood & Wine" with Jack Nicholson and Jennifer Lopez in 1997. After the film, Stephen and Jack formed a strong friendship that has lasted to this very day. Stephen says, "For me, people like Jack make all the stress and craziness of the business worthwhile. He's given me so much good advice. I care a lot about him."
Stephen moved on to make the film, "City of Industry" in 1997. The movie was not a hit, but made Stephen want to proceed away from independent films. He got his chance as the evil vampire Deacon Frost in the movie "Blade", opposite Wesley Snipes. Blade became the third most successful film of 1998. Stephen won a Blockbuster Award and an MTV Movie Award for best villain. He had made a hit, and was trilled for the success. In 1997, James Cameron turned Stephen down for the role of Jack in "Titanic". Stephen, while disappointed, believed that things happened for a reason. In the end, it was best not to have gotten that role. It will forever follow Leo DiCaprio wherever he goes. Whereas Stephen can make any movie he wants without being known for one major role.
After his hit with "Blade" and losing the part in "Titanic", he moved on to making the HBO TV movie, "Earthly Possessions" with Oscar winning actress Susan Sarandon. Stephen went back to independent films starring in "Entropy", which was released to video in 1999. Stephen played a director, Jake, who was having struggles with career and love. U2 was there to support Jake. It was here that Stephen formed a friendship with U2 lead singer, Bono.
In the new millennium, Stephen got to work with the Internet. "Quantum Project" made history as the first movie made exclusively for the Internet and can be viewed at sightsounds.com. Stephen Dorff plays Paul Pentcho, a physicist. In August 2000, cult director John Waters released the independent film, "Cecil B. Demented", starring Stephen Dorff in the title role as the deranged director with hate for commercial films.
Today, Stephen proceeds on to appear in 1950's drama "Deuces Wild", set for release September 14, 2001. Stephen plays Leon, the leader of the Deuces gang, trying to prevent his little brother from following in his footsteps and joining the tough gang life. The film co-stars Brad Renfro, Matt Dillion, and Norman Reedus and was produced by Martin Scorscese. Stephen is far from slowing down. He has begun production on a new film called "The Last Minute" and has several more waiting in the wings.
Stephen, now 28, has made a life for himself. However, it hasn't all been fun and games. Throughout his busy film career, he has had to handle many hardships. His parents separated after 25 years, which broke his heart. Stephen's father remarried an actress named Lori. Stephen now has two half sisters, Callie and Kaitlyn. He has continued to pursue love as well. After Courtney, he dated many women, most recently model Rhea Durham. And as always, Stephen has kept his love for partying. Smoking 2 packs of Camels a day, drinking tons of coffee, eating tons of junk food and collecting vintage guitars and cameras, Stephen has shaped a life for himself, but it is all part of his motivation to make his dreams come true. So now that he has become a successful, award-winning actor, what else does he dream of? He says, "to have a villa in L.A., an apartment in New York, a loft in Paris and a houseboat in Amsterdam." He also dreams of directing and having the music he composes be used in a film.
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