Scott Haze

Actor and filmmaker Scott Haze emerged from the Los Angeles theater scene to deliver intense, harrowing performances in such uncompromising films as "As I Lay Dying" (2013) and "Child of God" (2014) for his friend and frequent collaborator, James Franco. Born in Dallas, Texas, Haze trained at both the Stella Adler Conservatory and Playhouse West and began his screen acting career in 2004 with minor roles in various short and independent films. He also founded and built the Sherry Theater in North Hollywood, California, where he produced a number of dramatic plays, included several of his own works. In 2011, he created the comedy series "The Vanya Show" (YouTube, 2011-), about a self-obsessed Russian actress intent on making her name in Hollywood. During this period, Haze forged a close personal and professional relationship with actor-director James Franco, who would cast him in several of his most ambitious film projects, including adaptations of William's Faulkner's "As I Lay Dying" and "The Sound and the Fury" (2014). Haze drew widespread critical acclaim for his performance in "Child of God" (2013), Franco's adaptation of the Cormac McCarthy novel of the same name about a feral young man (Haze) at odds with society. His wholly committed turn in a difficult role earned him a spot on Variety's 10 Actors to Watch list that year, and was soon followed by supporting turns in Jeff Nichols' science fiction thriller "Midnight Special" (2014) and a variety of projects with Franco. These included "Making a Scene with James Franco" (AOL, 2014-), in which filmmakers provide their own take on famous movie scenes by blending them with other genres and styles. Haze also honed his own career as a filmmaker, most notably with the documentaries "Ghosts & Goblins" (2015), about the celebrated amateur wrestler Leroy Kemp, and "Mulli" (2015), which concerned the Reverend Charles Mulli and his humanitarian efforts in Africa.