# Cory Michael Smith

Cory Michael Smith is an American actor. He appeared in 2013 in Breakfast at Tiffany's on Broadway, which starred Emilia Clarke. He has also appeared in several of Todd Haynes's films, including Carol (2015), Wonderstruck (2017), and May December (2023), as well as Jason Reitman's film Saturday Night (2024).

## Early life and education

Cory Michael Smith grew up in Columbus, Ohio, and graduated from Hilliard Darby High School in 2005. He had aspirations ranging from becoming a concert pianist to a lawyer.
While at Otterbein University, he was cast in such plays as The Scene, The Caucasian Chalk Circle, Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Tartuffe.

## Career

From 2009 until early 2012 Smith performed in various regional theatre productions for the likes of New York Stage and Film. In 2011, he was seen in the New York City premiere of The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World at Playwrights Horizons. He starred in The Fantasticks at both Barrington Stage Company and The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis. He was also seen in Edith Can Shoot Things and Hit Them.
Smith made his Broadway debut in Breakfast at Tiffany's in 2013. In the same theatre season, he also starred Off-Broadway in both the U.S. premiere of Cock a.k.a. The Cockfight Play by Mike Bartlett and The Whale by Samuel D. Hunter, which had its world premiere at Denver Center for the Performing Arts with the New York premiere at Playwrights Horizons.
His first feature film was Camp X-Ray, which premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in January. He appeared in a short horror movie, Dog Food, co-starring Amanda Seyfried, which premiered at the 2014 South by Southwest . Smith also appeared in the HBO mini-series Olive Kitteridge in 2014 and the film Carol (2015).
In 2018, Smith starred in his first leading role in the independent drama 1985. He appeared as Georgie in the 2023 drama May December.
Smith has also narrated an episode of The New York Times Modern Love podcast, for which he read Kalle Oskari Mattila's essay about catfishing.
In 2015 he appeared in the TV series Gotham as Edward Nygma.
   "What I love about [the character's history] is how diverse it is in terms of how the character is portrayed, in terms of his appearance, the different costumes and hair color," Smith says. "Sometimes it's incredibly ostentatious, other times it's almost professional, or regal. Sometimes, he's a showman, sometimes he's a nerd."
In 2018, Smith starred in his first leading role in the independent drama 1985. In July 2018 he narrated an episode of The New York Times Modern Love Podcast, for which he read Kalle Oskari Mattila's essay about catfishing.
He appeared as Georgie in the 2023 drama May December.

## Personal life

In a March 2018 interview, Smith stated that he is queer.

## Acting credits
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | Camp X-Ray | Pvt. Bergen | |
| 2014 | Dog Food | Declan Moore | Short film |
| 2015 | Carol | Tommy Tucker | |
| 2017 | Wonderstruck | Walter | |
| 2018 | 1985 | Adrian Lester | |
| 2018 | First Man | Roger B. Chaffee | |
| 2021 | The Same Storm | Jeremy Salt | |
| 2022 | Call Jane | Dean | |
| 2023 | May December | Georgie Atherton | |
| 2023 | Incomplete | Narrator | Short film |
| 2024 | Saturday Night | Chevy Chase | |
| TBA | Sentimental Value | | Post-production |
| TBA | Famous | | Filming |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2014 | Olive Kitteridge | Dr. Kevin Coulson | Episode: "Incoming Tide" Nominated — Critics' Choice Television Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries |
| 2014–2019 | Gotham | Edward Nygma / Riddler | Main role; 100 episodes Nominated — Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Villain |
| 2020 | Utopia | Thomas Christie | Main role; 8 episodes |
| 2023 | Transatlantic | Varian Fry | Main role; Miniseries; 7 episodes |
| 2024 | Law & Order | George Shavers | Episode: "Unintended Consequences" |

### Theater

| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
| 2013 | Bright Star | Billy Cane | Powerhouse Theater |
| 2013 | Cock | John | Duke |
| 2013 | The Whale | Elder Thomas | Playwrights Horizons |
| 2013 | The Shaggs: Philosophy of the World | Kyle | Playwrights Horizons |
| 2013 | Breakfast at Tiffany's | Fred / Narrator | Cort Theatre |
| 2017 | Assassins | Lee Harvey Oswald | New York City Center |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
| 2015 | Critics' Choice Television Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Movie/Miniseries | Olive Kitteridge | Nominated |
| 2017 | Teen Choice Awards | Choice TV: Villain | Gotham | Nominated |
| 2018 | Queen Palm International Film Festival | Best Actor in a Feature Film | 1985 | Won |