So, who is this guy? Well, you may have already seen him in several popular films, including the best sci-fi TV show ever to be cancelled by FOX television: Firefly and the movie based on the show, Serenity. His fans know him best as the Hawaiian shirt wearing, wise-cracking pilot, Hoban "Wash" Washburne.  Beyond Firefly, Alan has a growing filmography and is becoming a more sought-after actor on the big screen. 

Alan Tudyk's Early Days

Alan Tudyk was born in El Paso, TX and grew up in Plano. At Plano Sr. High he was voted "Most Likely to Succeed" and "Sophomore Beau." Later he went on to pursue acting at Lon Morris Jr. College and was awarded the Academic Excellence Award for Drama. He left that college to study at the prestigious Juilliard conservatory, but left in 1996 before earning a degree. He would move on to star in small stage productions and made his New York debut in "Bunny, Bunny" for which he recieved the Clarence Derwent Award for best New York Theatre debut. He would later finally land a role in the independent film 35 Miles from Normal. His big screen debut came with the role of Everton in Patch Adams. Alan landed his first Broadway role in 1999 with Epic Proportions. He quickly became a sought-after comedic actor, with roles in such films as 28 Days and A Knight’s Tale.

Alan Tudyk: the Star Next Door

In 2002, Alan really shined as Wash on the short-lived TV show, Firefly, earning him a legion of loyal fans. But before Firefly was cancelled, Alan landed the role of Steve the Pirate in Dodgeball and was the voice of the robot "Sonny" in I, Robot. The same year he reprised his role as Wash for the movie sequel to Firefly,  Serenity (2005), Alan went back to Broadway from June to November, taking over the role of Lancelot for Hank Azaria in the successful Monty Python musical Spamalot. The following year, Alan would appear on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation as pedophile arsonist Carl Fisher (in an episode entitled "Burn Out") and would be the voice of Cholly in both Ice Age: The Meltdown movies. In each performance, Alan proved himself to be a very complex, yet down-to-earth actor who choses unconventional roles and then plays them so naturally, with such ease, you can't help but be a little mesmerized. Alan Tudyk is more than just a funny guy, more than just another Hollywood actor with a twinkle in his eye, there's something about him that makes you want to sit and share some coffe with him.

The Alan Tudyk of the Future

2007 marks a busy year for Alan. Be sure to catch him in three films: Knocked Up (as Jack, a TV executive who hires Katherine Heigl's character, Alison, as an on-air TV personality), 3:10 to Yuma (as Doc Potter), and Death at a Funeral (as the drugged and loopy Simon).

Alan as Steve the Pirate & Alan in one of his first interviews for Firefly

The trailer for Death at a Funeral & Alan reading his Wash eulogy at DragonCon '06