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Tobin Bell is an American actor with a career in film, television and theater spanning three decades. He was born in Queens, New York and raised in Weymouth, Mass. His mother is the British actress Eileen Bell. He is perhaps best known for his role as the iconic villain "Jigsaw" in the Saw film series...for which he received MTV Award nominations in 2007 & 2009. He's a graduate of Boston University and has a Masters Degree in Education from Montclair State University. He studied acting with Sanford Meisner at the Neighborhood Playhouse and Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio in New York. He is a lifetime member of The Actors Studio and a member of The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
Often plays a villainous character.
Son of English actress Eileen Bell.
Studied in New York City with Ellen Burstyn.
Is probably best known as Jigsaw/John Kramer in the "Saw" movies.
Has never been, and to this day is not, a fan of horror films, despite playing his menacing character Jigsaw in the "Saw" trilogy.
Donated two vials of his own blood to be mixed with red ink for 1000 posters to help promote Saw III . All proceeds went to the American Red Cross.
His favorite Saw traps are the Jaw Splitter from the first film and the Syringe Pit from the second.
In addition to being an actor he is also a Little League baseball coach.
Considers Saw II his favorite out of the "Saw" trilogy.
He had a small role in Goodfellas , with Joe Pesci. Pesci later played David Ferrie in JFK , the same role Bell played in Ruby .
Splits his time with his wife and two children between his homes in New York and Los Angeles.
Profiled in "Character Kings: Hollywoods Familiar Faces Discuss the Art & Business of Acting" by Scott Voisin.
Tobins father, Joseph Henry Bell, built and established the radio station WJDA in Quincy, MA. Joseph was American-born, from a Massachusetts family, of Irish descent. Tobins mother, actress Eileen Bell, was British-born, and had roots in County Cork.
As of 2014, has appeared in five films that were nominated for the Best Picture Oscar: The Verdict , Tootsie , Mississippi Burning , Goodfellas and JFK .
Appeared in four films with Gene Hackman : Mississippi Burning , Loose Cannons , The Firm and The Quick and the Dead .
There are different ways of approaching roles. Some people get involved,in the emotional aspects of characters.
