Tobin Bell

Tobin Bell

Sponsored Links:

Birth name: Tobin Bell
Date of birth: 7 August 1942
Place of birth: Queens, New York City, New York, USA
Nickname: Tob
Height: 5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
Spouse: (1982 – present) 2 children

Famous Quote: “There are different ways of approaching roles. Some people get involved in the emotional aspects of characters. I want to do anything that’s well-written, that reveals something of the human condition, that provides growth for the material as well as the actors. Great opportunity.”

Contact Address and Autograph: Addresses and fan mail information

Tobin Bell
Polaris Entertainment, Inc.
9171 Wilshire Blvd. Suite 441
Beverly Hills, CA 90210, USA 

Biography:  Tobin Bell (born August 7, 1942) is an American film and television actor. He is best and widely known as John Kramer, a.k.a. Jigsaw in the Saw movies. Though he can be spotted in a variety of made-for-TV movies, sitcoms, and prime-time dramas (Seinfeld, NYPD Blue, The X-Files, and The Sopranos are among his many television credits).

New York native Tobin Bell is known best for his role as Jigsaw, a serial killer with a penchant for torturing his victims — physically and psychologically — in the gruesome Saw film series. The performance was good enough to secure a nomination for “Best Villain” two years in a row at the MTV Movie Awards, and won Bell the coveted “Best Butcher” award at the Fuse/Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. 

In addition to his roles as fictional villains, the actor played the real-life bad guy, Unabomber John Kaczynski, in the made-for-TV movie Unabomber: The True Story (1996). Bell often plays the role of a villain and serial killer; he was cast as Unabomber Theodore John Kaczynski in the made-for-TV movie Unabomber: The True Story, and most recently has played the role of the nefarious “Jigsaw,” a serial killer who wants others to appreciate the value of life via twisted “games” in the 2004 film Saw and its sequels, Saw II and Saw III. 

He received a 2006 MTV Movie Award nomination for “Best Villain” and a nomination for “Best Butcher” in the Fuse/Fangoria Chainsaw Awards. Aside from appearing in made-for-TV movies, Bell has guest starred in popular series such as Seinfeld, La Femme Nikita, The X-Files, Stargate SG-1, Alias, The Sopranos, and 24.

Bell was born Joseph Tobin in Queens, New York and raised in Weymouth, Massachusetts. His mother, Eileen Bell Tobin, is a British-born actress.

Bell often plays the role of a villain and serial killer; he was cast as a hitman in Sydney Pollack’s The Firm and as Unabomber Theodore John Kaczynski in the made-for-TV movie Unabomber: The True Story; and most recently has played the role of the nefarious “Jigsaw”, a serial killer who wants others to appreciate the value of life via twisted “games” in the 2004 film Saw and its sequels, Saw II, Saw III, Saw IV, and Saw V. Currently, Bell has signed on for five sequels in the Saw series, allowing for his appearance in Saw VI.

He received a 2006 MTV Movie Award nomination for “Best Villain”, a 2007 MTV Movie Awards nomination for “Best Villain” again, and a winning nomination for “Best Butcher” in the Fuse/Fangoria Chainsaw Awards.

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 (2006). 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 (2005) his favorite out of the “Saw” trilogy. He had a small role in Goodfellas (1990), with Joe Pesci. Pesci later played David Ferrie in JFK (1991), the same role Bell played in Ruby (1992). Splits his time with his wife and two children between his homes in New York and Los Angeles.

Was an extra in the classic comedy Tootsie (1982). He can be seen briefly as a waiter in the party scene in which Michael (Dustin Hoffman) tries to pick up Julie (Jessica Lange) and gets water thrown in his face. Tobin can be seen crossing the camera at the very beginning of the scene.

Aside from appearing in made-for-TV movies, Bell has guest starred in popular series such as Charmed, Seinfeld, La Femme Nikita, The X-Files, Stargate SG-1, Alias, The West Wing, The Pretender, The Sopranos, NYPD Blue, 24, ER and Walker Texas Ranger.

Related People: