Lee Grinner Pace, born on March 25, 1979, in Chickasha, Oklahoma, is an American actor. A graduate of the Juilliard School, he gained his first major recognition for his portrayal of a transgender woman in the television film *Soldier's Girl* (2003), which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. His television career is marked by the lead role of Ned in the cult series *Pushing Daisies* (2007-2009), for which he received Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, and as Joe MacMillan in the critically acclaimed drama *Halt and Catch Fire* (2014-2017). On the big screen, he is widely known for portraying the Elvenking Thranduil in *The Hobbit* trilogy and the villain Ronan the Accuser in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, particularly in *Guardians of the Galaxy* (2014). Also active in theater, he received a Tony Award nomination for his performance in *Angels in America* in 2018. Among his more recent projects is the role of Emperor Cleon in the science fiction series *Foundation*.