Shea Whigham, an American actor born on January 5, 1969, is known for his versatility and intense performances as a character actor. He gained international recognition for his role as Elias "Eli" Thompson in the HBO series *Boardwalk Empire* (2010-2014), which earned him a Screen Actors Guild Award as part of the cast. His prolific television career includes acclaimed performances in series such as *True Detective* (first season), *Fargo* (third season), *Homecoming*, and *Perry Mason*. In film, he has collaborated with leading directors, appearing in films such as *Take Shelter*, *Silver Linings Playbook*, *The Wolf of Wall Street*, *Joker*, and in the *Fast & Furious* and *Mission: Impossible* franchises. For his performance in the film *American Hustle*, he shared a second Screen Actors Guild Award with the rest of the cast, solidifying his reputation as a reliable actor praised by both critics and audiences.