Skeet Ulrich

Biography:  Brian Ray "Skeet" Ulrich is an American actor best known for starring in the CBS drama Jericho and for playing Billy Loomis in Scream. Early life Ulrich was born Bryan Ray Trout in Lynchburg, Virginia and was raised in Concord, North Carolina by his mother, Carolyn Elaine Wax (née Rudd), who owns the special-events marketing agency Sports Management Group. Ulrich's father is a restaurateur and his first stepfather was former NASCAR driver and team owner D. K. Ulrich. His mother has since re-married to Edward Lewis Wax. Ulrich's uncle is NASCAR Sprint Cup driver Ricky Rudd (who is his mother's brother) and his maternal grandfather was Alvin Ray Rudd, Sr., the president of Al Rudd Auto Parts. The nickname "Skeet" originated from the nickname "Skeeter" he was given by his Little League coach because of his small stature. Along with his slight frame he had poor health, including numerous bouts with pneumonia, and underwent open heart surgery at the age of 10. Ulrich graduated from Northwest Cabarrus High School, where he was a soccer standout. After initially enrolling at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to study Marine Biology, he switched to New York University, and was subsequently noticed by playwright David Mamet. Career In his earliest screen appearances, he was an uncredited extra in films Weekend at Bernie's and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After joining the Atlantic Theater Company as an apprentice, Ulrich performed with the group, which got him noticed yet again, this time by director Stacy Cochran. She cast him in a CBS School Break Special. With her help he also received his first notable role on screen in 1996 as the loutish boyfriend of Winona Ryder in Boys. That same year he appeared in The Craft with Neve Campbell. He starred with Neve Campbell again in Wes Craven's hit slasher film Scream released later that same year which became his best known role. In 1998 he starred in The Newton Boys. Ulrich starred alongside Cuba Gooding Jr. in the action film Chill Factor. He had a small but pivotal role as an emotionally conflicted gay hustler in As Good as It Gets. He starred as Juvenal, a young man with stigmata and healing powers in the Paul Schrader film Touch, and he appeared in Ride with the Devil, an American Civil War drama directed by Ang Lee. In 2000, he played computer hacker Kevin Mitnick in the film Takedown. On television, Ulrich starred in the short-lived ABC series Miracles, and appeared in TNT's multiple Emmy-nominated miniseries Into the West. In 2005, Ulrich acted with Keri Russell in the TV movie The Magic of Ordinary Days. Ulrich most recently starred as Jake Green on the CBS post-apocalyptic drama Jericho, which premiered on September 20, 2006, and ended its run on March 25, 2008. Back, from Storyline Entertainment & CBS Paramount Network, is a 2009 CBS telelvision pilot which centers on a man (Skeet Ulrich) who disappeared in the wake of the 9/11 terrorist attacks- but who suddenly shows up, eight years later. Project follows the man as he reconnects with his family and adjusts to a world that has dramatically changed. Dean Widenmann wrote the project and will serve as supervising producer, while Storyline's Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will be Executive Producers. Skeet will guest for three episodes of CSI: NY as a complex and deeply disturbed killer. The episodes began airing October 7, 2009. Personal life In 1997, Ulrich married English actress Georgina Cates, whom he met at an Academy Award party. Their wedding was a small ceremony held on their farmland in Virginia, with the only guests being the preacher and their canine companions. They have twins: a son Jakob Dylan, and a daughter, Naiia Rose, born in 2001. Skeet and Georgina divorced in 2005, citing irreconcilable differences. They share joint custody of their children.