Steven Ray Wiig is an American

United States

The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...

 film actor

Actor

An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

, director

Film director

A film director is a person who directs the actors and film crew in filmmaking. They control a film's artistic and dramatic nathan roach, while guiding the technical crew and actors.-Responsibilities:...

, producer

Film producer

A film producer oversees and delivers a film project to all relevant parties while preserving the integrity, voice and vision of the film. They will also often take on some financial risk by using their own money, especially during the pre-production period, before a film is fully financed.The...

 and musician

Musician

A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....

. He appears in the films Into the Wild

Into the Wild (film)

Into the Wild is a 2007 American biographical drama film directed by Sean Penn. It is an adaptation of 1996 non-fiction book of the same name by Jon Krakauer based on the travels of Christopher McCandless across North America in the early 1990s. The film stars Emile Hirsch as McCandless with...

under director (and Academy Award

Academy Awards

An Academy Award, also known as an Oscar, is an accolade bestowed by the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to recognize excellence of professionals in the film industry, including directors, actors, and writers...

-winning actor) Sean Penn

Sean Penn

Sean Justin Penn is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, also known for his political and social activism...

, Some Kind of Monster

Some Kind of Monster

Some Kind of Monster may refer to:* "Some Kind of Monster" , a song by Metallica;* Some Kind of Monster , an extended play by Metallica;* Some Kind of Monster , a documentary named after the song....

, directed by Joe Berlinger

Joe Berlinger

Joseph "Joe" Berlinger is an American documentary film-maker who, in collaboration with Bruce Sinofsky, has created such films as Paradise Lost about the West Memphis 3, Brother's Keeper, Some Kind of Monster, and Crude....

 and Bruce Sinofsky

Bruce Sinofsky

Bruce Sinofsky is an award-winning documentary film director, who began his career at Maysles Films.Sinofsky was born in Boston, Massachusetts. As Senior Editor for Maysles, he worked on commercials and feature films until 1991, when he and Joe Berlinger formed their own production company,...

, and Gus Van Sant

Gus Van Sant

Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...

's San Francisco-based film Milk

Milk (film)

Milk is a 2008 American biographical film on the life of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors...

. He is the drummer in the band Papa Wheelie

Papa Wheelie

Papa Wheelie is a punk rock/heavy metal supergroup formed in 1996 by former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.The band emerged from a mountain biking-based friendship between Jason and his neighborhood bike shop owner. Early in the project, Newsted played the drums and fellow Michigan-native Steven...

, fronted by former Metallica

Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...

 member Jason Newsted

Jason Newsted

Jason Curtis Newsted is an American bassist known for his work with Metallica, Voivod and Flotsam and Jetsam. Joining Metallica in 1986 after Cliff Burton's death, Newsted remained a member until 2001, making him the band's longest-serving bassist...

. Wiig is the primary songwriter in his band The Martichora (all instruments) along with Rich Doucette.

Close friend and longtime Executive Personal Assistant to Metallica

Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...

's founder and drummer Lars Ulrich

Lars Ulrich

Lars Ulrich is a Danish drummer, and one of the founding members of the American thrash metal band Metallica. He was born in Gentofte, Denmark to an upper-middle class family. A tennis player in his youth, Ulrich moved to Los Angeles, California at age sixteen to pursue his training; though rather...

. Wiig attended Northern Michigan University

Northern Michigan University

Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...

.

Currently resides in Sausalito, Marin County, California

Marin County, California

Marin County is a county located in the North San Francisco Bay Area of the U.S. state of California, across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco. As of 2010, the population was 252,409. The county seat is San Rafael and the largest employer is the county government. Marin County is well...

 is working as a Producer to bring the novel U.P. (Ghost Road Press) to the screen based in Michigan's Upper Peninsula.

Biography

Steven Ray Wiig was born December 30, 1972 in Ishpeming, Michigan

Michigan

Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....

. He
grew up in Negaunee and graduated from Negaunee High School in 1991,
where he was voted "Most Artistic" by his classmates. Wiig attended
Northern Michigan University

Northern Michigan University

Northern Michigan University is a four-year college public university established in 1899 located in Marquette, in Michigan's Upper Peninsula. With a population of nearly 10,000 undergraduate and graduate students, Northern Michigan University is the Upper Peninsula's largest...

 in Marquette, MI, where he studied
Psychology, Sociology & Graphic Arts, while working as an in-house artist at
KC Comics in Marquette, MI.

He relocated to Minnesota after college in the mid-nineties, where he
performed with his band, The Martichora, and produced & acted in
several student films, including 'All Praise The Electric Light'. Soon
after, Wiig began working on the road and in the recording studio with
multi-Grammy award winning heavy metal band Metallica

Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...

, producing and filming several
'on the road' documentaries in the late '90's for the band - as well as others,
including Corrosion Of Conformity

Corrosion of Conformity

Corrosion of Conformity is an American heavy metal band from Raleigh, North Carolina formed in 1982. For almost the majority of its existence, the band has consisted of guitarist Woody Weatherman, bassist Mike Dean , drummer Reed Mullin and vocalist and rhythm...

's tour home video "Seven Daze."

In 2000, Steven Wiig relocated to California to work with Metallica

Metallica

Metallica is an American heavy metal band from Los Angeles, California. Formed in 1981 when James Hetfield responded to an advertisement that drummer Lars Ulrich had posted in a local newspaper. The current line-up features long-time lead guitarist Kirk Hammett and bassist Robert Trujillo ...

 Bassist Jason
Newsted at his home studio and play in Newsted's band, Papa Wheelie

Papa Wheelie

Papa Wheelie is a punk rock/heavy metal supergroup formed in 1996 by former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.The band emerged from a mountain biking-based friendship between Jason and his neighborhood bike shop owner. Early in the project, Newsted played the drums and fellow Michigan-native Steven...

. He
continued working and traveling the world with Metallica for over a
decade performing numerous duties—fan club writer, photographer,
videographer, backline assistant, production, and band personal
assistant. Wiig actually played bass for Metallica at The Playboy Mansion

Playboy Mansion

The Playboy Mansion is the home of Playboy magazine founder Hugh Hefner. Located in the Holmby Hills area of Los Angeles, California, the mansion became famous during the 1970s through media reports of Hefner's lavish parties.-History:The house is described as being in the "Gothic-Tudor" style...

 in
1998 (filling in for Newsted) and in 2003 he appeared in Metallica's award
winning documentary 'Some Kind Of Monster'.

Encouraged by his friend, actor, writer and director Sean Penn

Sean Penn

Sean Justin Penn is an American actor, screenwriter and film director, also known for his political and social activism...

 to
"start acting," Wiig was soon cast in Penn's "Into The Wild" in 2006 and
Gus Van Sant

Gus Van Sant

Gus Green Van Sant, Jr. is an American director, screenwriter, painter, photographer, musician, and author. He is a two time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Director for his 1997 film Good Will Hunting and his 2008 film Milk, both of which were also nominated for Best Picture, and won the...

's "Milk" in 2008. During this time, Wiig was spending numerous days on both sets
immersed in 'film world'. He has assisted Oscar-winner Penn on several
personal and professional projects and worked as a consultant for
Social Capital Films for Ridley Scott

Ridley Scott

Sir Ridley Scott is an English film director and producer. His most famous films include The Duellists , Alien , Blade Runner , Legend , Thelma & Louise , G. I...

's 'Tell-Tale'.

In 2009, Steven Wiig teamed up with fellow Upper Michigan-native Ron Riekki to write the screenplay for Riekki's novel "U.P." (2008).

In 2010, Wiig documented Faith No More

Faith No More

Faith No More is an American rock band from San Francisco, California, formed originally as Faith No Man in 1981 by bassist Billy Gould, keyboardist Wade Worthington, vocalist Michael Morris and drummer Mike Bordin. A year later when Worthington was replaced by keyboardist Roddy Bottum, and Mike...

's homecoming reunion 'trilogy' performances at
San Francisco's Warfield Theater and directed Jerry Hannan

Jerry Hannan

Gerald Joseph "Jerry" Hannan is an Irish-American singer-songwriter and actor.-Early career:Raised on jigs and ballads in San Francisco's Irish community, Jerry Hannan grew up listening to the music of his Irish-born parents , as well as Cat Stevens...

's "The
Bridge" music video for the motion picture "Guitar Man". In September of that year, Wiig & Riekki embarked on a tour of Michigan's Upper Peninsula, promoting Riekki's novel (U.P.) and announcing their intentions of turning the book into a film. During a homecoming event at The Vista Theatre, Mayor Paul Gravedoni presented Steven Wiig with a Resolution Recognizing him for his vision of bringing the City of Negaunee recognition through film and his dedication to the arts.

2011 saw Wiig return to acting in HBO's Hemingway & Gellhorn

Hemingway & Gellhorn

Hemingway & Gellhorn is an upcoming HBO film about the lives of journalist Martha Gellhorn and her husband, writer Ernest Hemingway. It will be directed by Philip Kaufman. The film began shooting in San Francisco in March 2011...

. Under Philip Kaufman

Philip Kaufman

Philip Kaufman is an American film director and screenwriter. His movies have adapted novels of widely different types – from Milan Kundera’s The Unbearable Lightness of Being to Michael Crichton’s Rising Sun; from Tom Wolfe’s heroic epic The Right Stuff to the erotic writings of Anaïs Nin’s...

's direction, Wiig portrayed Simo Häyhä

Simo Häyhä

Simo Häyhä , nicknamed "White Death" by the Red Army, was a Finnish sniper. Using a modified Mosin–Nagant in the Winter War, he has the highest recorded number of confirmed sniper kills - 505 - in any major war....

 during The Winter War

Winter War

The Winter War was a military conflict between the Soviet Union and Finland. It began with a Soviet offensive on 30 November 1939 – three months after the start of World War II and the Soviet invasion of Poland – and ended on 13 March 1940 with the Moscow Peace Treaty...

, leading a group of Finnish soldiers to shelter where Martha Gellhorn

Martha Gellhorn

Martha Gellhorn was an American novelist, travel writer and journalist, considered by The London Daily Telegraph amongst others to be one of the greatest war correspondents of the 20th century. She reported on virtually every major world conflict that took place during her 60-year career...

 (played by Nicole Kidman

Nicole Kidman

Nicole Mary Kidman, AC is an American-born Australian actress, singer, film producer, spokesmodel, and humanitarian. After starring in a number of small Australian films and TV shows, Kidman's breakthrough was in the 1989 thriller Dead Calm...

) is reporting on World War II

World War II

World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...

. Keeping busy in July 2011, Wiig acted in three major films and returned to Michigan's Upper Peninsula to help promote "The U.P. Book Tour 2011".

Steven Wiig continues acting, producing & directing and is actively working to bring more film projects to Upper Michigan's Marquette County

Marquette County, Michigan

-National protected areas:* Hiawatha National Forest * Huron National Wildlife Refuge* Ottawa National Forest -University:Northern Michigan University is a four-year university, established in 1899, located in Marquette, Michigan, on Michigan's Upper Peninsula...

.

Filmography

As Actor:

• All Praise The Electric Light (student film)
• Some Kind of Monster
  Some Kind of Monster (film)
  Some Kind of Monster is a 2004 documentary film featuring the American heavy metal band Metallica. It shares its name with the song "Some Kind of Monster" from Metallica's 2003 album St. Anger....
  
  (2004)
• Into the Wild
  Into the Wild (film)
  Into the Wild is a 2007 American biographical drama film directed by Sean Penn. It is an adaptation of 1996 non-fiction book of the same name by Jon Krakauer based on the travels of Christopher McCandless across North America in the early 1990s. The film stars Emile Hirsch as McCandless with...
  
  (2007)
• Milk
  Milk (film)
  Milk is a 2008 American biographical film on the life of gay rights activist and politician Harvey Milk, who was the first openly gay person to be elected to public office in California, as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors...
  
  (2008)
• Hemingway & Gellhorn (2012)

Appears in cartoon form alongside Neil Hamburger

Neil Hamburger

Neil Hamburger is a standup comedian character played by comedian and musician Gregg Turkington.-Style:Hamburger's live act, which is quite different from his many albums, features a barrage of question/answer jokes aimed often at celebrity targets, including Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, The Red...

 on The Amazing Adventures of Pleaseeasaur

Pleaseeasaur

Pleaseeasaur is a comedic musical act made of JP Hasson . The music is high energy camp style humor. The live performance usually includes JP Hasson in many costumes, each of which coincides with the song, along with multi-media animations of related images on a large screen...

 DVD (2006).

Discography

• GROINBLITZER
  • 1989-1991
• The Lesser
• The Martichora
  • all releases
• Papa Wheelie
  Papa Wheelie
  Papa Wheelie is a punk rock/heavy metal supergroup formed in 1996 by former Metallica bassist Jason Newsted.The band emerged from a mountain biking-based friendship between Jason and his neighborhood bike shop owner. Early in the project, Newsted played the drums and fellow Michigan-native Steven...
  
  

External links

• U.P. THE MOVIE Official Website
• TWO EYES Productions Website
• Second Wave Feature
• "Moving on UP" SF Chronicle September 5, 2010
• SF Chronicle PHOTO
• "U.P." THE BOOK
• Local-born actor eyes the idea of bringing the U.P. to the big screen
• "U.P." the movie
• Made in the UP: Wiig wants movie to employ area residents
• U.P. native goes 'Into the Wild'
• Papa Wheelie
• Papa Wheelie Media
• Papa Wheelie myspace
• The Martichora myspace
• Musician-actor keeps his connection to U.P. strong
• McCandless story has U.P. connection
• Local folks can finally see Negaunee actor in movie
• "Picturing Harvey Milk" SF Chronicle January 30, 2008
• Metallica embraces U.P. native
• Local man makes good in Hollywood