Lee Grinner Pace (born March 25, 1979) is an American actor known for his versatility and commanding presence on screen and stage. He gained widespread recognition for portraying Thranduil the Elvenking in The Hobbit trilogy and the enigmatic tech visionary Joe MacMillan in AMC’s critically acclaimed series Halt and Catch Fire. In the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he played the villainous Ronan the Accuser in Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) and reprised the role in Captain Marvel (2019). Pace was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2008 for his performance as Ned in the whimsical crime dramedy Pushing Daisies, and since 2021, he has starred as Brother Day, the ruthless galactic emperor, in Apple TV+’s sci-fi epic Foundation, based on Isaac Asimov’s seminal work.
Born in Chickasha, Oklahoma, to Charlotte, a schoolteacher, and James, an engineer, Pace spent part of his childhood in Saudi Arabia due to his father’s work in the oil industry, before relocating to Houston, Texas. Raised in a Catholic household, he attended Klein High School alongside future actor Matt Bomer. His early passion for acting led him to leave high school briefly to perform at Houston’s Alley Theatre, where he appeared in productions like The Spider’s Web and The Greeks before completing his diploma.
In 1997, Pace was accepted into the prestigious Juilliard School as part of Drama Division Group 30, joining the ranks of future stars like Anthony Mackie and Tracie Thoms. While at Juilliard, he played leading roles in classical works including Romeo and Juliet, Richard II, and Julius Caesar. He graduated in 2001 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, launching a career that would span theater, independent film, blockbuster franchises, and acclaimed television.
