Thomas Haden Church (born Thomas Richard McMillen; June 17, 1960) is an American actor known for his distinctive voice, rugged charm, and versatility across comedic and dramatic roles. He first gained recognition in the 1990s through television, starring in the sitcom Wings and as the lead in Ned & Stacey (1995–1997). His film breakthrough came with Sideways (2004), earning him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
Church is also widely recognized for playing the Marvel villain Sandman in Spider-Man 3 (2007) and reprising the role in Spider-Man: No Way Home (2021). His diverse film credits include George of the Jungle (1997), Over the Hedge (2006), Easy A (2010), We Bought a Zoo (2011), and Hellboy (2019). He made his directorial debut with the indie comedy Rolling Kansas (2003) and returned to TV with a major role as the antagonist Agent Stone in Twisted Metal (2023).
Born in Woodland, California, Church grew up in Texas after his parents’ divorce. He adopted the name “Haden Church” from family relatives after initially using his stepfather’s surname, Quesada. A self-described outdoorsman, Church spent much of his youth ranching and working in the oil fields before pursuing acting. He attended the University of North Texas.
