Nathaniel Wales Faxon is an American actor, comedian, director, and Academy Award-winning screenwriter. He won theย Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplayย for co-writingย The Descendantsย (2011) and starred in the FOX comedy seriesย Ben and Kateย (2012โ2013), theย FXย comedy series Marriedย (2014โ2015) and voices Elfo in theย Netflixย adult animated television series Disenchantmentย (2018โ2023).
He is an alumnus of theย Los Angeles-based improvisational and sketch comedy troupeย The Groundlings, where he began performing in 2001.
He's best known for his appearances in comedic films such asย Orange County (2002), Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Storyย (2007),ย Bad Teacherย (2011), Zookeeper (2011), Tammy (2014), Tape (2014), Life of the Party (2018), Father of the Year (2018), and several Broken Lizardย films includingย Beerfestย (2006). He also appeared in Charlie's Angels (2019).
He co-starred inย Darren Star's semi-autobiographical satireย Grosse Pointeย and had recurring roles in several television series such asย The Cleveland Show,ย Joey,ย Up All Nightย andย Reno 911!.
He has been featured in a series of prominentย Holiday Innย commercials featuringย Joe Buckย as well as an ad byย Blockbuster. However, he did not get a significant lead role until 2012 when he starred as the titular Ben inย Ben and Kate.
He starred alongsideย Judy Greerย in theย FXย comedy seriesย Married (2014), which ran for two seasons. He's had major recurring roles as Jeremy de Longpre on the series Allen Gregory, Nick on Netflix's Friends from College, The Swede on Our Flag Means Death, Arthur on Loot, and Marshall on the series A League of Their Own. He's also had a recurring role as Neville, Jackie's love interest, on The Conners.
He provides the voice for Captain Underpants and Mr. Krupp in The Epic Tales of Captain Underpants as well as the Captain Underpants specials. He also provides the voice for Chief on the series Housebroken.
He co-wrote and co-directedย The Way, Way Backย (2013) andย Downhillย (2020) with writing partnerย Jim Rash.