Bio
W. Earl Brown is an American actor best known as Cameron Diaz's mentally-challenged brother Warren in the 1998 feature film There's Something About Mary; and as Al Swearengen's trusted henchman Dan Dority in the television western series Deadwood, from 2004-2006.
Brown was born in Murray, Kentucky. He graduated with a bachelor's degree in theatre from Murray State University before going on to DePaul University in Chicago where, with his fellow classmates John C. Reilly and Gillian Anderson, Brown received his master's degree.
While building his resumé in Chicago's theatre scene, Brown decided to give Los Angeles a try and moved to the City of Angels where he has remained ever since.
His first major movie role came as a dialogue coach in the film Backdraft, ironically teaching actors to speak with a Chicago accent. He also had a brief appearance on-screen in the film.
His other film credits include Scream (1996), Being John Malkovich (1999) and The Alamo (2004) among many other projects, including television appearances on NUMB3RS, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Six Feet Under, Charmed, and The X-Files.
He is also the co-founder of the country band Sacred Cowboys, performing as a vocalist and guitar player.
Brown has gone by the name Earl his entire life, but added his first initial to his official SAG credit to avoid confusion with Earl Boen.
He is married to his high school sweetheart Carrie Pascall, with whom he has one daughter.