Cory Michael Smith
A stage and screen actor who brings a cerebral, unsettling charm to complex characters, most famously as Gotham's puzzle-obsessed Riddler.
Born 1986 (age 40)·American actor·Birthday: November 14·Millennials
Biography
Cory Michael Smith built his career on a foundation of sharp, nuanced performances that often explore intelligence laced with vulnerability. He first gained attention on Broadway before his breakout role as Edward Nygma, the future Riddler, on the television series Gotham. Smith didn't play a cartoon villain; he crafted a tragic, slow-burn transformation of a socially awkward forensic scientist into a criminal mastermind, earning a dedicated fanbase. His talents extend to film, where he has become a recurring presence in the works of director Todd Haynes, delivering subtle, impactful performances in period pieces like Carol and May December. Smith consistently chooses roles that challenge expectations, making him a distinctive and compelling figure in contemporary acting.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Cory was born in 1986, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Cory Was Born
The biggest hits of 1986
#1 Movie
Top Gun
Best Picture
Platoon
#1 TV Show
The Cosby Show
Cory's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1986Born
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1991Started school
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1999Became a teenager
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2002Could drive
Euro currency enters circulation
Gas: $1.36/galHome: $137,800Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"How You Remind Me" — NickelbackBest Picture: Chicago
2004Could vote
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Turned 21
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2016Turned 30
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 40
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Portrayed the origin story of Edward Nygma/The Riddler across five seasons of the Fox series Gotham.
- Starred on Broadway in the 2013 revival of Breakfast at Tiffany's opposite Emilia Clarke.
- Appeared in multiple critically acclaimed films by director Todd Haynes, including Carol and May December.
- Played astronaut Michael Collins in the 2018 Oscar-winning film First Man.
- Headlined the independent film 1985, earning praise for his portrayal of a man visiting his family during the AIDS crisis.
Did You Know?
He worked as a bartender at The Public Theater in New York while auditioning for early roles.
He is a graduate of the prestigious Otterbein University theater program.
Smith performed in a New York stage production of The Whale before it became an Oscar-winning film.
His visual likeness was used for the character 'Tanner' in the video game Scrutinized.
“The most interesting characters live in the gray areas, not the black and white.”
