Connick voices the beatnik sculptor in The Iron Giant, the one adult character who accepts the situation rather than fighting it. The performance is loose and improvisational in feel, which suits a character defined by refusing to take institutions seriously, and it gives the film its counterweight to the government agent.
He is a pianist, singer and bandleader from New Orleans whose principal career is in jazz, with a substantial discography and long standing touring work. He moved into acting alongside music, and his screen and voice roles have generally traded on the same relaxed charm his performing persona carries.
Recurring subjects: nonconformity played warmly rather than as rebellion, characters who are comfortable being underestimated, and comic delivery built on rhythm. His musical training is audible in his timing, and he plays generosity as a character trait rather than as sentiment, which keeps the character from becoming a device.
His music career has brought major recording awards and sustained commercial success across several decades, including a soundtrack album that introduced a generation to standards. His acting work spans film, television and stage, and his animated role is fondly remembered by audiences who have no idea about the rest.
For viewers who want to follow a voice back to a completely different career. Suited to families watching the animated film, and to anyone curious about jazz performers who moved into acting.
