Born in Texas, Church began his show business career in front of a microphone instead of a camera, first as a radio deejay and then as a voice-over announcer. After landing a role in the independent film Stolen Moments, Church moved to Los Angeles to pursue his acting career.


Says he had pretty much retired from acting and was spending most of his time on his ranch in Texas when Alexander Payne asked him to star in Sideways (2004). Graduated from high school in 1979 in Harlingen, Texas, and worked at KBFM, a local radio station, for a time. His breakthrough was Sideways (2004), which led to a role in Spider-Man 3 (2007). Engaged to actress Mia Zottoli. They have a daughter, Cody (b. 2004). Director Sam Raimi thanked him for doing Spider-Man 3 (2007) by giving him a copy of Amazing Spiderman #4, the comic book issue that featured the first appearance of his Sandman character. Won the Emmy Award for "Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or Movie: for his role of Tom Harte on AMC's "Broken Trail" (2006). Was born Thomas McMillen, the third of six children, in El Paso, Texas to an Army officer/health care worker father and homemaker mother. He was raised, however, under his stepfather's surname, "Quesada", and later changed his surname to "Haden Church," both names of which he states are in his family tree.