He was born in Brooklyn, New York City. His mother, Angela (Renzi), was a piano teacher, of Italian descent. His father, Ford Sorvino, was an Italian immigrant who worked in a robe factory as a foreman. Paul originally had his heart set on a life as an opera singer. He was exposed to dramatic arts while studying at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York. He furthered his studies with Sanford Meisner and eventually made his film debut in Where's Poppa? (1970).
贾斯汀·塞洛克斯1971年生于美国华盛顿特区，父母的职业分别是记者和律师，他也影片《蚊子海岸》的小说原作者保罗·塞洛克斯的侄子。贾斯汀·塞洛克斯毕业于全美著名艺术院校本宁顿大学，拥有视觉艺术和戏剧双学位。1996年处女作《我枪杀了安迪·沃霍尔》之后，塞洛克斯一边活跃在喜剧舞台上，另出演了《阿珠与阿花》、《巴克斯特》和《伤心人俱乐部》等喜剧影片，2000年《美国精神病人》中为初露锋芒的克里斯蒂安·贝尔配戏，2002年的《霹雳娇娃2》则是塞洛克斯的第一部卖座商业大片。
