Mandy Patinkin
Mandel Bruce Patinkin (/pəˈtɪŋkɪn/ pə-TING-kin; born November 30, 1952) is an American actor and singer, known for his work in musical theatre, television, and film.[1][2] As a critically acclaimed Broadway performer he has collaborated with Stephen Sondheim and Andrew Lloyd Webber. Patinkin's leading roles on stage and screen have received numerous accolades including a Tony Award, a Primetime Emmy Award as well as nominations for seven Drama Desk Awards, three Golden Globe Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award.
Mandy Patinkin
November 30, 1952
- Actor
- singer
1974–present
2
Patinkin made his theatre debut in 1975 starring opposite Meryl Streep in the revival of the comic play Trelawny of the "Wells" at The Public Theatre's Shakespeare Festival. He originated the role of Che in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Evita (1979) earning a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical as well as the roles of Georges Seurat/George in Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George (1984) for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He portrayed Lord Archibald Craven in the original Broadway cast of Lucy Simon's The Secret Garden (1991). Two years later, he played Marvin in William Finn’s Falsettos replacing Michael Rupert.[3]
Patinkin had leading roles in television shows, playing Dr. Jeffrey Geiger in Chicago Hope (1994–2000), SSA Jason Gideon in the CBS crime-drama series Criminal Minds (2005–2007), Saul Berenson in the Showtime drama series Homeland (2011–2020), and Rufus Cotesworth in the Hulu mystery series Death and Other Details (2024). For his work in television he has earned seven Primetime Emmy Award nominations, winning Outstanding Leading Actor in a Drama Series for Chicago Hope in 1995. He had recurring roles in Dead Like Me (2003–2004) and The Good Fight (2021).
He also had film roles portraying Inigo Montoya in Rob Reiner's family adventure film The Princess Bride (1987) and Avigdor in Barbra Streisand's musical epic Yentl (1983) for which he earned a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Musical or Comedy nomination. Other film credits include Ragtime (1981), Maxie (1985), Dick Tracy (1990), True Colors (1991), Impromptu (1991), Wonder (2017), and Life Itself (2018).[4] Patinkin also voiced roles in Hayao Miyazaki's Castle in the Sky (2003), and The Wind Rises (2013).
Early life and education[edit]
Patinkin was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 30, 1952, to Doris Lee "Doralee" (née Sinton) (1925-2014), a homemaker, and Lester Don Patinkin (1919-1972), who operated two large Chicago-area metal factories, the People's Iron & Metal Company and the Scrap Corporation of America.[4][5][6][7] His mother wrote Grandma Doralee Patinkin's Jewish Family Cookbook.[4] Patinkin's cousins include Mark Patinkin, an author and nationally syndicated columnist for The Providence Journal; Sheldon Patinkin of Columbia College Chicago's Theater Department, a founder of The Second City;[8] Bonnie Miller Rubin, a Chicago Tribune reporter; Laura Patinkin, a New York–based actress; and Louis Rosen, a New York–based composer, and Stacy Oliver née Patinkin, a writer and performer.[9]
Patinkin grew up in an upper-middle-class family, descended from Jewish immigrants (from Russia and Poland), and was raised in Conservative Judaism,[2][10][11] attending religious school daily "from the age of seven to 13 or 14" and singing in synagogue choirs, as well as attending the Camp Sura in Michigan.[2] His father died of pancreatic cancer in 1972.[12][13]
He attended South Shore High School, Harvard St. George School, and Kenwood High School (later renamed Kenwood Academy, where his teachers included Lena McLin), and graduated in 1970.[14] He attended the University of Kansas and the Juilliard School (Drama Division Group 5: 1972–1976).[15] At Juilliard, he was a classmate of Kelsey Grammer. When the producers of the sitcom Cheers were holding auditions for the role of Dr. Frasier Crane, Patinkin put Grammer's name forward.[16]
Personal life[edit]
Marriage and family[edit]
Patinkin married actress and writer Kathryn Grody on April 15, 1980.[55] They have two sons, Isaac and Gideon. Gideon joined his father onstage in Dress Casual in 2011.[56]
Health[edit]
Patinkin suffered from keratoconus, a progressive eye condition, in the mid-1990s. This led to two corneal transplants, his right cornea in 1997 and his left in 1998.[57] He was also diagnosed with and treated for prostate cancer in 2004. He celebrated his first year of recovery in 2005 by doing a 265-mile (426 km) charity bike ride with his son, Isaac – the Arava Institute Hazon Israel Ride: Cycling for Peace, Partnership & Environmental Protection.[58]
Religion and activism[edit]
Patinkin has described himself as "Jewish with a dash of Buddhist" belief. On the Canadian radio program Q, Patinkin called himself a "JewBu" because of this mix of beliefs[59] and "spiritual but not religious".[60] Patinkin has been involved in a variety of Jewish causes and cultural activities. He sings in Yiddish, often in concert, and on his album Mamaloshen.[61] He also wrote introductions for two books on Jewish culture, The Jewish American Family Album, by Dorothy and Thomas Hoobler, and Grandma Doralee Patinkin's Holiday Cookbook: A Jewish Family's Celebrations, by his mother, Doralee Patinkin Rubin. In May 2012, Patinkin delivered the opening speech at the Annual Convention of the Israeli Left, where he recounted his experiences during a visit to the West Bank with members of the Breaking the Silence organization.[62]
On December 21, 2015, on Charlie Rose on PBS, Patinkin spoke about his recent trip to Greece to help refugees from war-torn Syria and his acting role in the television series Homeland. He stated that he wanted to help "create opportunity and better systems of living and existing, to give freedom, justice and dignity, quality of life to humanity all over the world."[63]
Patinkin contributed to the children's book Dewey Doo-it Helps Owlie Fly Again: A Musical Storybook, inspired by Christopher Reeve. The award-winning book, published in 2005, benefits the Christopher Reeve Foundation and includes an audio CD with Patinkin singing and reading the story as well as Dana Reeve and Bernadette Peters singing.[64]
Interests[edit]
In 2020, Patinkin's and Grody's son, Gideon, began filming and photographing their daily lives, posting images and clips to multiple social media outlets. The couple soon developed a significant social media following.[65] Later that year, Grody and Patinkin partnered with Swing Left, creating viral videos with their sons to encourage people to vote for Joe Biden in the 2020 United States presidential election.[66] Patinkin also stumped for Biden in an ad for the Jewish Democratic Council of America encouraging Jews to vote for Biden. The ad featured Patinkin channeling his Princess Bride character to encourage people to vote.[67] Patinkin is a model railroader.[68]
Theatre awards
Film and television awards
