Robert Sean Leonard

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Robert Sean Leonard
Robert Sean Leonard.jpg
Robert Sean Leonard, 2007
Born Robert Lawrence Leonard
(1969-02-28) February 28, 1969 (age 44)
Westwood, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1986–present
Spouse(s) Gabriella

Robert Sean Leonard (born Robert Lawrence Leonard; February 28, 1969) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Dr. James Wilson on the television series House, M.D. and Neil Perry in the 1989 movie Dead Poets Society. He regularly stars in Broadway and off-Broadway productions.

Contents

Life and career[edit]

Leonard was born in Westwood, New Jersey, the son of Joyce P. (née Peterson), a nurse, and Robert Howard Leonard, a teacher of Spanish.[1][2] He grew up in Ridgewood, where he attended Ridgewood High School before moving on to Fordham University and later Columbia University School of General Studies (GS).[3] Because he shares his birth name with another actor, he uses the name of his brother Sean for his Screen Actors Guild membership.[4]

Leonard is a three-time Tony Award nominee (1993, 2001 and 2003), winning in 2001 (Best Actor – Featured Play) for his role as A. E. Housman in Tom Stoppard's The Invention of Love. He had a prior association with Stoppard's work, creating the role of Valentine in the New York premiere of Arcadia at Lincoln Center in 1995. His 2003 Tony nomination was for his portrayal of Edmund Tyrone in a well-received revival of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night that co-starred Philip Seymour Hoffman and Brian Dennehy. Leonard has also appeared in Broadway musical productions, in 2001 replacing Craig Bierko as the lead performer in a successful revival of The Music Man. On February 8, 2011, it was announced that Leonard would co-star as Paul Verrall in the 2011 Broadway revival of Born Yesterday beginning in March.[5]

In 1997 Leonard received rave reviews for his role in the Christopher Reeve-directed television film, In the Gloaming. Entertainment Weekly said that, in the film, Leonard "does a first-rate job of juggling Danny's mixture of despair, neediness, and mordant jokiness."[6]

From 2004 he played Dr. James Wilson, head of the oncology department, on the FOX TV series House, M.D., until the series ended in 2012. In 2007 Leonard appeared on Entertainment's Weekly's 100 list as "Dr. Underrated."[7]

Leonard maintains a good friendship with House, M.D. co-star Hugh Laurie,[8] as well as childhood friend, Dead Poets Society and Tape co-star, Ethan Hawke,[9] with whom he founded the Malaparte theater company, along with James Waterston, Steve Zahn, and Frank Whaley.[10]

Leonard has two daughters, Eleanor and Claudia, with his wife, Gabriella.

Filmography[edit]

Film and television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Manhattan Project Max
1988 My Best Friend Is a Vampire Jeremy Capello
1989 Dead Poets Society Neil Perry
1990 Mr. & Mrs. Bridge Douglas Bridge
1991 Married to It Chuck Bishop
1993 Swing Kids Peter Müller
1993 Much Ado About Nothing Claudio
1993 The Age of Innocence Ted Archer
1994 Safe Passage Alfred Singer
1996 The Boys Next Door Barry Klemper
1996 Killer: A Journal of Murder Henry Lesser
1996 I Love You, I Love You Not Angel of Death
1997 In the Gloaming Danny
1998 Standoff Jamie Doolin
1998 The Last Days of Disco Tom Platt
1998 Ground Control Cruise
2000 The Outer Limits Robby Archer Season 6, Episode 20
2001 Tape Jon Salter
2001 A Glimpse of Hell Lieutenant Dan Meyer
2001 Driven Demille Bly
2001 Chelsea Walls Terry Olsen
2003 The I Inside Peter Cable
2003 A Painted House Jesse Chandler
2003 Malcolm in the Middle Agent Season 5, Episode 12
2004–2012 House, M.D. Dr. James Wilson
2013 Falling Skies Dr. Roger Kadar

Theatre[edit]

Year Title Role
1986 Brighton Beach Memoirs Eugene Jerome
1987–1988 Breaking the Code Christopher Morcom
1991 The Speed of Darkness Eddie
1993 Candida Eugene Marchbanks
1994 Philadelphia, Here I Come! Gareth O'Donnell in Private
1995 Arcadia Valentine Coverly
1999 The Iceman Cometh Don Parritt
2000–2001 The Music Man Harold Hill
2001 The Invention of Love A. E. Housman
2003 Long Day's Journey into Night Edmund Tyrone
2003 The Violet Hour John Pace Seavering
2011–2012 Born Yesterday Paul Verrall
2013 To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch

Awards and nominations[edit]

Awards
Nominations

References[edit]

  1. ^ Robert Sean Leonard Biography (1969–). Filmreference.com (1969-02-28). Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
  2. ^ STAGE TO SCREENS: Robert Sean Leonard, David Javerbaum, Plus a Look at Fall TV. Playbill.com (2008-06-02). Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
  3. ^ Alvin Klein (5 January 1986). "For Stage Novice, 'Acting Is It'". The New York Times. Retrieved 2008-01-17. 
  4. ^ "Robert Sean Leonard, David Javerbaum, Plus a Look at Fall TV". Playbill. 1 June 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-17. 
  5. ^ Born Yesterday :: Home. Bornyesterdayonbroadway.com. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
  6. ^ Tucker, Ken (April 18, 1997), "Classy comes home". Entertainment Weekly. (375):53
  7. ^ Snierson, Dan (June 29, 2007), "Robert Sean Leonard". Entertainment Weekly. (941/942):69
  8. ^ The Rod Ryan Show: Interview with Robert Sean Leonard. None. Retrieved on 2011-12-03.
  9. ^ Warren Curry HALLOWED HALLS: An interview with Chelsea Walls star Robert Sean Leonard. douban.com. 4/18/02
  10. ^ Biography for Robert Sean Leonard

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Robert Sean Leonard
Authority control
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Robert_Sean_Leonard&oldid=559145562"