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David Birney

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For the American Civil War general, see David B. Birney.

David Edwin Birney (23 April 1939) is an American actor. He was born in Washington, D.C..


Personal:


Born April 23 (William Shakespeare's birthday and St. George's Day) in Washington, D.C., the first child of Edwin B. and Jeanne (McGee) Birney. Of Irish, Scots, German and Cherokee descent. Three brothers, James, Gregory and Glenn. Father a Special Agent for the Federal Bureau of Investigation. Daughter Kathleen Jeanne, born in Santa Monica, CA; twins Mollie and Peter, born October 2, 1984.


David Birney is an award-winning actor/director. Mr. Birney adapted and directed Mark Twain's The Diaries of Adam and Eve for presentation on the prestigious PBS series American Playhouse. He has subsequently directed productions for regional theatres such as the Hartford Stage Company, the Barter Theatre and for tours on both the East and West coasts. He received the The Millennium Award for performance from the Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D. C.


On television, Mr. Birney has starred in such series as Live Shot, The Adams Chronicles, Glitter, St. Elsewhere, Serpico and Bridget Loves Bernie. His TV miniseries credits include: The Bible, Valley of the Dolls, Night of the Fox, Master of the Game and Testimony of Two Men. He has also starred in many television films, among them Love and Betrayal, Long Journey Home, The Five of Me, Ohms, The Deadly Game, High Midnight and The Champions.


Mr. Birney's extensive stage credits include starring roles on Broadway in Amadeus, Benefactors, and Man and Superman, and major roles at the American Shakespeare Festival, New York's Lincoln Center Repertory Theatre, the New York Shakespeare Festival, Los Angeles' Mark Taper Forum, Washington, D.C.'s Shakespeare Theatre and numerous regional theatres. Representative roles include Jack Tanner in Man and Superman, Hamlet, Macbeth, Romeo, Mercutio, Richard II, Richard III, Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing, Christy Mahon in The Playboy of the Western World, Young Man in Summertree, Cusins in Major Barbara, Jerry in The Zoo Story, Algernon in The Importance of Being Earnest, Arthur in Camelot, Higgins in My Fair Lady, Matt Friedman in Talley's Folly, David in Social Security, Andrew in Love Letters, Dysart in Equus, Atticus Finch in To Kill a Mockingbird, and Lenny Ganz in Rumors.


Mr. Birney has served on the Theatre Panel of the National Endowment for the Arts and is a current board member of the Foundation for Bio-Medical Research. He has also served as an Arts Panelist for the Jacob Javits Fellowship Program. He is a frequent spokesman for childrens' health and welfare issues. He lives with his daughter, Kate, and his twins, Peter and Mollie, in Santa Monica.

Education:


Graduated from West High School, Cleveland, Ohio -- National Honor Society; letters in basketball, football and track; Dartmouth College, B.A. with "High Distinction" in English Literature, English Honors. A Scholarship student at Dartmouth, Mr. Birney was a member of Casque and Gauntlet, a senior honor society, Green Key, the Sophomore Orientation Committee, Sigma Nu, and served on the Directorate of the Players. Awarded a Dartmouth Fellowship for graduate study. M.A. from the University of California at Los Angeles, in Theatre Arts, acting and directing. Teaching Assistant Fellowship. Ph.D. (hon.) from Southern Utah State University.

Military Service:


Drafted into U.S. Army. Served with the Second U.S. Army Showmobile -- an entertainment unit -- as a performer and director. Toured the Eastern, Southern and Midwestern United States. Discharge, honorable, with a * Certificate of Achievement and the rank of Sp. 4.

For a full list of credits see [1]Davied Birney's Official Website

Theatre

Leading Roles
On Broadway:

  • Amadeus
  • Benefactors
  • Man and Superman

Regional Theatres:

  • New York Shakespeare Festival - The Roundabout Theatre
  • Lincoln Center Repertory Theatre - St. Louis Municipal Opera, New York
  • American Shakespeare Theatre - Civic Light Opera, Pittsburgh
  • Hartford Stage Company, Stratford, CT
  • Great Lakes Theatre Festival, Cleveland, OH
  • McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ
  • The Barter Theatre, State Theatre of Virginia
  • Mark Taper Forum, Los Angeles
  • Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, D.C.

Roles
Broadway, Producing Regional Theatres, Performing Arts Centers

  • Salieri, Amadeus
  • Christy Mahon, The Playboy of the Western World
  • Jack Tanner, Man and Superman
  • David, Benefactors
  • Cusins, Major Barbara
  • Hamlet, Young Man, Summertree
  • Macbeth, King Arthur, Camelot
  • Romeo, Higgins, My Fair Lady
  • Mercutio, Romeo & Juliet
  • Algernon, The Importance of Being Earnest
  • Richard II
  • Richard III
  • Matt Friedman, Talley's Folly
  • Antony, Antony & Cleopatra
  • Andrew, Love Letters
  • Benedick, Much Ado About Nothing
  • Jerry, The Zoo Story
  • Shylock, Merchant of Venus
  • Gary Essendine, Present Laughter
  • Atticus Finch, To Kill a Mockingbird
  • James Tyrone Jr., Moon for the Misbegotten
  • Con Melody, A Touch of the Poet
  • Lenny Ganz, Rumors
  • Dr. Dysart, Equus
  • Adam, Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam & Eve
  • Sky Masterson, Guys and Dolls Clove, Endgame
  • Kentridge, The Biko Inquest
  • Haemon, Antigone
  • Edmund, Ceremony of Innocence David, Social Security
  • Joe, BecauseHeCan
  • Sidney, Deathtrap
  • Jamie, Moon for the Misbegotten
  • Con Melody, A Touch of the Poet
  • Victor, The Price

Directed:

  • The Diaries of Adam and Eve,


American Playhouse (PBS), 1988.
Plaza Theatre, Dallas, 1988
Dartmouth College, 1987
Hartford Stage Company, 1996
Barter Theatre, 1998
City Stage, Springfield, MA; Capitol Repertory, Albany, NY;
Rubicon Theatre, Santa Barbara, CA; 2001

  • A Life in the Theatre, by David Mamet, Los Angeles premiere, 1981
  • The Sorrows of Steve, by Peter Parnell, Dartmouth Repertory Company, 1980
  • Anthology, for David Birney and Meredith Baxter Birney, 1979
  • The Zoo Story, Boston Theatre, 1978
  • Four Green Fields, An Evening of Irish lit and Dram, UCLA, 2004, Edited and, Adapted
  • A Christmas Pudding, Benefit and theatre engagements, Writer/adaptor, Produced, Directed, performer.


Los Angeles, Santa Barbara/Ventura,
Newport Beach, Palos Verdes, CA. 1996-2006.

Television and Features

FEATURES
Leading roles

  • Oh, God, Book II, Warner Brothers
  • Good Bye...See You Monday, Sommerville House, 'Frank'
  • Trial By Combat, Warner Brothers, 'John'
  • Caravan to Vaccares, EMI/Paramount, 'Neil Bowman'
  • Nightfall, New Horizons
  • Prettykill, Lorimar Telepictures


TELEVISION SERIES:
Leading roles

  • Live Shot, UPN, Harry Chandler Moore
  • Judith Krantz' Secrets, International Syndication, 'Tom Strickland'
  • Glitter, ABC, Sam Dillon'
  • St. Elsewhere, NBC, 'Dr. Ben Samuels'
  • Serpico, NBC, 'Frank Serpico'.
  • Bridget Loves Bernie, CBS, 'Bernie Steinberg'.
  • Love is a Many Splendored Thing, CBS, Mark Elliot.


MINI-SERIES:
Leading roles

  • Touch and Die, International Syndication
  • Night of the Fox, Tribune Broadcasting
  • Testimony of Two Men, Universal, TV Novel, ‘Dr. Jonathan Ferrier'
  • Master of the Game, CBS, ‘David’
  • Seal Morning, PBS/CTV London
  • The Bible, "Daniel in the Lion's Den," Schick/NBC, 'Daniel'
  • Valley of the Dolls, CBS, 'Lyon Burke’
  • The Adams Chronicles, PBS, 'John Quincy Adams'


FILMS FOR TV:
Leading Roles

  • Keeping Secrets, ABC
  • Remember I'll Always Love You, CBS
  • Cast A Shadow, CBS
  • Love and Betrayal, CBS, "Bill Landry'
  • Long Journey Home, CBS,'Carter Wells'
  • The Five of Me, CBS, 'Henry Hawksworth'
  • High Midnight, CBS, 'Tony Gianetti'
  • Mom, The Wolfman and Me, CBS, Time/Life
  • Ohms, CBS
  • High Rise, Warner Brothers/NBC, 'Paul Winkless'
  • The Deadly Game, NBC (pilot for Serpico)
  • Only with Married Men, Fox
  • The Champions, CBS
  • Bronk, CBS, MOW/Pilot, 'Willie Harvey'
  • The Diaries of Adam and Eve, PBS, American Playhouse
  • Saint Joan, Hallmark Hall of Fame


SPECIALS, DOCUMENTARIES AND HOSTING

  • Great American TV Poll, Series, Lifetime Television
  • Raising Kids, WXXI/PBS-TV, Series
  • Good Morning, America, ABC
  • Beyond 2000, CIC Productions, Syndicated Series
  • Missing-Have You Seen This Person?, Special, NBC
  • Literacy in the Work Place, PBS
  • A Job to be Done, Documentary, PBS
  • A.M. New York, Morning Show, WABC-TV
  • A.M. Los Angeles, Morning Show, KABC-TV
  • Morning Exchange, WEWS-TV, Cleveland
  • America – Syndicated
  • Fields of Fear, CBS-TV San Francisco


For a complete listing of guest starring roles, TV series please see [2]David Birney's Official Website or [3]IMDB.com

Audio Recordings

  • Children of the Mind, Orson Scott Card, Audio Renaissance.

“…honest and emotional narration by Gabrielle de Cuir, John Rubenstein, Stefan Rudnicki, Scott Brick, Amanda Karr and David Birney.”
Publishers Weekly, Sept. 4, 2006

  • Voices of the War: Operation Homecoming: Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Home Front, in the Words of U.S. Troops and Their Families
    Carroll, Andrew (Author). Blackstone Audiobooks
    Published Jan. 2006-10

“A talented cast (including Scott Brick, Orson Scott Card, Harlan Ellison, Stephen Lang, David Birney John Rubinstein and Stephanie Zimbalist) brings the war in Iraq and Afghanistan up close and personal… They embellish little, allowing the sheer power of the writer's words to carry the dramatic weight. No matter what views the listener may hold toward the war, no one will be able listen to these intimate, heartfelt readings and come away unmoved. Publishers Weekly, Jan. 2007
A production of the National Endowment for the Arts.



Both Children of the Mind and Voices of the War have been honored by Publishers Weekly with 2006 Listen-Up Awards as “outstanding productions… best audiobooks.


  • Ponzi’s Scheme, Random House Audio, 2005
  • The Crystal City, Orson Scott Card, Audio Renaissance, 2005, Winner of Award , 2005
  • Conspiracy Club, Jonathan Kellerman, Random House, 2004

“David Birney delivers this complex mystery with a subtle intensity that compels the listener’s interest. Both story and voice are magnetic.”
AudioFile, June/July 2004

  • The Christmas Tree, Julie Salamon. Random House for Christmas, 1996. Winner of Earphones Award, 1996.

"...becomes a special production when read by David Birney...Birney brings an immediacy and compassion to the moving story..."
Christian Science Monitor

  • Sole Survivor, Dean Koontz, Random House.

"Actor David Birney reads with a skill that contributes to the suspense, anger hope and wonder of the story, especially the character of Joe.”
Library Journal, April l, '97


“David Birney's portrayal of Joe Carpenter resonates with Carpenter's anguish over the death of his wife and daughters in the crash. At the same time, his anger and determination to solve the mystery balance his ever- present grief. Birney's years in the theater serve him well."
Audio File, October 1997

  • The Fall of a Sparrow, by Robert Hellenga, New Star Media Inc., 1998

"Birney brings soulful intimacy to Woody's part...a brilliantly effecting narrative."

  • Poems of Love and Desire: An Anthology of Love Poetry Throughout the Ages. Dove Books. Produced and recorded by David Birney. With David Birney, Lee Remick, Michael York, Robert Stephens, Jane Lapotaire.
  • Sir Vidia's Shadow, by Paul Theroux, New Star Media Inc., 1998

" David Birney does a great job." Detroit Free Press" “Reader David Birney gives an excellent characterization of V. S. Naipaul... remarkable."


Arizona Daily Star

  • The Shadow of the Giant, Orson Scott Card, Fantastic Audio, 2005
  • Irreversible Errors, Scott Turow, Random House, 2003
  • Speaker for the Dead, Orson Scott Card, Fantastic Audio, 2002

Earphone Award, AudioFile 2002

  • Collected Stories of Arthur C. Clark, Fantastic Audio, 2001

2000x, series recorded for NPR, 2001 Winner of the Bradbury Award of the Science Fiction Writers of America

  • Silent Snow, Thayer, New Star Media, 1999
  • For the Time Being, Annie Dillard, New Star Media, 1999
  • The Law of Similars, Chris Bohjalian, Random House, 1998
  • Titanic Hearings, New Star Media, 1998
  • Riptide, Douglas Prestion and Lincoln Child, Time-Warner Audio Books, 1998
  • Double Image, David Morrell, Dove Books, 1998

"David Birney is stellar in his performance..."


St. Louis Post Dispatch

  • The Great Shame, Thomas Keneally, New Star Media, 2001
  • Short Stories of Paul Theroux, Dove Books, 1997
  • Cape Cod, by William Martin
  • Night of the Fox, Jack Higgins, (Syndicated) video narrator
  • Murder on the Aisle, edited by Mary Higgins Clark
  • Beastly Tales, Mystery Writers of America Series
  • Murder for Christmas, Mystery Writers Anthology
  • Best of the West, Classic Stories of the American Frontier
  • Last Laughs, Mystery Writers of America Anthology.
  • Out on The Rim, by Ross Thomas
  • Great Cat Mysteries, An Anthology of Feline Capers
  • The Little Prince, Antoine de Saint Exupery, recorded for KPFK Radio, Los Angeles


Theatreworks, NPR Playhouse and BBC dramatic recordings:

  • The Diary of Anne Frank, 1999
  • An American Daughter, Wendy Wasserstein, 1998
  • Star Wars
  • Julius Ceasar, William Shakespeare
  • Tears of Rage, Doris Baisley
  • The Extra Man, Richard Greenberg
  • Murder in the First, Dan Gordon
  • The White Plague, Karel Kapek
  • An American Daughter, Wendy Wasserstein


Television Narration/ Host

  • Good Morning America, ABC
  • Great American TV Poll, Series, Lifetime Television
  • Beyond 2000, Syndicated Series
  • Raising Kids, PBS Series
  • Missing: Have You Seen This Child?, Specials, NBC, host/narrator
  • Fields of Fear, Documentary, CBS, host/narrator
  • Drop Everything and Read, CBS Special
  • Literacy in the Work Place, PBS
  • A Job to be Done, Documentary, PBS
  • A.M. New York Morning Show, WABC-TV
  • A.M. Los Angeles Morning Show, KABC-TV
  • Morning Exchange WEWS-TV, CBS
  • America, Syndicated, Paramount


Publications: Theatre pieces, essays and stories.

  • Mark Twain’s The Diaries of Adam and Eve, Mark Twain, edited and adapted for the stage by David Birney, Samuel French, 1994-1998
  • “Peter at Ten,” What Baseball Means to Me, Time-Warner, 2002
  • “Midnight Mass,” Park City, Meridian International, 1993
  • “Keeping Back the Dark,” American Theatre, July/August, 1994
  • “Maxine,” Baseball Days: Recollections of America’s Favorite Pastime, Contemporary Books, 2000
  • “Reflections,” Reflections at Forty, Dartmouth College, 2001
  • “The Way an Actor Prepares,” Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, 1989
  • A Christmas Pudding, a collage of stories, poems, and carols, both ancient and modern, compiled and edited and adapted for the stage, editions 1995 through 2006

Awards

  • Millennium Recognition Award, 1999, The Shakespeare Theatre, Washington, DC.
  • Resolution in Honor of David Birney, Leadership in the Creation of The Class of ’61
  • Legacy, Dartmouth College, 2001
  • Audie Award, 1998
  • Earphone Award, 2002, 2005
  • Walden Books Award, 1988
  • McCall's Magazine Humanitarian Award, 1988
  • Resolution in Honor of David Birney, Board of Overseers of Hopkins Center and Hood Museum of Art
  • "L.A. Weekly" Award, Best Director, A Life in the Theatre, 1980
  • Photoplay Magazine Award, 1973, "Most Promising Newcomer"
  • Sixteen Magazine Award, 1973, performance in Bridget Loves Bernie
  • Buffalo Courier Express Award, 1972, Best Performance as Mercutio in Romeo & Juliet
  • Theatre World Award, 1968, Best Performance as the dying soldier in Summertree
  • The Barter Theatre Award, 1965

Charitable Leadership:

  • Board Member, Foundation of Biomedical Research 1990-93, 1998
  • Co-chair, American Diabetes Association 1986-89
  • Advisory Board, The Children’s Rights Council, 1993-2004
  • Certificates of Recognition, the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation; The National Association for the Blind; The Southern California Rehabilitation Association; U.S. Ski Team;
  • Various local charities.
  • Mr. Birney is a prominent advocate for children's education, literacy and health.

Speaking Engagements

  • Keynote Speaker, Shakespeare Symposium, California State University, Fullerton, 2001
  • Congressional Testimony, American Diabetes Association, 1987-88
  • Foundation for Bio-Medical Association, 1991
  • Dance Theatres of Ohio Celebration, 1993
  • Childrens’ Rights Council, Candlelight Vigil, Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D. C. 1995
  • Boards, Arts Groups, Theatre Support Groups, Audiences, Regional Theatres throughout the country

Professional Affiliations:

  • National Endowment for the Arts, Theatre Panel, 1979, 1994
  • Jacob Javits Fellowship Award Board, 2001, 2002, 2006
  • Visiting Professor of Drama, Dartmouth College, 1980
  • Board of Overseers, Hopkins Center and the Hood Museum of Art, Dartmouth College, 1987, 1988
  • The Players Club, New York City
  • Actor's Equity Association
  • The Screen Actor's Guild
  • The American Federation of Television Artists
  • The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Leisure Interests:


Skiing, sailing, poetry, literature, music and running (Santa Monica and New York Marathons)

Supplements References

  • Who's Who in America, Gale Research, Detroit, 44th edition, 1986
  • Who's Who in Theatre, Gale Research, Detroit, 17th edition, 1981
  • The Dictionary of International Biography, Volume19, Cambridge, England 1985, 1986
  • Men of Achievement, 12th edition, International Biographical Centre, Melrose Press, Cambridge, England, 1986
  • Notable Names in American Theatre, James T. White, Clifton, New Jersey
  • Dartmouth Alumni Magazine, profile, 1973
  • Theatre World, Crown Publishers
  • Motion Picture Magazine, July 1973
  • Contemporary Theater, Film & Television, Gale Research, Vol. 1, 1984
  • Actors' Television Credits, Supplement, Supplements I, II, 1978-80
  • Television Drama Series Programs, A Comprehensive Chronicle, 1959-'75, Scarecrow Press, 1978
  • The New York Times, February 6, 1971
  • Parade Magazine, profile, October 11, 1987
  • T.V. Guide, profile November 28, 1987
  • The New York Times, December 27, 1987
  • The New York Times, January 8, 1988
  • The New York Post, January 7, 1988
  • The Daily News, January 7, 1988
  • Audio File, Nov.-Dec. 1997


• Note: Information provided by David Birney and his representatives.

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