Reed Birney
Reed Birney | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 11, 1954 Alexandria, Virginia, U.S. |
| Education | Boston University College of Fine Arts |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1976–present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
Reed Birney (born September 11, 1954) is an American actor. He has worked both on Broadway and Off-Broadway.
In 2016, Birney won a Tony Award for his performance in the play The Humans. He also won three Obie Awards and four Drama Desk Awards throughout his career.
Career
Birney attended Boston University, the School of Fine Arts for two years. After moving to New York City, he attended classes sponsored by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.[1]
Birney appeared Off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons in 1976 in Gemini by Albert Innaurato. He has appeared in many plays Off-Broadway since, including Bug (2004) and Circle Mirror Transformation (2009).[2]
He has performed on Broadway in Casa Valentina (2014) and The Humans.[3] He appeared in the Annie Baker adaptation of Uncle Vanya at the Soho Rep in 2012. Charles Isherwood in his review for The New York Times wrote: "The indispensable Reed Birney is as vitally moving a Vanya as I’ve yet to see..."[4] He was nominated for the Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Actor in a Play, for Uncle Vanya.[5]
He won the 2016 Tony Award, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play, for The Humans;[6] the 2014 Drama Desk Award, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play, for Casa Valentina; and the 2010 Obie Award, Performance, for Circle Mirror Transformation.[7] He received a Special Drama Desk Award in 2011, honoring his career.[8][9]
He appeared off-Broadway in the play by Tracy Letts, Man from Nebraska, which opened in January 2017 (previews) at the Second Stage Theatre.[10] From May to October 2017, he starred as O'Brien in the Broadway production of 1984 at the Hudson Theatre.
His television performances include Matthew Lester in Kane & Abel, Mr. Prescott on Gossip Girl, Donald Blythe on the Netflix series, House of Cards,[8][11] Tom Connolly in The Blacklist and Dr. Adamson on Titans.'
His movie roles included Louie in Four Friends (1981), the Merchant Prince in A Perfect Murder (1998), Governor Willis in Morning Glory (2010), J. Whitman in The 40-Year-Old Version (2020), Peter Bloom in Strawberry Mansion, and Richard in Mass, both in 2021.
Birney is an Adjunct Assistant Professor at Columbia University.[8]
Personal life
He is married to actress Constance Shulman, who appears in Orange is the New Black, and they have two children together.[12] Their daughter, Gus Birney, and son, Ephraim Birney, are also actors.
Awards and nominations
| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2011 | N/A | Drama Desk Award | Special Drama Desk Award | Won |
| 2014 | Casa Valentina | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Won | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance Award | Nominated | ||
| 2016 | The Humans | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Ensemble | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Actor in a Play | Nominated | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance Award | Nominated |
References
- ^ Sod, Ted. "Interview" roundabouttheatre.org, October 4, 2015
- ^ Gates, Anita. "At Peter J. Sharp Theater: Actor, Make Like a Tree" The New York Times, October 15, 2009
- ^ "Reed Birney Credits" broadwayworld.com, accessed June 13, 2016
- ^ Isherwood, Charles. "A Fresh Breeze in Pastoral Russia" The New York Times, June 18, 2012
- ^ Lefkowitz, Andy. "The 58th Annual Drama Desk Award Winners Are Announced!" theatermania.com, May 19, 2013
- ^ Viagas, Robert. " 'Hamilton' Tops Tony Awards With 11 Wins" Playbill, June 12, 2016
- ^ "Reed Birney Bio" broadwayworld.com, accessed June 13, 2016
- ^ a b c "Reed Birney" columbia.edu, accessed June 13, 2016
- ^ "Reed Birney Broadway" Playbill, accessed June 13, 2016
- ^ Clement, Olivia. " 'Man from Nebraska 'Opens at Second Stage" Playbill, February 15, 2017
- ^ "'House of Cards’ Star Reed Birney Endures ‘Quiet Desperation’ in ‘Mad Women’" madeinhollywood.tv, July 22, 2015
- ^ Borison, Susan. "Actors Constance Shulman and Reed Birney Talk Parenting" Your Teen, retrieved June 8, 2018
External links
- Reed Birney at Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Reed Birney at IMDb
- Reed Birney at the Internet Broadway Database
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
