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Danny Burstein

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Danny Burstein
Burstein (left) and wife Rebecca Luker at a gala, December 2008
Born (1964-06-16) June 16, 1964 (age 60)
Mt. Kisco, New York
Occupation(s)Actor, voice actor, stage actor, screen actor
Years active1992-present
SpouseRebecca Luker (2000-present)
Children2

Danny Burstein (born June 16, 1964) is an American actor of stage and screen, who made his Broadway debut in 1992. He is a six-time Tony Award nominee; for The Drowsy Chaperone (2006), South Pacific (2008), Follies (2012), Golden Boy (2013), Cabaret (2014) and Fiddler on the Roof (2016). Burstein has also been nominated for 4 Drama Desk Awards (winning twice), 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards (winning 3 times), 2 Drama League Awards, a Grammy Award, an Astaire Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, an Ovation Award and a Drama-Logue Award (won). His other Broadway credits include The Seagull (1992), Saint Joan (1993), and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010).

Burstein's television work includes a feature-length episode of the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (2002); appearing as different characters in six episodes of the NBC drama series Law & Order (1995–2015), and playing the recurring part of Lolly Steinman on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire (2010–11). His film appearances include Transamerica (2005), Deception (2008), The Family Fang (2015) and Indignation (2016).

Early life and education

Burstein was born in Mt. Kisco, New York, and was raised in New York City.[1] Danny's biological parents separated when he was two months old. He was raised by his mother, Virginia (Vega), a painter, and his stepfather, Harvey Burstein, a professor of Greek philosophy.[2][3][4] His mother, who is from Costa Rica, is Catholic and of Spanish descent, and his stepfather is Jewish.[5][6][7] Burstein attended the High School of the Performing Arts and Queens College in New York City. He received an MFA in Acting from the University of California, San Diego in 1990. Burstein's first acting job was in the chorus of The Music Man at The Muny in St. Louis during college.[8]

Career

On Broadway, Burstein's sixteen appearances, which have garnered him six Tony Award nominations, have included A Little Hotel on the Side (1992), Yakov in The Seagull (1992–93), in Saint Joan and Three Men on a Horse (both in 1993), Paul in Company (1995), 1st Officer William Murdoch in Titanic (1997–99), Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone (2006–07),[9] Luther Billis in South Pacific (2008–10),[10] Taxi Driver in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010–11), Tokio in "Golden Boy" (2012-2013),[11] Max in the Sharr White play, The Snow Geese (2013),[12] Herr Schultz in the 2014 revival of Cabaret (2014–15) and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (2015-2016).

Burstein's Off-Broadway credits include Talley's Folly opposite Sarah Paulson at The Roundabout Theater Company for which he was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award and a Drama League Award; the world premieres of A. R. Gurney's Mrs. Farnsworth (2004), opposite Sigourney Weaver and John Lithgow, at The Flea Theater[13] and Psych (2001) at Playwrights Horizons.[14] He also starred in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (1996 and 2002) at the Westside Theatre;[15] as Ru/Floor Monitor/Pianist in Merrily We Roll Along (1994) at the York Theatre at St. Peter's Church;[16]All in the Timing at the Houseman; as Daniel in Alan Menken and David Spencer's Weird Romance at the WPA; as Solomon in The Rothschilds and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, both at Circle in the Square; The United Way at Ensemble Studio Theater; and A Class Act at Manhattan Theater Club. He appeared in two concerts at Carnegie Hall: the Ira Gershwin centennial and as Steward in Sail Away, (1999).[17][18] He appeared in the Encores! (New York City Center) staged concert productions of DuBarry Was a Lady (1996), as Romeo Skragg in Li'l Abner (1998), as Tailor-Merchant in The Boys from Syracuse (1997) and as Mister Mister in The Cradle Will Rock (2013).[18][19] [20]

He played the role of Buddy Plummer in the Kennedy Center production of Follies, which ran from May 7, 2011 through June 19, 2011 at the Eisenhower Theater, co-starring with Bernadette Peters, Ron Raines, and Jan Maxwell.[21] He reprised that role in the Broadway engagement of Follies at the Marquis Theatre from August 7, 2011 (in previews) through January 22, 2012, and continued with the production in its engagement at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California from May 3, 2012 through June 9, 2012.[22] He won the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical[23] and was nominated for the Tony Award, Best Actor in a Musical.[24]

Burstein can be heard on the cast recording of many of these musicals. Among his many recordings is the musical Sweet Little Devil in which he introduced three George Gershwin, Buddy DeSylva songs. The score originally went unrecorded in 1924 and was finally recorded by PS Classics, with Burstein playing the role of Sam in 2012.[25]

Burstein's film roles include Duane Incarnate (2004),[26] Transamerica (2005),[27] Deception (2008),[28] Nor'easter (2013), Trust, Greed, Bullets and Bourbon (2013), American Milkshake (2013),[29] Autumn Whispers (2013), Affluenza (2014), Blackhat (2015), directed by Michael Mann, The Family Fang (2015), opposite Nicole Kidman and directed by Jason Bateman, Construction (2015),[30] Indignation (2016), written and directed by James Schamus, and the upcoming The Sounding, written & directed by Catherine Eaton. His many television credits include all the Law & Order series, the BBC's Absolutely Fabulous (2002),[31] the FX series Louie (2010),[32] and The Good Wife. He was cast in HBO's Boardwalk Empire after director Martin Scorsese saw him in South Pacific, and after auditioning for three different characters, he landed the part of Lolly Steinman.[33]

Burstein has lent his voice in a number of video games, including Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Manhunt 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Neverwinter Nights 2.

He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Frosch in Die Fledermaus (2013-14 season).

Burstein serves on the Artists Committee of the Kennedy Center Honors and has been a guest lecturer teaching at many universities such as Yale, NYU, Juilliard, UCSD and Queens College.

Burstein plays the role of Tevye in the 2015 Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof, at the Broadway Theatre, directed by Bartlett Sher. The revival began in previews on November 20, 2015 and officially opened on December 20.[34] [35]

Personal life

Burstein is married to actress Rebecca Luker[36] and has two sons, Alexander and Zachary.[37][38]

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
2006 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical The Drowsy Chaperone Nominated
2008 South Pacific Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Won
2012 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical Follies Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Won
2013 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Play Golden Boy Nominated
2014 Best Featured Actor in a Musical Cabaret Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
2016 Tony Award Best Actor in a Musical Fiddler on the Roof Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Won
Drama League Award Distinguished Performance Nominated
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Actor in a Musical Won
  • He is the 2014 recipient of the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors' José Ferrer Tespis Award.
  • He was nominated for the 2012 Astaire Award for his performance in Follies.[39]
  • He was nominated for five Outer Critics Circle Awards winning three times for South Pacific, Follies, and Fiddler on the Roof.[39]

References

  1. ^ Danny Burstein latimes.com, May 22, 2012
  2. ^ http://www.playbill.com/news/article/the-leading-men-danny-burstein-digs-into-a-group-theatre-classic-golden-boy-200389/print
  3. ^ http://www.timesledger.com/stories/2009/34/astoria_times_ent_newscwiluec08122009.html
  4. ^ http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=9698485
  5. ^ "Danny Burstein on the Golden Roles that Made Him One of Broadways MVPs" broadway.com
  6. ^ "Dannys Double Life" playbill.com
  7. ^ http://www.jewishexponent.com/chaperone-in-good-company
  8. ^ Panarello, Joseph F. "Behind the Stage Door with Danny Burstein" Broadway World.com, July 6, 2006
  9. ^ Murray, Matthew. "Review, 'The Drowsy Chaperone'" talkinbroadway.com, May 1, 2006
  10. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Sher to Discuss South Pacific at Vivian Beaumont March 26". Playbill.com, March 7, 2008
  11. ^ Hetrick, Adam. "Starry 'Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown' Opens on Broadway Nov. 4" Playbill.com, November 4, 2010
  12. ^ Purcell, Cary. "Danny Burstein, Victoria Clark, Christopher Innvar, Evan Jonigkeit Join Mary-Louise Parker in MTC's 'The Snow Geese'" playbill.com, August 26, 2013
  13. ^ Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review; Patrician Calm Can't Extinguish Embers of Pain" The New York Times, April 8, 2004
  14. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Grad School is a Real Psych Out at Playwrights Horizons, Beginning Nov. 24" Playbill.com, November 24, 2001
  15. ^ Simonson, Robert "Perfect Casting: Danny Burstein Returns to Off-Broadway Revue" Playbill.com, April 16, 2002
  16. ^ " 'Merrily We Roll Along', 1994 York Theatre Company Production" SondheimGuide.com, accessed June 26, 2012
  17. ^ Isherwood, Charles. "Review: 'Sail Away'" Variety, November 14, 1999
  18. ^ a b "BursteinBiography" BroadwayWorld.com, accessed June 27, 2012
  19. ^ "Encores! Previous Seasons" New York City Center, accessed June 26, 2012
  20. ^ "Danny Burstein Star File" Broadway.com
  21. ^ Gans, Andrew. "'Hats Off, Here They Come, Those Beautiful Girls': Starry Follies Begins Kennedy Center Run May 7", Playbill.com, May 7, 2011
  22. ^ Gans, Andrew (January 22, 2012). "Hey, L.A., We're Coming Your Way: 'Follies' Ends Broadway Run Jan. 22". Playbill. Retrieved January 22, 2012.
  23. ^ Gans, Andrew. "'Once', 'Tribes', 'Follies', 'Salesman', Audra McDonald, Danny Burstein and More Are Drama Desk Winners" Playbill.com, June 3, 2012
  24. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "'Once', 'Clybourne Park', 'Porgy and Bess', Audra McDonald, 'Salesman' Win Tony Awards" Playbill.com, June 10, 2012
  25. ^ Jones, Kenneth. Danny Burstein, Rebecca Luker, Philip Chaffin Will Sing Forgotten Gershwin Score of Sweet Little Devil on CD" Playbill.com, March 26, 2012
  26. ^ Scheib, Ronnie. "Review: 'Duane Incarnate', Tribeca" Variety, (webcache.googleusercontent.com), June 4, 2004
  27. ^ " 'Transamerica' Listing" AllMovie.com, accessed June 26, 2012
  28. ^ " 'Deception' Listing" imdb.com, accessed June 26, 2012
  29. ^ " Milkshake Listing" InternetMovieDatabase, accessed August 7, 2012
  30. ^ " 'Construction' Listing" imdb.com, accessed June 26, 2012
  31. ^ " 'Absolutely Fabulous', Season 4, Episode 7; 'Gay' (27 Dec. 2002)" imdb.com, accessed June 26, 2012
  32. ^ " 'Louie; Season 1, Episode 9; 'Bully' (17 Aug. 2010)" imdb.com, accessed June 26, 2012
  33. ^ Lazarus, Catie. "Danny Burstein on Auditioning for Martin Scorsese, or is it Marty..." Youtube.
  34. ^ Gordon, David. "Full Casting Revealed for Danny Burstein-Led 'Fiddler on the Roof' Revival" theatermania.com. October 7, 2015
  35. ^ Gans, Andrew and Viagas, Robert. "Danny Burstein Is Tevye in Broadway Revival of 'Fiddler on the Roof', Starting Tonight" playbill.com, November 20, 2015
  36. ^ Jones, Kenneth."Madam Librarian! Actors Rebecca Luker and Danny Burstein Tie the Knot" Playbill.com, June 14, 2000
  37. ^ Nondorf, Tom. "The Leading Men: Burstein and Barrett" Playbill.com, December 3, 2009
  38. ^ "Fast chat: 'Follies' for Danny Burstein" Newsday.com, September 8, 2011
  39. ^ a b "Danny Burstein Broadway" Playbill, accessed May 9, 2016
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