Richard Portnow Headshot

Richard Portnow

Birth Place: Brooklyn, NY, USA

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Richard Portnow BIO


A veteran of stage, film and television with a variety of characters to his credit, Richard Portnow was named one of the "Actors We Love" from the actors' trade newspaper Back Stage West. It said, "Portnow knows exactly how to hook an audience with every character." This Brooklyn native has worked steadily for 20 years and has built a solid list of credits, appearing in some of the most highly regarded and successful films and television shows of the past two decades.

His entire family hails from Brooklyn, New York. His folks, Al and Flo, are gone, but he has a brother (Jay), a sister (Gayle), two nephews (John and Sam) and three nieces (Samara, Ilana and Maia). He graduated with a BA degree as a speech and theater major from Brooklyn College. He did not shine while in college, and was discouraged from continuing as an actor with the critique that he was "hopeless and without any ability or talent" (he continues to wonder if the faculty was right). He has been a bartender, an antique dealer, a boxer, an international drug trafficker, a fifth-grade teacher in the NYC public school system, a competitive body builder, a truck driver, a bouncer, a bagel maker, a short-order cook, a marathon runner, a designer, a competitive gymnast, a background extra, a disco dancer at the famed "Arthur" discotheque, and a confused and aimless layabout. Richard is 6'0", weighs in at a trim 180 lb. and continues to box. He has excellent defensive skills and his ability to stop punches with his face has made him a local favorite.

Portnow assayed the role of attorney Hal "Mel" Melvoin on the Emmy-winning HBO series The Sopranos, the lawyer for Uncle Junior, whom he singlehandedly tried to keep out of prison and managed to get himself placed under house arrest instead. His rates for defending Corrado Soprano (Uncle Juniors's full name) are astronomical, but as Uncle June has said, "Mel, you're worth every penny". He has held this role since the show's inception in 1999.

Richard began his professional career at the famed Cafe La Mama in New York City, appearing in plays by Tom Eyen, Leonard Melfi, Jeff Weiss, Megan Terry, Tom O'Horgan and Lanford Wilson. He won "The Best Newcomer of the Year" award from Show Business Magazine as a result of his early work off-off-Broadway. He continued his stage career with starring roles on Broadway in "The House of Blue Leaves" and "A Month of Sundays". He was in the original cast of "Moonchildren" at the prestigious Royal Court Theatre in London. He has also worked extensively at some of the most highly regarded regional theaters in the country, including The Long Wharf Theater, The Berkshire Theatre Festival for the brilliant director Josephine Abady, The Philadelphia Drama Guild, The Lowell Regional Theater and the Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Neil Simon's "Oscar and Felix" at The Geffen Playhouse marked Richard's Los Angeles stage debut. His has also appeared in Woody Allen's "Writer's Block", which was directed by Allen at The Atlantic Theater Company in New York.

Richard has been fortunate and privileged to work with some of the best directors in film today. Among those who have had a profound influence on him are Barry Levinson, Joel Coen, Ethan Coen, David Fincher, Woody Allen, Sydney Pollack, James Foley, Jim Jarmusch, Heywood Gould, Cameron Crowe and Sidney Lumet. He has also appeared as a series regular on the critically acclaimed EZ Streets and on the police drama Ryan Caulfield: Year One. He has had guest starring appearances on Seinfeld, Mad About You, Going to California, Spin City, NYPD Blue, The Shield, Dave's World, Civil Wars, Homefront, Double Rush, JAG, Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman, The Nanny, Middle Ages, The Commish Wiseguy and Walker, Texas Ranger.

Richard has also starred in numerous movies of the week and mini series, most notably Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Double Bang, Bella Mafia, A Deadly Silence, Original Sin, Peter Gunn, Indictment: The McMartin Trial and _The Life and Times of Robert L. Ripley (2002", in which he played the title role.

Richard Portnow STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1987
Peter


Richard Portnow Movies

Roadie
[ 1980 ] First New York Wino
Desperately Seeking Susan
[ 1985 ] Party Guest
Weeds
[ 1987 ] Guard
Radio Days
[ 1987 ] Sy
Good Morning, Vietnam
[ 1987 ] DanThe ManLevitan
The Squeeze
[ 1987 ] Ruben
Hiding Out
[ 1987 ] Mr. Lessig
Tin Men
[ 1987 ] Carly
In Dangerous Company
[ 1988 ] Kellog
Twins
[ 1988 ] Chop Shop Owner
Say Anything
[ 1989 ] IRS Agent Stewart
Chattahoochee
[ 1989 ] Dr. Debner
Meet the Hollowheads
[ 1989 ] Mr. Crabneck
Kindergarten Cop
[ 1990 ] Captain Salazar
Tune in Tomorrow...
[ 1990 ] Uncle Luke
Havana
[ 1990 ] Mike MacClaney
For the Boys
[ 1991 ] Milt, Recording Studio
Barton Fink
[ 1991 ] Detective Mtrionotti
Father of the Bride
[ 1991 ] Al - the Tux Salesman
Sister Act
[ 1992 ] Willy
There Goes the Neighborhood
[ 1992 ] Marty Rollins
Night Eyes Three
[ 1993 ] Kaplan
Heart and Souls
[ 1993 ] Max Marco
Lipstick Camera
[ 1994 ] Detective Vorkopich
Trial by Jury
[ 1994 ] Leo Greco
S.F.W.
[ 1994 ] Gerald Parsley
Across the Moon
[ 1994 ] Roy
Se7en
[ 1995 ] Dr. Beardsley
Man of the House
[ 1995 ] Joey Renda
Bogus
[ 1996 ] M. Clay Thrher
Brittle Glory
[ 1996 ] Sid Higgins
Guy
[ 1996 ] Al
Mad City
[ 1997 ] Brackett's Agent
Private Parts
[ 1997 ] Ben Stern
Milo
[ 1998 ] Lieutenant Parker
Shadow of Doubt
[ 1998 ] Marvin Helm
My Giant
[ 1998 ] Producer
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas
[ 1998 ] Wine Colored Tuxedo
Postal Worker
[ 1998 ] Dr. Nichol Brink
Ballad of the Nightingale
[ 1999 ] Arnie D Angelo
Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai
[ 1999 ] Handsome Frank
Road Kill
[ 1999 ] Charboneau
Desert Thunder
[ 1999 ] Adm. Le Clair
Fallen Arches
[ 2000 ] Nicky Kaplan
The Mystery of Spoon River
[ 2000 ] Agent Cicarelli
Happy Accidents
[ 2000 ] Trip
The Unscarred
[ 2000 ] Tommy Matolla
Lured Innocence
[ 2000 ] Jack Shelby
Double Bang
[ 2001 ] Lieutenant Shatkin
Zigs
[ 2001 ] Arnold Zigman
Poolhall Junkies
[ 2002 ] Toupee Jay
Under the City
[ 2004 ] Minks
Tony & Tina's Wedding
[ 2004 ] Vinnie Black
Meet the Mobsters
[ 2005 ] Jerry Kaminski
TV: The Movie
[ 2006 ] Sergeant
Find Me Guilty
[ 2006 ] Max Novardis
Perfect Stranger
[ 2007 ] Narron
The Minis
[ 2007 ] Jack
Made in Brooklyn
[ 2007 ] Louis, Vito Ungaro
Chasing Robert
[ 2007 ] Ed Thorton
The Indian
[ 2007 ] Elliot
Good Time Max
[ 2007 ] Head Administrator
The Spirit
[ 2008 ] Donenfeld
Law Abiding Citizen
[ 2009 ] Bill Reynolds
Life Is Hot in Cracktown
[ 2009 ] Guy from 4 K
Under New Management
[ 2009 ] Carmello Conforte
Killer by Nature
[ 2010 ] Walter
Hitchcock
[ 2012 ] Barney Balaban
A Night of Nightmares
[ 2012 ] Cliff Tanner
Dirty People
[ 2012 ] Max
2 Jacks
[ 2012 ] Lorenzo
Slightly Single in L.A.
[ 2013 ] Older Bar Guy
A Voice in the Dark
[ 2013 ] Dr. Levi
Oldboy
[ 2013 ] Bernie Sharkey
Underdogs
[ 2013 ] John Handon II
The Fourth Noble Truth
[ 2014 ] Aaron's Lawyer
This Last Lonely Place
[ 2014 ] Jon Pure
Nanny Cam
[ 2014 ] Detective Jones
Trumbo
[ 2015 ] Louis B. Mayer
Parallel
[ 2015 ] Stewart
Café Society
[ 2016 ] Walt
Soy Nero
[ 2016 ] Murray - the Garage Owner
Andover
[ 2017 ] Shamus Trout
The Gliksmans
[ 2017 ] Tim Neuman
An American Dog Story
[ 2017 ] Ripper
Swing State
[ 2017 ] Shoe Montgomery
Red Team Go
[ 2018 ] The Pawn Shop Owner
Higher Power
[ 2018 ] Charles Margrey
Holly Day
[ 2018 ] Benny
Duke
[ 2019 ] Carroll Green
Stakeout
[ 2019 ] Pat Reed
Roe v. Wade
[ 2019 ] Justice William Dougl
Frank and Ava
[ 2020 ] Walter Winchell
Desert Dick
[ 2022 ] Mayor Conrad Bixby

Richard Portnow TV Shows

Boston Legal
Judge Peter Harding
Dinosaurs
Mel Luster
EZ Streets
Det. Frank Collero
Mad About You
Arthur
Murder, She Wrote
Walter Pell, Lt. Walt Murphy
Nip/Tuck
Manny Caldarello
NYPD Blue
Howard Segal, Harry Bernstein
The Equalizer
Policeman
The Sopranos
Attorney Melvoin, Harold 'Mel' Melvoin

Richard Portnow Videos

Richard Portnow News


Randy Edelman To Score Josh Webber & Tony Mercedes Film ATHENA SAVES CHRISTMAS Ft. Cuba Gooding Jr.


Iconic, multi-award winning Composer Randy Edelman will be creating the soundtrack for Director Josh Webber's and 2 time Grammy winning publisher, now movie producer Tony Mercedes' new Holiday film, 'Athena Saves Christmas'.

BWW Review: FRANK & AVA ~ An Affair To Remember


Michael Oblowitz focuses on the torrid relationship of Frank Sinatra and Ava Gardner in FRANK & AVA, and in so doing has also profiled a turbulent crossroads in American history. Featuring stunning performances by Rico Simonini and Emily Elicia Low. One of the features at this year's Sedona International Film Festival.

BWW Review: TRUMBO Is Solid, But Bryan Cranston is Brilliant


Dalton Trumbo is the writer of such films as SPARTACUS, ROMAN HOLIDAY, and EXODUS. All are films that, if HUAC and Hedda Hopper and the Motion Picture Alliance had their way during a dark chapter of American history, he'd either never have written or never received credit for writing. Trumbo's is a story worth telling, and a movie certainly worth watching.

THE FOURTH NOBLE TRUTH, Starring Harry Hamlin to Play in Santa Monica This June


“The Fourth Noble Truth” – winner of the Audience Award at the Sonoma International Film Fest in 2014 – is being released in Laemmle Theaters in Santa Monica this June.

BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with Krysta Rodriguez!


Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Krysta Rodriguez!

BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with John Tartaglia!


Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from John Tartaglia!

BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with Gary Beach!


Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Gary Beach!

BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with Richard Portnow!


Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Richard Portnow!

BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with Robert Clohessy!


Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Robert Clohessy!

BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with Eric Ladin!


Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Tony Yazbeck!

BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with Tony Yazbeck!


Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Tony Yazbeck!

BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with James Earl!


Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Jose Llana!

BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with Jose Llana!


Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Jose Llana!

BWW Exclusive: Preview of INSIDE ACT: HOW TEN ACTORS MADE IT AND HOW YOU CAN TOO- with Debra Monk!


Why do some actors make it and others don't? Ken Womble sets out to find the answer to this question, one that has fascinated and tormented him for years, in his new book, INSIDE ACT: How Ten Actors Made it and How You Can Too (Hansen Publishing Group, 373 pages, $24.99). In anticipation of the release, BroadwayWorld will be featuring chapter previews from the new book. Today, hear from Debra Monk!

Sienna Miller Stars in 2 JACKS, Coming to DVD Today


Breaking Glass Pictures and Rough Diamond Productions announced today's DVD release of Bernard Rose's 2 Jacks, produced by Julia Verdin. Based on Tolstoy's short story 'The Two Hussars,' the modernized film is Rose's fourth Tolstoy adaptation. 2 Jacks had its world premiere at the Montreal World Film Festival.

Sienna Miller Stars in 2 JACKS, Coming to DVD 2/11


Breaking Glass Pictures and Rough Diamond Productions are proud to announce the February 11th DVD release of Bernard Rose's 2 Jacks, produced by Julia Verdin.

Football Saga UNDERDOGS Starring D.B. Sweeney Now on DVD


Freestyle Digital Media (FDM) announces today that on Tuesday, January 14, 2014 they will release director Doug Dearth's high school football drama UNDERDOGS, which was written by Dave Latham and stars D.B. Sweeney (TAKEN 2), on DVD.

Richard Portnow FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Richard Portnow been in?

Richard Portnow has appeared on Broadway in 1 shows.

How many West End shows has Richard Portnow been in?

Richard Portnow has not appeared in the West End.

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