Birth Place: San Mateo, CA, USA
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Bostwick was a member of First National Nothing, who released one album, 1970's "If You Sit Real Still and Hold My Hand, You Will Hear Absolutely Nothing." They are described on the album as "A rock-theater commune made up of musicians, actors, dancers, singers, designers, writers, composers, and friends that started a long, long time ago as a lost tribe in California and has ended up as a theatrical performing company in New York City."
In 1970, Bostwick was a member of a pop band called The Klowns, assembled and promoted by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose members performed wearing stylized clown makeup and costumes. Their sole album, released in 1970, was produced by Jeff Barry, and generated a minor Billboard hit single, "Lady Love."
Bostwick replaced C.C. Courtney in the musical Salvation. His next stage appearance was in the 1971 rock opera Soon, which closed after three performances. In 1972, Bostwick originated the role of bad boy Danny Zuko in the stage production of Grease, earning a Tony Award nomination for his performance. This was followed by a voice role as Terr in the English-dubbed version of Fantastic Planet in 1973. He later starred with Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) portraying the character of Brad Majors. He also won a Tony Award for his performance in the 1977 musical The Robber Bridegroom. In 1981, Bostwick starred in the TV series adaptation of the 1978 movie Foul Play, with his role modeled after Chevy Chase's and co-star Deborah Raffin in Goldie Hawn's part. The following year, he starred in Megaforce. Bostwick starred, along with Carl Weintraub, as Rick Armstrong in the short-lived ABC sitcom Dads during the 1986–87 season. From 1996 to 2002, Bostwick portrayed Randall Winston, the mayor of New York City in the sitcom Spin City opposite Michael J. Fox and his successor, Charlie Sheen. In 2006, Bostwick replaced Peter Scolari as Mr. Tyler, the father of Amanda Bynes's and Jennie Garth's lead characters, on What I Like About You.
Bostwick had a recurring role between 2004 and 2007 on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He has also had leading roles in various mini-series, including George Washington, its sequel George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation, Scruples, A Woman of Substance, War and Remembrance, and Till We Meet Again.
Bostwick served as host of the nationally televised annual Capitol Fourth celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for eight years. Bostwick was also seen in a Pepsi Twist commercial. In the Cold Case episode "Creatures of the Night," in which he is the main suspect, the theme of the episode revolves around The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is among his best-known performances to date.
In 2003, Bostwick appeared on Scrubs as a patient diagnosed with prostate cancer, a disease Bostwick had in real life. In 2008, he appeared in an episode of TV series Ugly Betty as an attorney to the Meade family. In 2007, Bostwick gained a recurring role, as Grandpa Clyde Flynn on the animated television series, Phineas and Ferb. Bostwick is also the spokesperson for Optimum Voice. In June 2009, he played Father Jimmy, the ineffective exorcist in the independent horror comedy The Selling, written by Gabriel Diani and directed by Emily Lou.
Other television credits include guest appearances in Charlie's Angels, Hawaii Five-O, The Golden Palace, Grace Under Fire, and Las Vegas.
Bostwick was supposed to appear on the third season of Private Practice as "the Captain," a father of the Addison Montgomery character, but had to resign due to a scheduling conflict. In 2011, Bostwick portrayed a small-town sheriff in the John Landis-produced thriller Some Guy Who Kills People.
Since 2009, Bostwick has had a recurring role as Roger Frank on the sitcom Cougar Town which stars Courteney Cox. In season three of the show, we learn that Bostwick's character has become mayor of the town the comedy is set in, Gulf Haven. In 2015, he starred in Darren Lynn Bousman's segment of the anthology film Tales of Halloween, which was his second time acting under Bousman after The Devil's Carnival, and appeared in the comedy horror film Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves. In 2015, he portrayed Collin Winthrop, father of the Gig Harbor Killer, in the season-ending CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "The End Game." He has also had a return to cult musical horror films in the form of Terrance Zdunich's Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival, which is a sequel to the 2012 short film The Devil's Carnival, of which he was not previously a cast member, being a newcomer to the franchise.
In 2020, Bostwick executive produced and starred in the short film Molly Robber as Ron Baker, which won an Audience Award at the 2020 Austin Film Festival and was an official selection at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.
[1971]Jennifer on My Mind Minstrel #1
[1973]Fantastic Planet Adult Terr - Narrator
[1973]Road Movie Hank
[1975]The Wrong Damn Film Alex Rounder
[1975]The Rocky Horror Picture Show Brad Majors - A Hero
[1982]Megaforce Ace Hunter
[1993]Weekend at Bernie's II Arthur Hummel
[1993]Russian Holiday Grant Ames
[1993]Eight Hundred Leagues Down the Amazon Garral
[1994]In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful Phillip
[1995]Project: Metalbeast Miller
[1996]The Secret Agent Club Vincent Scarletti
[1996]Spy Hard Norman Coleman
[2003]Swing Freddie
[2003]Spymate President
[2004]Chestnut: Hero of Central Park Thom Trundle
[2007]Evening Mr. Wittenborn
[2007]Nancy Drew Dhiel Zachary Biedermeyer
[2008]Holiday Baggage Pete Murphy
[2009]Hannah Montana: The Movie Mr. Bradley
[2010]Miss Nobody Father Grisham
[2010]Bedrooms Roger
[2010]It's a Dog Gone Tale: Destiny's Stand Arlen Hanley
[2011]The Selling Father Jimmy
[2011]Some Guy Who Kills People Sheriff Walt Fuller
[2012]FDR: American Badass! Franklin Delano Roosevelt
[2013]Finding Joy Alan
[2015]Home Run Showdown Big Al
[2015]November Rule Lance
[2015]Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves Jonathan
[2016]Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival The Watchword
[2016]Diani & Devine Meet the Apocalypse The Senator
[2016]Three Days in August John
[2017]A Mermaid's Tale Art
[2017]Bigger Fatter Liar Larry Wolf
[2018]Incredibles 2 Mayor
[2018]Slay Belles Santa
[2019]Santa Girl Santa Claus
[2019]Undercover Brother 2 The Man
[2019]3 from Hell Narrator
[2019]Grand-Daddy Day Care Dynamite Dan North
[2019]The Field George
[2020]Love by Drowning Val Martin Sr.
[2021]Single All the Way Harold
[2021]One Month Out Red
'Til Death George Von Stuessen
Cougar Town Roger Frank, Roger
Dads Rick Armstrong
Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce George
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Oliver Gates
Out of Practice Gavin
Research. Dr. Rust
Spin City The Mayor
Still the King Coy Phisher, Coy
What I Like About You Jack, Jack Tyler
Worst Extra Ever Milt Hamilton
Barry Bostwick, She Loves Me
Barry Bostwick, The Robber Bridegroom
Barry Bostwick , The Robber Bridegroom
Barry Bostwick, They Knew What They Wanted
Barry Bostwick , Grease
Barry Bostwick has appeared on Broadway in 7 shows.
Barry Bostwick has not appeared in the West End
Barry Bostwick has been nominated for several awards throughout his career. He was nominated for Outstanding Actor - Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for his performances in "She Loves Me" and "The Robber Bridegroom." He was also nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical at the Tony Awards for his role in "The Robber Bridegroom" and "Grease." Additionally, Bostwick received a nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for his work in "They Knew What They Wanted."
Barry Bostwick has won two Tony Awards for his performances in musicals. He received the award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for his roles in "The Robber Bridegroom" and "Grease".
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