John Cariani Headshot

John Cariani

Get John Cariani Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

John Cariani BIO

ohn is an award-winning actor and an accomplished playwright. He is probably best known for his role as CSU Tech Julian Beck on television's Law & Order, and for his performance as Motel the Tailor in the 2004 Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof for which he received a Tony Award nomination and won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

As an actor, he has appeared on and off Broadway, in several films and television shows, and at regional theaters across the country. He got his first break when he was cast in the off-Broadway play It's My Party (And I'll Die if I want To), starring Joyce Van Patten and Academy Award Winner F. Murray Abraham.

In 2004, he made his Broadway debut as Motel the tailor in the Broadway Revival of "Fiddler on the Roof" starring Alfred Molina. His performance earned him an Outer Critics Circle Award and a Tony Award nomination.

John is also a successful film and television actor. He has shared the screen with such legends as Robert De Niro, Christopher Walken, and Edward Asner. He is probably best known for his work on television. From 2002-2007, he played CSU Tech Julian Beck on NBC's long-running drama Law & Order. He also had recurring roles as Professor Otto Bahnoff in the final season of CBS' Numb3rs 2005 and as reporter Michael Falk on the IFC's The Onion News Network.

As a playwright, John he is best known for his first play, Almost, Maine, which premiered at Portland Stage Company in 2004, opened Off Broadway in 2006, and is now featured in Smith and Kraus' New Playwrights: Best Plays of 2006. Since it's debut off-Broadway, Almost, Maine has become one of the most frequently produced plays in the United States, with nearly 2000 productions to date. It has also been translated into eight languages.

His second play, cul-de-sac premiered off-Broadway in April of 2006 in a Transport Group production. His third play, Last Gas and Love/Sick premiered at Portland Stage Company in 2010 and 2013, respectively, and are in negotiations for off Broadway engagements.

Originally from Presque Isle, Maine, John is a graduate of Amherst College, and now lives in New York City.

John Cariani Photos

John Cariani STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway Revival, 2021
Stuart Gellman

[Washington, DC (Regional)]
Broadway Center Stage Revival, 2019
Marcellus Washburn

[Off-Broadway]
Transport Group Concert Production, 2018
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Transport Group Concert Production, 2017
Performer

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2017
Itzik

[Off-Broadway]
Atlantic Theater Company Off-Broadway World Premiere, 2016
Itzik

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2015
Nigel Bottom

[Off-Broadway]
Transport Group Revival, 2014
Performer

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway Revival, 2005
Speed

Speed

[Off-Broadway]
2004
Hershel [Replacement]

Performer

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2004
Motel

[Off-Broadway]
1999
Performer

Writing

Playwright

John Cariani Movies

[2001]Kissing Jessica Stein Chuck

[2001]Scotland, Pa. Ed the Cop

[2001]The Shaft Security Guard Gary

[2002]Showtime Charlie Hertz

[2003]Robot Stories Salesman

[2004]Messengers Derek the Cop

[2011]Certainty Odd Interviewer

[2012]Elephant Sighs Joel

[2013]Sleeping with the Fishes Louis Belsky

[2014]Child of Grace Ollie

[2014]Deliver Us from Evil Zookeeper

[2018]Thrasher Road TSA Supervisor


John Cariani TV Shows

Law & Order CSU Technician Julian Beck

Law & Order: Criminal Intent Frank, Perry

Numb3rs Otto Bahnoff, Otto Bahnhoff

John Cariani Videos

John Cariani News

Husson University's Student Theatre Company To Present The Comedy/Mystery CLUE

Husson University Theatre (HUT), the university's official student theatre club, will perform the play 'Clue,' This theatrical production was written by Sandy Rustin and is based on the screenplay by Jonathan Lynn. 'Clue' brings the classic Parker Brothers board game to life!

ALMOST, MAINE Takes A Whimsical Look At Love And Loss In The Roxy Regional Theatre's Theotherspace, March 27- April 4

The aurora borealis sets the stage for the latest offering upstairs in the Roxy Regional Theatre's 50-seat black box theatre.  John Cariani's whimsical romantic comedy Almost, Maine begins a limited run in theotherspace at the Roxy on Monday, March 27, at 7:00pm.

Adriane Lenox & Petralina Rae Lambert Join the Cast of WOMEN OF FIRE; HELL FROZE OVER

Royal Family Production will present a benefit workshop of a brand new chapter of WOMEN ON FIRE: HELL FROZE OVER, written and co-directed by Royal Family’s artistic director Chris Henry.

Kathleen Chalfant, Mary Testa, Constance Shulman & More to Star in WOMEN OF FIRE; HELL FROZE OVER Benefit Workshop

Royal Family Productions will present a benefit workshop of a brand new chapter of WOMEN ON FIRE: HELL FROZE OVER starring Kathleen Chalfant, Mary Testa, Constance Shulman and more.

Boston Pops & Keith Lockhart Announce 2023 Spring Pops Season At Symphony Hall, May 12- June 10

Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra has announced their 2023 Spring Pops season, May 12–June 10, encompassing a celebratory spectrum of concerts and remarkable breadth of musical genres for which “America's Orchestra” is universally recognized. 

Listen to the 2023 Grammy Nominees for Best Musical Theater Album

As BroadwayWorld reported in November, six new recordings have earned nominations for Best Musical Theatre Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards, including Caroline, Or Change, Into The Woods, MJ The Musical, Mr. Saturday Night, Six: Live On Opening Night, and A Strange Loop. Take a listen to all six of the nominated albums!

Review: SWEET GOATS & BLUBERRY SEÑORITAS: Poetic Sensibility & Lingering Sweetness

The premiere of Richard Blanco and Vanessa Garcia’s SWEET GOATS and BLUBERRY SEÑORITAS at Portland Stage heralds the magical debut of a haunting new dramatic voice.  Poet Blanco and his collaborator Garcia have created a delicate, sad-sweet memory play, inhabited by six memorable and widely disparate characters, whose shards of reminiscence come together in the cold winter landscape of a small Maine town.

Review: ALMOST, MAINE at The Lyric Theatre

What did our critic think of ALMOST, MAINE at The Lyric Theatre?

Anthony Rapp's WITHOUT YOU Opens Tonight at New World Stages

Without You, written and performed by Anthony Rapp, directed by Steven Maler with musical direction by Daniel A. Weiss opens on Wednesday, January 25, 2023 at New World Stages. See how to purchase tickets!

Photos: First Look at ALMOST, MAINE at Oil Lamp Theater

Oil Lamp Theater will present ALMOST, MAINE, written by John Cariani and directed by Susan Gorman through February 26. Check out photos of the production here!

Husson University Theatre IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO SHOW

Husson University Theatre (HUT), the university's official student theatre club, will perform Joe Landry's 'It's a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play' on December 2 - 4, 2022 in The Gracie's Black Box Theatre.

Puppet Madame Returns To Provincetown's Pilgrim House In MADAME'S FACE-FOR-RADIO HOLIDAY HOOTENANNY

Pilgrim House, Provincetown's destination for top-flight entertainment, have announced an exclusive three-night engagement of the world premiere of MADAME'S 'FACE-FOR-RADIO' HOLIDAY HOOTENANNY.

Listen to the 2023 Grammy Nominees for Best Musical Theater Album

Six new recordings have earned nominations for Best Musical Theatre Album at the 2023 Grammy Awards, including Caroline, Or Change, Into The Woods, MJ The Musical, Mr. Saturday Night, Six: Live On Opening Night, and A Strange Loop. Before the 2022 winner is announced, take a listen to all six of the nominated albums.

SIX, INTO THE WOODS & More Nominated For GRAMMY For Best Musical Theatre Album

The nominations for the 2023 Grammy Award for Best Musical Theatre Album are out! Nominees this year include Into the Woods, A Strange Loop, SIX, and more. Check out who has been nominated this year.

David Josefsberg, John Cariani & Nathan Levy to Star in TEN BRAVE SECONDS Industry Reading

An industry reading of a new American musical, TEN BRAVE SECONDS by Will Van Dyke and Jeff Talbott, will take place this week (Thursday, November 17) in New York City directed by Ellie Heyman, with musical direction by Patrick Sulken. 

John Cariani to Star In Industry Reading of MEMOIRS OF A FORGOTTEN MAN

D.W. Gregory's political thriller Memoirs of a Forgotten Man will receive an industry reading on Thursday, December 1 at 2:30 p.m. Directed by James Glossman, the reading takes place at the Mary Rodgers Room at the Dramatists Guild.

DreamWrights Center For Community Arts Presents THE 39 STEPS

DreamWrights Center for Community Arts presents the thrilling and hysterical who-dun-it mystery comedy The 39 Steps. On stage for just one weekend, opening on October 28th through the 30th - this is one Halloween treat not to pass on.

Royal Family Productions Presents COVID STILL SUX REDUX: The Musical Part 2.5

NYC's Royal Family Productions, a theatre company known for its innovative productions and development of new original work, continues to bring quality family theatre to Maine.

Survivor's Josh Canfield Joins VILLAIN: DEBLANKS At The Green Room 42

NYC's favorite fill-in-the-blanks comedy welcomes the charismatic and clever Josh Canfield (The Great Comet, CBS's Survivor) to the lineup Saturday, October 29 at The Green Room 42.

Photos: First Look at ALMOST, MAINE at Rubicon Theatre Company

RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY  presents the third production of its 2022-2023 Season with ALMOST, MAINE, written by JOHN CARIANI and directed by STEPHANIE A. COLTRIN.  Check out all new photos!

John Cariani FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

John Cariani has appeared on Broadway in 4 shows.

John Cariani has not appeared in the West End

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Something Rotten! Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Fiddler on the Roof and Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Fiddler on the Roof .

Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Fiddler on the Roof .

John Cariani has written 1 shows including Almost, Maine (Playwright).

Get John Cariani Email Alerts

Be the first to get news, photos, videos & more.

Videos


TICKET CENTRAL

Recommended For You