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Nathan Lane

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BIO

Nathan Lane (born Joseph Lane; February 3, 1956) is an American actor. Since 1975, he has been seen on stage and screen in both comedic and dramatic roles. Lane has received numerous awards, including three Tony Awards, seven Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, the Olivier Award, three Emmy Awards, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. Lane received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2006 and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2008. In 2010, The New York Times hailed Lane as "the greatest stage entertainer of the decade".



Lane made his professional theatre debut in 1978 in an off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night's Dream. During this time he also briefly appeared as one half of the comedy team of Stack and Lane, until he was cast in the 1982 Broadway revival of Noël Coward's Present Laughter directed by and starring George C. Scott. This led to an extensive career onstage, where he had a long friendship and fruitful collaboration with the playwright Terrence McNally which started in 1989 with the Manhattan Theater Club production of The Lisbon Traviata.

A six-time Tony Award nominee, he has won three times, for Best Actor in a Musical for Pseudolus in Stephen Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1996) and Max Bialystock in Mel Brooks' The Producers (2001), and Best Featured Actor in a Play for Roy Cohn in Tony Kushner's Angels in America (2018). His other Tony-nominated roles were in Guys and Dolls (1992), The Nance (2013), and The Front Page (2016). Among his 25 Broadway credits are The Man Who Came To Dinner (2000), The Odd Couple (2005), Butley (2006), Waiting For Godot (2009), The Addams Family (2010), It's Only a Play (2014), Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus (2019), and Pictures from Home (2023).

Lane has appeared in over 35 films, including The Lion King (1994), The Birdcage (1996), Mouse Hunt (1997), The Producers (2005), and Beau is Afraid (2023). He received the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for the Hulu mystery comedy series Only Murders in the Building in 2022. His other Emmy-nominated roles were for Frasier, Mad About You, Modern Family, and The Good Wife. He has also appeared in The People v. O. J. Simpson: American Crime Story (2016), Penny Dreadful: City of Angels (2020), and The Gilded Age (2022–).

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2023
Irving


[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2022
Willy Loman


[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2019
Performer


[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2018
Roy Cohn


[West End]
National Theatre Production, 2017


[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2016
Walter Burns


[Off-Broadway]
New York Premiere Production, 2016
Performer [Replacement]

[Replacement]

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway, 2015
Hickey


[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2014
James Wicker

[Replacement]

[Replacement]


[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2013
Chauncey Miles


[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2010
Gomez Addams


[Broadway]
Roundabout Revival, 2009
Estragon


[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2008
Charles Smith


[New York]
Reading, 2007
Hanratty


[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2006
Ben Butley


[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2005
Oscar Madison


[New York]
Reading, 2005
Hanratty


[Off-Broadway]
2005
Lou Nuncle


[West End]
London Production, 2004
Max Bialystock


[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2004
Dionysos


[Off-Broadway]
2003
Dalton Trumbo


[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2003
Mystery Guest Star [Replacement]

[Replacement]

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2001
Max Bialystock

[Replacement]



[Replacement]


[Broadway]
Roundabout Revival, 2000
Sheridan Whiteside


[Regional (US)]
Regional Concert, 2000
Performer


[New York]
Workshop, 1999
Addison Mizner


[Off-Broadway]
Encores! Concert, 1999
Hubert Cram


[Off-Broadway]
1998
David Mizlansky


[Broadway]
Angela Lansbury Tribute Benefit, 1996
Host


[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1996
Prologus

Pseudolus


Prologus

[Broadway]
1995
Buzz Hauser


[Off-Broadway]
1994


[Broadway]
1993
Max Prince


[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 1992
Nathan Detroit


[Broadway]
1991
Mr. Brink


[Off-Broadway]
1991
Sam Truman


[Broadway]
1990
Henry McNeil


[Off-Broadway]
1990
Jason Pepper M.D./Hugh Gumbs


[New York]
Reading, 1989
Performer


[Off-Broadway]
1989
Mendy




[Off-Broadway]
1989
James Taxi


[Off-Broadway]
1988
Jonathan Balton


[Off-Broadway]
1987
Harvey Wheatcraft


[Off-Broadway]
1986
Nick Finchling


[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1985
Toad


[Off-Broadway]
1985
Pompey


[Off-Broadway]
1984
Tony Lumpkin


[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 1984
Harry Berlin


[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 1983
Prince Fergus


[Broadway]
1982
Roland Maule


[New York]
Workshop, 2006
Hanratty


Productions

 
[Off-Broadway, 2008]
Producer

Writing

Bookwriter

Movies

Ironweed
[ 1987 ] Harold Allen
The Lemon Sisters
[ 1989 ] Charlie Sorrell
Joe Versus the Volcano
[ 1990 ] Baw - The Waponi Advance Man
Frankie and Johnny
[ 1991 ] Tim
He Said, She Said
[ 1991 ] Wally Thurman
Addams Family Values
[ 1993 ] Desk Sergeant
Life with Mikey
[ 1993 ] Ed Chapman
The Lion King
[ 1994 ] Timon
Jeffrey
[ 1995 ] Father Dan
The Birdcage
[ 1996 ] Albert
Mousehunt
[ 1997 ] Ernie Smuntz
At First Sight
[ 1999 ] Phil Webster
Stuart Little
[ 1999 ] Snowbell
Love's Labour's Lost
[ 2000 ] Costard
Isn't She Great
[ 2000 ] Irving Mansfield
Trixie
[ 2000 ] Kirk Stans
Titan A.E.
[ 2000 ] Preed
Austin Powers in Goldmember
[ 2002 ] Mysterious Disco Man
Stuart Little 2
[ 2002 ] Snowbell
Nicholas Nickleby
[ 2002 ] Vincent Crummles
Win a Date with Tad Hamilton!
[ 2004 ] Richard Levy the Driven
Teacher's Pet
[ 2004 ] Spot, Scott
The Producers
[ 2005 ] Max Bialystock
Swing Vote
[ 2008 ] Art Crumb
Astro Boy
[ 2009 ] Hamegg
The Nutcracker: The Untold Story
[ 2010 ] Uncle Albert
Mirror Mirror
[ 2012 ] Brighton
The English Teacher
[ 2013 ] Carl Kapin
Carrie Pilby
[ 2016 ] Dr. Petrov
No Pay, Nudity
[ 2016 ] Herschel
The Vanishing of Sidney Hall
[ 2017 ] Harold
Angels in America: Part I - Millennium Approaches
[ 2017 ] Roy Cohn
National Theatre Live: Angels in America Part Two: Perestroika
[ 2017 ] Roy Cohn
Spellbound
[ 2023 ] Oracle of the Sun
Spellbound
[ 2024 ] Luno

TV Shows

Encore! Encore!
Joseph Pinoni
George and Martha
George
Modern Family
Pepper Saltzman
Only Murders in the Building
Teddy Dimas
Teacher's Pet
Spot Helperman, Scott Leadready
The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd
Bing Shalimar, Herman in Fantasy Sequence
The Good Wife
Clarke Hayden
Elsbeth
Phillip Cross
Monsters
Dominick Dunne

Awards and Nominations


winner
BroadwayWorld Awards - 2018 - Best Featured Actor in a Play

Nathan Lane, Angels in America


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2018 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Nathan Lane, Angels in America


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2018 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Nathan Lane, Angels in America


winner
Tony Awards - 2018 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Nathan Lane, Angels in America

Drama Desk Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Nathan Lane, The Front Page

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2017 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Nathan Lane, The Front Page

Tony Awards - 2017 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Nathan Lane, The Front Page

Drama Desk Awards - 2013 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Nathan Lane, The Nance

Drama League Awards - 2013 - Distinguished Performance Award

Nathan Lane, The Nance

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2013 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Nathan Lane, The Nance

Tony Awards - 2013 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play

Nathan Lane, The Nance

Drama Desk Awards - 2010 - Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Nathan Lane, The Addams Family


winner
Drama League Awards - 2010 - Distinguished Achivement in Musical Theatre

Nathan Lane

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2010 - Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Nathan Lane, The Addams Family

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2009 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Nathan Lane, Waiting for Godot


winner
Olivier Awards - 2005 - Best Actor in a Musical

Nathan Lane, The Producers


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2001 - Outstanding Actor - Musical

Nathan Lane, The Producers


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2001 - Outstanding Actor in a Musical

Nathan Lane, The Producers


winner
Tony Awards - 2001 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Nathan Lane, The Producers


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1996 - Outstanding Actor - Musical

Nathan Lane, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1996 - Best Actor - Musical

Nathan Lane, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum


winner
Tony Awards - 1996 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Nathan Lane, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1995 - Outstanding Featured Actor - Play

Nathan Lane, Love! Valour! Compassion


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1995 - Outstanding Featured Actor - Play

Nathan Lane, Love! Valour! Compassion!


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1995 - Best Actor - Play

Nathan Lane, Love! Valour! Compassion!

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1995 - Best Off Broadway Musical

Nathan Lane, Love! Valour! Compassion!


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 1992 - Outstanding Actor - Musical

Nathan Lane, Guys and Dolls


winner
Obie Awards - 1992 - Sustained Excellence of Performance

Nathan Lane


winner
Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1992 - Best Actor - Musical

Nathan Lane , Guys and Dolls

Tony Awards - 1992 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical

Nathan Lane , Guys and Dolls


winner
The Lortels - 1991 - Outstanding Lead Actor

Nathan LaneThe Lisbon Traviata

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1990 - Best Actor - Play

Nathan Lane, The Lisbon Traviata

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1990 - Best Actor - Play

Nathan Lane , Lisbon Traviata

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 1990 - Best Actor - Play

Nathan Lane, Lisbon Traviata

Drama Desk Awards - 1989 - Outstanding Actor - Play

Nathan Lane, The Lisbon Traviata

Drama Desk Awards - 1983 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Nathan Lane, Present Laughter

Videos

News


Video: See Andrea Martin as Madame Dashkova in New Sneak Peek of THE GILDED AGE
by Josh Sharpe - Jul 7, 2025

A new sneak peek has been released for Season 3 of The Gilded Age, previewing the upcoming fourth episode, along with Andrea Martin's introduction to the series. Watch it now!
TUTA Theatre Reveals Schedule of Actors for WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 3, 2025

The highly experimental play WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT by Iranian German playwright Nassim Soleimanpour, is coming to TUTA. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
Every Broadway Actor in Season 3 of THE GILDED AGE
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 30, 2025

The Gilded Age is back for Season 3, and with it, a new and returning crop of Broadway talent. The New York-based costume drama is known for its vast array of theater actors, utilizing a total of 163 across its three seasons. Take a look here to see which of your favorite stars appear in the new season!
A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM is Coming to Skokie Theatre
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 27, 2025

MadKap Productions will present the hilarious musical A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM for 13 live performances at the Skokie Theatre. Learn more!
THE GILDED AGE Season 3 Premiere Breaks Series Record with 2.7 Million Viewers
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 25, 2025

Season three of The Gilded Age, which premiered this past Sunday, saw a rise in viewership from the premieres of the first two seasons. Within its first three days, the premiere episode brought in 2.7 million viewers across platforms, up 27% from season two's 2.1 million and 30% from season one's 2 million.
Library of Congress Acquires Manuscripts and Papers of Stephen Sondheim
by Stephi Wild - Jun 25, 2025

The Library of Congress has acquired the manuscripts, music and lyric drafts, recordings, notebooks and scrapbooks of legendary composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Learn more here!
Video: THE GILDED AGE Season 3 Trailer Teases Upcoming Twists
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 23, 2025

The Gilded Age is back! Season 3 of the starry series premiered last night, and Max has just released a new trailer, teasing what is to come in the coming weeks. Check it out now.
Video: THE GILDED AGE Stars Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon Discuss Theater's Impact on the Series
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 17, 2025

With the debut of Season 3 of The Gilded Age just around the corner, stars Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon sat down with ABC News’ Linsey Davis to tease what fans can expect from the latest season.
Interview: TOOTSIE Star Dan DeLuca Embraces Characters Who Experience Deep Transformation
by Carla Maria Verdino-Süllwold - Jun 17, 2025

“I am always drawn to characters and stories in which there is a deep transformation.  In TOOTSIE Michael’s huge catalyst for change occurs when he begins to step into the shoes of another person – a woman.”  His journey awakens “new empathy, new compassion in him.  He is able to see that Dorothy is a part of him.  All of us have a masculine and feminine side within us; the trick is to balance the two, to dissolve old stereotypes, and to discover how powerful the softer feminine side can actually be.”
TUTA Theatre Updates Summer Repertory Lineup with TOM & ELIZA and Nassim Soleimanpour’s WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 17, 2025

TUTA Theatre has announced a change in its two-play summer repertory. WHITE RABBIT, RED RABBIT will replace the replace the previously announced EVERY BRILLIANT THING and will play Sundays and Mondays through August 16.
Matthew Rosenstein to Premiere MAKE ME FRENCH at The Laurie Beechman Theatre
by Emmy Rice - Jun 14, 2025

After a sold-out and BroadwayWorld Award-nominated debut, cabaret artist and major Francophile Matthew Rosenstein is bringing his new show “Make Me French!” to The Laurie Beechman Theatre just in time for the French national holiday on Monday July 14 at 7pm. 
Original ANNIE Hirschfeld Art Comes to the West Bank Cafe
by Stephi Wild - Jun 11, 2025

To cap off two sold-out shows at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe, Broadway’s original Annie, Andrea McArdle, helped owners Tom and Michael D’Angora hang her Hirschfeld in the VIP suite.
Photos: Emmy-Winner Jean Smart Stars In CALL ME IZZY On Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 9, 2025

Check out first look photos of the world premiere production of Call Me Izzy on Broadway starring six-time Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated actress Jean Smart (“Hacks”, The Man Who Came To Dinner).
Video: Jean Smart Talks 'Terrifying' Prospect of Performing a One-Woman Show
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 9, 2025

This past weekend, CBS Sunday Morning dedicated a segment to Emmy Award-winning actress Jean Smart and her new one-woman Broadway show, Call Me Izzy. Watch the interview here!
Video: Kevin McHale and More in THE FROGS Trailer
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jun 5, 2025

You can now get a first look at Kevin McHale and the cast in footage from the new London revival of The Frogs! Learn more about the production here and see how to purchase tickets.
THE FROGS Extends Run in Barrie
by Stephi Wild - Jun 4, 2025

Talk is Free Theatre Artistic Producer Arkady Spivak announced that their production of the Stephen Sondheim musical, The Frogs, will extend its run in Barrie thanks to popular demand.
Video: Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, & More Star in THE GILDED AGE Season 3 Trailer
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 3, 2025

HBO has released the official trailer for the Emmy-nominated HBO Original drama series, The Gilded Age, starring Broadway alums Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Donna Murphy, and more. Watch it now!
Video: How Jean Smart Learned Her Lines for One-Woman Show CALL ME IZZY
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 3, 2025

After 25 years, Jean Smart is back on Broadway. The Hacks star is currently starring in Call Me Izzy, a one-woman show now running at Studio 54. Watch a new interview with the Emmy winner, who shed light on her memorization process.
Darren Criss, Ariana Grande, & More Urge Congress to Protect LGBTQ+ Youth
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 2, 2025

Broadway alums Ariana Grande, Darren Criss, Alan Cumming, Nathan Lane, Daniel Radcliffe, Sarah Paulson, Sabrina Carpenter, and Orville Peck are among more than 100 signers of an open letter called to protect federal funding for the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline’s LGBTQ+ Youth Specialized Services.
Broadway Streaming Guide June 2025: Where to Watch FROZEN West End Proshot & More
by Josh Sharpe - Jun 2, 2025

June is here, and with it are new streaming titles and returning theater favorites, including the official Frozen proshot, a new season of The Gilded Age, new Braodway cast recordings and more. Check out the lineup!

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Nathan Lane been in?

Nathan Lane has appeared on Broadway in 27 shows.

How many West End shows has Nathan Lane been in?

Nathan Lane has appeared on London's West End in 2 shows.

What was Nathan Lane's first West End show?

Nathan Lane's first West End show was The Producers which opened in 2004

What awards has Nathan Lane been nominated for?

Best Featured Actor in a Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Angels in America, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Angels in America, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Angels in America, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Angels in America, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Front Page, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Front Page, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Front Page, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Nance, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The Nance, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Nance, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Nance, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Addams Family, Distinguished Achivement in Musical Theatre (Drama League Awards), Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Addams Family, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Waiting for Godot, Best Actor in a Musical (Olivier Awards) for The Producers, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Producers, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Producers, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Producers, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Best Actor - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Outstanding Featured Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion, Outstanding Featured Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Best Actor - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Best Off Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Guys and Dolls, Sustained Excellence of Performance (Obie Awards), Best Actor - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Guys and Dolls , Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Guys and Dolls, Outstanding Lead Actor (The Lortels) for The Lisbon Traviata, Best Actor - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Lisbon Traviata, Best Actor - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Lisbon Traviata , Best Actor - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Lisbon Traviata , Outstanding Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Lisbon Traviata and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Present Laughter.

What awards has Nathan Lane won?

Nathan Lane has won several prestigious awards throughout his career. He received the Best Featured Actor in a Play award from BroadwayWorld Awards for Angels in America, as well as Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play from both the Drama Desk Awards and the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same production. Additionally, he won the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play for Angels in America. Lane was honored with the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre by the Drama League Awards. For The Producers, he earned Best Actor in a Musical from the Olivier Awards, Outstanding Actor - Musical from the Drama Desk Awards, Outstanding Actor in a Musical from the Outer Critics Circle Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical. He also received Outstanding Actor - Musical from the Drama Desk Awards, Best Actor - Musical from the Outer Critics Circle Awards, and the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. For Love! Valour! Compassion, Lane won Outstanding Featured Actor - Play twice from the Drama Desk Awards and Best Actor - Play from the Outer Critics Circle Awards. He earned Outstanding Actor - Musical from the Drama Desk Awards for Guys and Dolls and also won Best Actor - Musical from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same show. Additionally, he was recognized with the Sustained Excellence of Performance award from the Obie Awards and Outstanding Lead Actor from The Lortels for The Lisbon Traviata.

How many shows has Nathan Lane written?

Nathan Lane has written 1 shows including The Frogs (Bookwriter).

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