News on your favorite shows, specials & more!
Nathan Lane Headshot

Nathan Lane

Get Nathan Lane Email Alerts

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

Nathan Lane 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–).

Nathan Lane Photos

Nathan Lane 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
Roy Cohn

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival Production, 2016
Walter Burns

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

[Off-Broadway]
Off-Broadway, 2015
Hickey

[Broadway]
Broadway Revival, 2014
James Wicker [Replacement]

James Wicker

[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]

[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2001
Max Bialystock

Max Bialystock [Replacement]

Max Bialystock

[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
Pseudolus

Prologus

[Broadway]
1995
Buzz Hauser

[Off-Broadway]
1994
Buzz Hauser

[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

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

Nathan Lane Productions

 
[Off-Broadway, 2008]
Producer

Writing

Bookwriter

Nathan Lane Movies

Ironweed
[ 1987 ] Harold Allen
The Lemon Sisters
[ 1989 ] Charlie Sorrell
Joe Versus the Volcano
[ 1990 ] Baw - The Waponi Advance Man
He Said, She Said
[ 1991 ] Wally Thurman
Frankie and Johnny
[ 1991 ] Tim
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
Stuart Little
[ 1999 ] Snowbell
At First Sight
[ 1999 ] Phil Webster
Trixie
[ 2000 ] Kirk Stans
Titan A.E.
[ 2000 ] Preed
Isn't She Great
[ 2000 ] Irving Mansfield
Love's Labour's Lost
[ 2000 ] Costard
Austin Powers in Goldmember
[ 2002 ] Mysterious Disco Man
Nicholas Nickleby
[ 2002 ] Vincent Crummles
Stuart Little 2
[ 2002 ] Snowbell
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
National Theatre Live: Angels in America Part Two: Perestroika
[ 2017 ] Roy Cohn
Angels in America: Part I - Millennium Approaches
[ 2017 ] Roy Cohn
The Vanishing of Sidney Hall
[ 2017 ] Harold
Spellbound
[ 2023 ] Oracle of the Sun

Nathan Lane 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

Nathan Lane 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

Nathan Lane Videos

Nathan Lane News


La actriz nominada al Tony Olga Merediz visita MAMMA MIA! en Madrid

Merediz fue Rosie en la producción de Broadway y fue la Abuela Claudia original en IN THE HEIGHTS, tanto en teatro como en la película.
GoFundMe Campaign Launches to Save The West Bank Cafe and Laurie Beechman Theatre

The West Bank Cafe previously announced that it will be closing its doors next month. Now, a GoFundMe campaign has launched to help save the venue from its demise. Learn more about how to help here!
The Springfield Chamber Players Octet Will Premiere Next Month

The Springfield Chamber Players Octet will make their premiere at the Concerts at 7 Series on Monday, August 19, at 7PM. The performance will be at the Plainfield Congregational Church, 356 West Main Street in Plainfield, MA. 
THE BEAR, ONLY MURDERS IN THE BUILDING, & More Receive 2024 Astra TV Awards Nominations; See the Full List

With 15 nominations, FX’s The Bear was the most nominated series this year, followed by Max’s Hacks and Hulu’s Only Murders in the Building with 13 each. ABC’s Abbott Elementary and CBS’s Ghosts are tied for third place, with 11 nominations each.
Review: THE LION KING IN CONCERT, Royal Albert Hall

Back in the summer of 1994, Disney's latest animation film The Lion King raked in almost $1 billion at the global box office. After several sequels and long-running shows on Broadway and in the West End, the film is now celebrating its 30th Anniversary and the Royal Albert Hall is giving it the epic Films in Concert treatment.
Are We In a Sondheim Renaissance?

This time, the reader question was: Have there been a lot of Sondheim productions in New York City since the legendary composer and lyricist passed away?
Jeremy Irons Joins Cast of THE MORNING SHOW Season 4

According to multiple reports, Jeremy Irons will be joining Jennifer Aniston, Reese Witherspoon, and Marion Cotillard in the fourth season of the Apple TV drama The Morning Show. Irons will star as Martin Levy, the father of Alex Levy (Aniston). 
THE LION KING 30th Anniversary Fan Screening Roars Into El Capitan Theatre This Month

Celebrate the 30th anniversary of THE LION KING with a special fan screening at The El Capitan Theatre on July 11 at 7 PM.
Photos: Go Inside the Opening of the REAL TO REEL Exhibition, Paying Tribute To Leslie Jordan

This week, the Hollywood Museum’s Annual and LGBTQ+ Exhibit opening and Awards, Hollywood’s first LGBTQ+ Tribute/Exhibit and Awards, Donelle Dadigan (Founder/President of the Hollywood Museum) announced its 2024 salute to the LGBTQ+ community's contributions to the entertainment industry. Check out photos here!
Nikki Renee Daniels and Charles Esten To Lead THE MUSIC MAN At Pittsburgh CLO

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the full cast and creative team for THE MUSIC MAN, running July 9-14, 2024 at the Benedum Center.
Ina Garten Makes Multi-Year Deal With Food Network

The next season of Be My Guest will launch in the fall with guests including chef and restaurateur Bobby Flay, award-winning actress Julia Louis-Dreyfus and late-night’s Stephen Colbert & Evie McGee Colbert, plus more.
Julian Ovenden Comes to Cadogan Hall Featuring Scott Frankel in October

Star of stage and screen, Julian Ovenden, will play one night only at Cadogan Hall on Monday 14 October.
DOWNTON ABBEY 3 Coming in 2025

Focus Features and Universal Pictures International has confirmed that the previously announced third installment of the Downton Abbey film series will debut in theaters on September 12, 2025. The film is currently in production in the UK.
Photos: Linda Eder Continues Run at 54 Below

It isn’t often on a hot summer night that I get chills and goosebumps, but that happened at Linda Eder’s performance at 54 Below last night.  Check out photos here
Video: First Look at Alexis Michelle in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at Barrington Stage Company

Get a first look at La Cage Aux Folles at Barrington Stage Company in this all-new video! The production stars Alex Michaels, aka Alexis Michelle as Albin and Tom Story as Georges. 
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld June 19, 2024

Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is June 19, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours: 
Nathan Lane and Matt Bomer to Star in Hulu Sitcom MID-CENTURY MODERN

According to a new report, Tony Award-winning actor Nathan Lane and Golden-Globe-winning actor Matt Bomer will be co-starring in a new Hulu comedy inspired by the fan-favorite show Golden Girls. The series, titled, Mid-Century Modern, was created by Max Mutchnick and David Kohan of Will & Grace. Ryan Murphy is set to executive produce the show.
Review: LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at Barrington Stage Company

'We’re extremely fortunate to have Alex Michaels, perhaps best known for their drag persona Alexis Michelle on “RuPaul’s Drag Race,” and the dashing Tom Story as our Albin and Georges. With a brilliant cast and helmed by Mike Donohue with high-flying choreography from Paul McGill, we think BSC audiences are in for a treat.” I wholeheartedly agree.
Phylicia Rashad, Brian Stokes Mitchell, & More Join Third Season of THE GILDED AGE

Broadway talent continues to be represented in the hit HBO show The Gilded Age as more stage actors join the upcoming season. According to multiple reports, Phylicia Rashad, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Jordan Donica, and Victoria Clark will all be featured in Season 3 of the show.
Photos: First Look at LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at Barrington Stage Company

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), under the leadership of Artistic Director Alan Paul, is  launching its 30th anniversary season with a new production of the multi-Tony Award-winning musical, La Cage aux Folles.

Nathan Lane FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Nathan Lane been in?

Nathan Lane has appeared on Broadway in 26 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?

Nathan Lane has been nominated for various awards throughout his career, including Best Featured Actor in a Play at the BroadwayWorld Awards, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards, and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for "Angels in America." He has also received nominations such as Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play at the Tony Awards for the same production. Lane has garnered nominations for his roles in other productions as well, including "The Front Page," "The Nance," "The Addams Family," "Waiting for Godot," "The Producers," "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," "Love! Valour! Compassion," "Guys and Dolls," "The Lisbon Traviata," and "Present Laughter." Additionally, he has received accolades like the Distinguished Performance Award at the Drama League Awards and the Sustained Excellence of Performance at the Obie Awards.

What awards has Nathan Lane won?

Nathan Lane has won several prestigious awards throughout his career, including Best Featured Actor in a Play at the BroadwayWorld Awards, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play at the Drama Desk Awards, and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards, all for his role in "Angels in America." He also won the Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play Tony Award for the same production. Lane's accolades also include the Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre from the Drama League Awards, Best Actor in a Musical at the Olivier Awards for "The Producers," and Outstanding Actor - Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for the same show. Additionally, he won the Outstanding Actor in a Musical award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards and the Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Tony Award for his performance in "The Producers." Lane's other notable wins include Outstanding Actor - Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum," Best Actor - Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same production, and Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical Tony Award for his role in the show. He also received recognition for his work in plays, such as winning the Outstanding Featured Actor - Play award at the Drama Desk Awards for "Love! Valour! Compassion" and the Best Actor - Play award at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same play. Lane's talent in musicals was further acknowledged with awards like Outstanding Actor - Musical at the Drama Desk Awards for "Guys and Dolls," Best Actor - Musical at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for the same production, and the Outstanding Lead Actor award at The Lortels for "The Lisbon Traviata." Additionally, he received the Sustained Excellence of Performance award at the Obie Awards.

How many shows has Nathan Lane written?

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

Get Nathan Lane Email Alerts

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

Videos