Patti LuPone

Patti LuPone began her professional career as a member of The Acting Company from 1972 to 1976, appearing in repertory productions including The Cradle Will Rock, The School for Scandal, Women Beware Women, The Beggar’s Opera, The Time of Your Life, The Lower Depths, The Hostage, Next Time I’ll Sing to You, Measure for Measure, Scapin, Edward II, The Orchestra, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Arms and the Man, and The Way of the World. She made her Broadway debut in The Three Sisters in 1973 and received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for The Robber Bridegroom. In 1976 she played Genevieve in the pre-Broadway tour of The Baker’s Wife. She also began a long collaboration with David Mamet, appearing in his plays The Woods, All Men Are Whores, The Blue Hour, The Water Engine (1978), Edmond, The Old Neighborhood (1997), and The Anarchist (2012). In 1978 she appeared on Broadway in the musical Working.

LuPone achieved major recognition starring as Eva Perón in the original Broadway production of Evita, for which she won the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. In the early 1980s she performed the cabaret show Patti LuPone at Les Mouches (1980) and appeared in productions including As You Like It (1983) at the Guthrie Theater and a revival of The Cradle Will Rock. In 1985 she created the role of Fantine in the original London production of Les Misérables and won the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical. She returned to Broadway in Anything Goes. Her film credits during this period included King of the Gypsies (1978), 1941 (1979), Wise Guys (1986), Driving Miss Daisy (1989), and Summer of Sam (1999). She portrayed Lady Bird Johnson in the television film LBJ: The Early Years (1987).
On television, LuPone played Libby Thatcher in the ABC drama Life Goes On (1989–1993) and had a recurring role as attorney Ruth Miller on Law & Order during the 1990s. She received Emmy nominations for The Song Spinner (1995) and a guest appearance on Frasier (1998). In theater, she originated the role of Norma Desmond in the London premiere of Sunset Boulevard and later presented the solo stage show Patti LuPone on Broadway (1995). In 1996 she joined the Broadway production of Master Class.
In the 2000s LuPone appeared in the Broadway revival of Noises Off and starred as Mrs. Lovett in the Broadway production of Sweeney Todd, earning a Tony Award nomination. She later starred as Rose in the Broadway revival of Gypsy, winning the Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical. Her television appearances during this period included roles in Oz (2003), Will & Grace (2005), Ugly Betty (2007), 30 Rock, and Glee. She also appeared in the Los Angeles Opera production of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny.
In the 2010s LuPone created the role of Lucia in the Broadway musical Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown. She appeared in the film Union Square (2011) and the action film Parker (2013). She voiced Yellow Diamond in the animated series Steven Universe (2013–2019) and Steven Universe Future (2019–2020). Her television roles also included American Horror Story (2013), Penny Dreadful (2015–2016), Girls, and Pose (2019). On stage, she originated the role of Helena Rubinstein in the musical War Paint and appeared as Joanne in the London revival of Company, winning the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical.
LuPone returned to Broadway in the transfer of Company, opening in 2021 and winning the Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical. She appeared in the Netflix series Hollywood and starred in the film Beau Is Afraid (2023). In 2023 she portrayed Lilia Calderu in the Marvel Cinematic Universe series Agatha All Along. She returned to Broadway in The Roommate opposite Mia Farrow. Her recent television credits include And Just Like That… (2025) and the series Palm Royale. She most recently appeared in the limited series The Artist.