Ron Leibman
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Biography
This charismatic character lead has excelled in quirky, explosive, often Jewish, types and has been prominent on stage and TV since the 1960s. Ron Leibman was particularly applauded as the union organizer Ruben Warshawsky in Martin Ritt's "Norma Rae" (1979), in his Emmy-winning role as "Kaz" (CBS, 1978-79) and as Roy Cohn in Tony Kushner's two-part Broadway epic "Angels in America" (1993-94).
Raised in an upper middle class family on Manhattan's Central Park West, Leibman broke into theater in 1959. After enjoying some success in "Dear Me, the Sky Is Falling" (1963) and "We Bombed in New Haven" (1968), he began making occasional feature films. The actor debuted as the gorilla-dressing brother in Carl Reiner's "Where's Poppa?" (1970). His other best-remembered parts included David Greenberg, the real-life street cop who formed half of the team nicknamed "The Super Cops" (1973) and as the smarmy antagonist in "Rhinestone" (1984). Leibman's other films have proven generally disappointing. He starred in Arthur Hiller's mistitled "Romantic Comedy" (1983) and was the commandant of a military school in the lame teen farce "Up the Academy" (1980), from which he attempted to have his name removed from the credits. The exceptions were the fine Australian-made horse racing saga, "Phar Lap" (1984) and Sidney Lumet's "Night Falls on Manhattan" (1997), in which he played an ambitious district attorney.
In general, Leibman has found his talents unrewarded in Hollywood, but he has kept busy onstage in the modestly successful Neil Simon comedies, "I Ought to Be in Pictures" (1980) and "Rumors" (1989), in the latter alongside his second wife, Jessica Walter. He enjoyed a notable triumph onstage with his blistering, Tony-winning portrait of Joseph McCarthy's venomous right-hand man Roy Cohn in "Angels in America: Millennium Approaches" and "Angels in America: Perestroika." Leibman also garnered controversy for his portrayal of Shylock in a 1994 Off-Broadway production of Shakespeare's "The Merchant of Venice."
Leibman's larger-than-life approach to roles often seemed ill-suited to the small screen as well. Although he has begun working in TV in the early 60s, he has not been able to find a successful series berth. While he earned praise and an Emmy for "Kaz," a show which he also created, it did not pull in the ratings. Neither did "Pacific Station" (NBC, 1991), a short-lived detective series. While Leibman brought class and verve to the recurring role of ruthless magazine publisher Allen Rush on the CBS sudser "Central Park West/CPW" (1995-96) and despite a heavy promotional effort, that series was also quickly canceled. He has found some success in the occasional role as the uptight father of Rachel (Jennifer Aniston) on the hit NBC sitcom "Friends."
Formerly married to actress Linda Lavin, Leibman married Jessica Walter in 1983.
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Life Events
1959
Made acting debut in "A View from the Bridge" at the Barnard Summer Theatre
1959
Off-Broadway debut, "Legend of Lovers"
1963
Broadway debut, "Dear Me, the Sky Is Falling"
1963
Made early TV appearance in episode of "The DuPont Show" (NBC)
1967
Was a member of the Yale Repertory Company
1970
Played first notable role in a feature film, the black comedy, "Where's Poppa?"
1973
Co-starred with David Selby in "The Super Cops"
1979
Had best feature film role in "Norma Rae"
1980
Sued Warner Brothers to have his name removed from the credits and advertising of the unfunny "Animal House" rip-off, "Up the Academy"
1984
Co-wrote the script for, and performed (with co-star Charles Durning) the theme song to, the ABC comedy pilot, "Side by Side"
1988
Last film for nearly a decade, "Seven Hours to Judgment", directed by Beau Bridges
1989
Starred opposite wife Jessica Walter on Broadway in playwright Neil Simon's "Rumors"
1996
Began playing recurring role of Rachel's father on the hit NBC sitcom "Friends"
1997
Returned to features in supporting role in Sidney Lumet's "Night Falls on Manhattan"
1998
Co-starred in the short-lived Fox sitcom "Holding the Baby"
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