Bradley Whitford
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Biography
Though originally a supporting player in various film and television projects, actor Bradley Whitford emerged as an Emmy Award-winning lead performer on the critically acclaimed political drama, "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006). Prior to his seven season run on that beloved program, Whitford made a small name for himself, usually as an arrogant yuppie type in films like "Adventures in Babysitting" (1987) and "Billy Madison" (1995). He also excelled on the stage, delivering standout performances in "Romeo and Juliet" (1988) and in the original production of "A Few Good Men" (1989), which introduced the actor to "The West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin. In fact, Whitford became something of a Sorkin player, returning to star in the writer-playwright's critically acclaimed, but ultimately failed drama about the goings-on of a flailing late night sketch show, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (NBC, 2006-07). Whitford continued working steadily, starring on the sitcom "Trophy Wife" (ABC 2013-14) and appearing in the acclaimed comedy-drama "Transparent" (Amazon 2014- ), co-starring as Hubert Humphrey in the television movie "All the Way" (HBO 2015) and co-starring in Jordan Peele's critically-acclaimed horror hit "Get Out" (2017). Always one to talk about his political views, which were firmly planted on the liberal side of the spectrum, Whitford was often called upon to express his opinions on talk shows like "Real Time with Bill Maher" (HBO, 2003- ) and even co-host a radio talk show on Air America. But his bread-and-butter remained being a strong character actor who could also excel as a prominent leading man.
Born on Oct. 10, 1959 in Madison, WI, Whitford was raised in a Quaker family he later described as liberal and pinko. Bitten by the acting bug while attending Madison East High School, Whitford pursued a bachelor's degree in English and theater at Wesleyan University in Middletown, CT. After graduating in 1981, he continued his theater studies at the Juilliard School in New York City, which he attended for four years. He began his professional stage career opposite Kathy Bates in a production of Sam Shepard's "The Curse of the Starving Class" (1985). Whitford next made his onscreen acting debut soon after leaving Juilliard, starring in the thriller "Doorman" (1986), in which he played an apartment building doorman targeted by a deranged killer, after which he was cast in a small part by director William Friedkin for the made-for-television movie "C.A.T. Squad" (NBC, 1986), an action thriller about an international anti-terrorist unit trying to protect a top secret laser project. Following an appearance opposite Gena Rowlands in "The Betty Ford Story" (ABC, 1987), he was the snobbish boyfriend of Elisabeth Shue, whose cancellation of their date leads to her "Adventures in Babysitting" (1987).
Returning to the stage, Whitford was one of the few bright spots in an otherwise lackluster production of "Romeo and Juliet" (1988) during the New York Shakespeare Festival's marathon performance of all 36 of the Bard's plays. Whitford continued to immerse himself in theater roles, replacing actor Tom Hulce to make his Broadway debut in a production of "A Few Good Men" (1989), written by future "West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin. With his career on the rise, Whitford resumed his onscreen career - often as a snobbish Yuppie type - playing a surgical resident in "Vital Signs" (1990), which he followed with a small supporting part in the courtroom thriller, "Presumed Innocent" (1990) and as a doctor in "Awakenings" (1990). Back on stage once again, he delivered an excellent and critically acclaimed performance as "Coriolanus" (1991) for the Folger Shakespeare Theatre in Washington, D.C. He was subsequently seen in small roles, playing Al Pacino's brother-in-law in "Scent of a Woman" (1992), a lawyer in "Philadelphia" (1993), and a sharpshooter assisting Clint Eastwood in "A Perfect World" (1993). Though cast in small supporting roles, Whitford was nonetheless appearing in major films with some of the day's top stars.
After appearing opposite Tommy Lee Jones and Susan Sarandon in "The Client" (1994), he had a breakthrough playing the conniving subordinate of an overgrown rich kid (Adam Sandler) forced to go back to kindergarten in "Billy Madison" (1995). Meanwhile, the small screen offered him several meaty roles, including a world-weary private eye opposite Kate Capshaw in the short-lived "Black Tie Affair" (NBC, 1993), a recurring role on "NYPD Blue" (ABC, 1993-2005), and as a man coping with the complications of his wife's pregnancy on the Emmy-winning "Love's Labor's Lost" episode of "ER" (NBC, 1994-2009). Following a major role supporting Richard Gere and Bai Ling in the political thriller "Red Corner" (1997), he tried series television once again, this time displaying his comedic gifts as one of three divorced buddies in the sitcom "The Secret Lives of Men" (ABC, 1998). The show tanked with audiences and was duly canceled after seven episodes. On the big screen, he had a prominent co-starring role in "Masterminds" (1997), followed by lesser parts in "Bicentennial Man" (1999) and "The Muse" (1999).
Whitford finally received his due in Aaron Sorkin's long running political drama, "The West Wing" (NBC, 1999-2006). As Josh Lyman, the sharp, witty and occasionally arrogant deputy chief of staff to the President of the United States (Martin Sheen), Whitford was a cast member for the show's entire seven season run. Though initially considered for the role of White House communications director Sam Seaborn (Rob Lowe), the actor fought for the part of Lyman over the objections of studio executives. Eventually, he won out with Sorkin's help and went on to win an Emmy Award for his performance in 2001, while earning another nomination the following year. He became a consistent red carpet presence, along with his wife, actress Jane Kaczmarek, who, herself, was enjoying a successful run on the sitcom, "Malcolm in the Middle" (Fox, 2000-06). His stint on "The West Wing" kept him busy most of the year, leaving him little time to pursue separate projects other than small parts in features like "Kate and Leopold" (2001) and "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants" (2005). Thanks to his liberal politics and starring role on a popular political drama, Whitford began making appearances as a panelist on "Real Time With Bill Maher" (HBO, 2003- ), where he aired his views on a variety of topics, including his opposition to the Iraq War.
Once "The West Wing" wound down to a conclusion, Whitford went right back to work with Aaron Sorkin on the writer's next series, "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (NBC, 2006-07), an ambitious, but ultimately failed dramatic look at the behind-the-scenes goings-on of a "Saturday Night Live"-like show. Whitford played Danny Tripp, a former producer of the show and struggling drug addict who is brought back with his writing and producing partner (Matthew Perry) to breathe new life into the dying show. Despite the show's high profile development and marketing campaign prior to airing, "Studio 60" spent its short life in constant doubt whether or not it would be canceled even though a majority of critical reviews were positive. Whitford moved on to co-star as a prosecutor who tries a seemingly mild-mannered housewife (Catherine Keener) for kidnapping and murder in "An American Crime" (Showtime, 2008). Following a leading role in the global warming miniseries "Burn Up" (BBC, 2008), he had a small role in the adult ensemble comedy "Bottle Shock" (2008). To the shock of many, Whitford and wife Kaczmarek filed for divorce after 16 years of marriage. The long-term spouses had been a Hollywood rarity, though signs of a split were evident when Kaczmarek made cryptic comments about the state of her love life. Whitford returned to the big screen with the clever horror film "The Cabin in the Woods" (2012), followed by supporting roles in the punk-era biopic "CBGB" (2013) and "Saving Mr. Banks" (2013), a behind the scenes comedy-drama about the filming of "Mary Poppins" (1964). Whitford returned to television on the sitcom "Trophy Wife" (ABC 2013-14), a comedy about a blended family hampered by a name some critics found offensive. After the series was canceled, Whitford took supporting roles on the comedy-drama "Transparent" (Amazon 2014- ) and the short-lived black comedy "Happyish" (Showtime 2015). During this period, he also began a recurring role on the sitcom "Brooklyn 9-9" (Fox 2013- ) as the estranged father of main character Jake Peralta (Andy Samberg). In keeping with Whitford's political inclinations, he co-starred opposite Bryan Cranston in the LBJ biopic "All the Way" (HBO 2015) as Hubert Humphrey. Whitford's next big-screen success came in Jordan Peele's racially-charged horror hit "Get Out" (2017), playing a suburban father whose daughter's boyfriend (Daniel Kaluuya) uncovers a chilling secret.
Filmography
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Life Events
1986
Starred in the NBC TV-movie "C.A.T. Squad"
1986
Made feature acting debut, playing the lead role in "Doorman"
1987
Portrayed Jack Ford in "The Betty Ford Story" (ABC)
1990
Made Broadway debut succeeding Tom Hulce in "A Few Good Men"
1992
Played Al Pacino's brother-in-law in "Scent of a Woman"
1993
Cast on the short-lived NBC series "Black Tie Affair"
1994
Appeared on four episodes of the ABC police drama "NYPD Blue"
1995
Played the husband of a pregnant woman on the "Love's Labor's Lost" episode of NBC's "ER"
1997
Had a prominent supporting role in "Red Corner" with Richard Gere and Bai Ling
1998
Appeared on the short-lived ABC sitcom "The Secret Lives of Men"
1999
Played Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman on the NBC drama series "The West Wing"; penned two episodes in the sixth and seventh season
2001
Landed supporting role in the romantic comedy "Kate & Leopold"
2005
Played America Ferrera's father in the coming-of-age story "The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants"
2006
Re-teamed with "The West Wing" creator Aaron Sorkin for "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (NBC) as television producer-director Danny Tripp
2007
Cast opposite Catherine Keener in Tommy O'Haver's "An American Crime"
2008
Appeared in the British drama "Burn Up" (BBC)
2008
Returned to Broadway to star in "Boeing-Boeing"
2010
Co-starred with Colin Hanks on Fox's buddy-cop comedy series "The Good Guys"
2012
Co-starred in the horror thriller "The Cabin in the Woods"
2013
Landed supporting role in Hollywood period piece "Saving Mr. Banks"
2013
Co-starred opposite Malin Akerman in ABC sitcom "Trophy Wife"
2014
Had a recurring role on Amazon series "Transparent"
2016
Appeared in the drama "Other People"
2017
Appeared in Jordan Peele's directorial debut, "Get Out"
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