Craig Bierko
About
Biography
Filmography
Family & Companions
Biography
A sitcom actor who seemed to personify the non-neurotic yet full-blown anxiety of the 1990s male, Craig Bierko had several high-profile roles during the decade, although none of the shows clicked with the audience. He was the uptight attorney who hired private investigator Valerie Bertinelli on the short-lived "Sydney" (CBS, 1990), the eager reporter with eyes for Dabney Coleman's daughter in "Madman of the People" (NBC, 1994-95), and Julie Warner's husband, joining her in watching their baby's every breath, in "Pride & Joy" (NBC, 1995).
Bierko came from a theatrical family: his parents operated a theater in Rye, New York, where the budding thespian made his stage debut at age ten in a production of "Gypsy." After studying broadcast journalism at Boston University, he transferred to the famed theater arts department at Northwestern University, from which he graduated. Moving to Los Angeles, Bierko was cast in a production of "The Boys From Syracuse" produced by a troupe backed by Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and Carol Channing. His early TV work included a role in "The Day My Kid Went Punk," a 1987 "ABC Afterschool Special." After landing a three-year deal with NBC, the handsome actor co-starred in the 1993 TV-movie "Danielle Steel's 'Star'" for NBC.
His motion picture career has been slower in developing. Bierko landed his first screen role in "Victimless Crimes" (1991), but the movie went the direct-to-video route. By the late 90s, he was again trying to establish a foothold in movies. In "The Long Kiss Goodnight" (1996), he played off his stalwart good looks as a villainous hit man tracking Geena Davis and Samuel L Jackson. After providing the radio voice of a preacher for "johns," he was cast as the object of Jeanne Tripplehorn's crush in the romantic comedy "'Til There Was You" (both 1997). His feature film fortunes improved when he was cast in the co-starring role as Steven Weber's cousin battling over money in Larry David's "Sour Grapes" (1998) and as the lead as a man who may or may not have committed a murder in the thriller "The Thirteenth Floor" (1999).
In 2000, Bierko surprised many by landing the much coveted lead in the revival of "The Music Man." Although some felt his interpretation of the role did not stray afield from Robert Preston's definitive interpretation, the actor proved a more than competent stage presence, earning, among other distinctions, a Tony nomination for his efforts. He followed up the role with a Broadway turn in Susan Stroman's "Thou Shalt Not."
Bierko remained visible on film and television with an uncredited cameo in the hit romantic comedy "Kate & Leopold" (2001) and a very funny pair of appearances on the 2001-2002 season of "Sex and the City" as Sarah Jessica Parker's jazz-obsessed lover Ray. The actor joined the cast of the short-lived Supreme Court series "The Court" (ABC, 2002) starring Sally Field, and appeared in the feature "I'm With Lucy" (2002) and the telepic "Sudden Fear" (2002). Bierko was back on the big screen as George, the adoptive father of David Spade's grown kiddie actor in "Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star" (2003), and he made a powerful impression as boxing legend Max Baer, who hits the ring opposite Depression Era folk hero Jim Braddock (Russell Crowe) in director Ron Howard's uplifting biopic "Cinderella Man" (2005)-reportedly, to keep up the tension between their characters, Bierko and Crowe indulged in a not-so-civil relationship off screen as well. In "Scary Movie 4" (2006), Bierko spoofed Tom Cruise's character from "War of the Worlds" (2005), playing a bumbling and moronic dad heroically trying to save his children from rampaging beings on giant tripods.
Filmography
Cast (Feature Film)
Music (Feature Film)
Cast (Special)
Life Events
1974
Made stage debut in production of "Gypsy" at his parents' theater in Westchester County, NY (date approximate)
1987
Had early TV role in "The Day My Kid Went Punk," an "ABC Afterschool Special"
1989
Reportedly offered the role of Enjolras in the San Francisco production of the musical "Les Miserables"; turned it down to make an unsold pilot for a comedy series
1990
First regular series role, as an uptight lawyer on "Sydney" (CBS)
1990
Garnered attention for his guest appearance as a bumbling eco-terrorist who takes Candice Bergen hostage on an episode of CBS' "Murphy Brown"
1991
Made feature debut in the direct-to-video release "Victimless Crimes"
1992
Had recurring role on "The Powers That Be" (NBC)
1993
Co-starred in TV-movie "Danielle Steel's 'Star'" (NBC)
1994
Co-starred with Dabney Coleman on "Madman of the People" (NBC)
1995
Played husband to Julie Warner on the short-lived NBC sitcom "Pride & Joy"
1996
First substantial feature role, a villain in Renny Harlin's "The Long Kiss Goodnight"
1997
Landed featured role as Jeanne Tripplehorn's date in the romantic comedy "'Til There Was You"
1998
Appeared opposite Steven Weber in "Sour Grapes"
1999
Starred in the special effects-laden thriller "The Thirteenth Floor"
2000
Made Broadway musical debut in the title role of "The Music Man" under the direction of Susan Stroman; received Tony nomination as Actor in a Musical
2001
Starred in the Broadway musical "Thou Shall Not," adapted from Emile Zola's novel <i>Therese Raquin</i>; Harry Connick Jr. wrote the score and Stroman staged the piece
2001
Landed two-episode appearance on HBO's "Sex and the City" as a love interest for Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker)
2002
Returned to series TV as a reporter covering the U.S. Supreme Court on "The Court" (ABC)
2005
Cast as boxer Max Baer opposite Russell Crowe in the Depression era drama "Cinderella Man," directed by Ron Howard
2006
Cast in Christopher Guest's comedy "For Your Consideration"
2006
Appeared on ABC courtroom drama "Boston Legal"
2011
Guest starred on the USA Network series "Necessary Roughness"
2012
Appeared in the big screen remake of "The Three Stooges," directed by the Farrelly brothers
Family
Companions
