Robert Sean Leonard

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Robert Sean Leonard
Robert Sean Leonard.jpg
Leonard in 2007
Born
Robert Lawrence Leonard

(1969-02-28) February 28, 1969 (age 52)
Westwood, New Jersey, U.S.
Alma materFordham University
Columbia University
OccupationActor
Years active1986–present
Spouse(s)
Gabriella Salick
​
(m. 2008)​
Children2

Robert Lawrence Leonard (born February 28, 1969),[1] known by his stage name Robert Sean Leonard, is an American actor. He is best known for playing Dr. James Wilson in the television series House (2004–2012) and Neil Perry in the film Dead Poets Society. Leonard won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in The Invention of Love in 2001. His other theater credits include Candida, Long Day's Journey Into Night, Breaking the Code, The Speed of Darkness, Philadelphia, Here I Come!, Arcadia, The Music Man, Born Yesterday, Fifth of July and To Kill a Mockingbird. From 2013 to 2014, Leonard had a recurring role as Dr. Roger Kadar on the television series Falling Skies. He also starred as the leading role in Swing Kids playing Peter Müller.

Early life and education[]

Leonard grew up in Ridgewood, New Jersey, where he attended Ridgewood High School before moving on to Fordham University and later the Columbia University School of General Studies.[2] He studied theatre at HB Studio.[3]

Career[]

Because he shares his birth name with another actor, Leonard modified his name for his Screen Actors Guild membership with "Sean", the name of his brother.[4]

Leonard is a three-time Tony Award nominee, winning Best Featured Actor in a Play in 2001 for his role as A. E. Housman in Tom Stoppard's The Invention of Love. He had a prior association with Stoppard's work, playing the role of Valentine in the New York premiere of Arcadia at Lincoln Center in 1995. His 2003 Tony nomination was for his portrayal of Edmund Tyrone in a well-received revival of Eugene O'Neill's Long Day's Journey Into Night that co-starred Philip Seymour Hoffman, Brian Dennehy and Vanessa Redgrave. Leonard has also appeared in Broadway musical productions, in 2001 replacing Craig Bierko as the lead performer in a revival of The Music Man. On February 8, 2011, it was announced that Leonard would co-star as Paul Verrall in the 2011 Broadway revival of Born Yesterday beginning in March.[5]

In 1997, Leonard received rave reviews for his role in the Christopher Reeve-directed television film In the Gloaming. Entertainment Weekly said that, in the film, Leonard "does a first-rate job of juggling Danny's mixture of despair, neediness, and mordant jokiness."[6]

From 2004, he played Dr. James Wilson, head of the oncology department, on the FOX TV series House, until the series ended in 2012. In 2007 Leonard appeared on Entertainment Weekly's 100 list as "Dr. Underrated".[7]

In 2016, Leonard played King Arthur in David Lee's adaptation of the musical Camelot at the Westport Country Playhouse in Westport, Connecticut.[8] From February to April 2017, he appeared in the Broadway revival of Sunday in the Park with George as Jules/Bob.[9]

Personal life[]

Leonard maintains a close friendship with House co-star Hugh Laurie.[10] He is also a friend since childhood of Ethan Hawke, his costar in Dead Poets Society and Tape.[11] Hawke and Leonard founded the Malaparte theater company, along with James Waterston, Steve Zahn, and Frank Whaley.[12][13]

Filmography[]

Film and television[]

Year Title Role Notes
1986 The Manhattan Project Max
1988 My Best Friend Is a Vampire Jeremy Capello
1989 Dead Poets Society Neil Perry
1990 Mr. & Mrs. Bridge Douglas Bridge
1991 Married to It Chuck Bishop
1993 Swing Kids Peter Müller
1993 Much Ado About Nothing Claudio
1993 The Age of Innocence Ted Archer
1994 Safe Passage Alfred Singer
1996 The Boys Next Door Barry Klemper
1996 Killer: A Journal of Murder Henry Lesser
1996 I Love You, I Love You Not Angel of Death
1997 In the Gloaming Danny
1998 Standoff Jamie Doolin
1998 The Last Days of Disco Tom Platt
1998 Ground Control Cruise
2000 The Outer Limits Robby Archer Season 6, Episode 20
2001 Tape Jon Salter
2001 A Glimpse of Hell Lieutenant Daniel P. Meyer
2001 Driven Demille Bly
2001 Chelsea Walls Terry Olsen
2003 The I Inside Peter Cable
2003 Jesse Chandler
2003 Malcolm in the Middle Agent Season 5, Episode 12
2004–2012 House Dr. James Wilson Main Cast
2013–2014 Falling Skies Dr. Roger Kadar Recurring
2013 The Blacklist Frederick Barnes Episode: "Frederick Barnes"
2014 The Good Wife Del Paul Episode: “Dear God”
2015–2016 Law & Order: SVU ADA Kenneth O'Dwyer 3 episodes
2015 Battle Creek Brock Episode: “Sympathy for the Devil”
2017 Blue Bloods Charles Beard Episode: “Lost Souls”
2019 The Hot Zone Walter Humboldt Miniseries
2019 The Good Doctor Shamus O’Malley Season 3, Episode 3[14]

Theatre[]

Year Title Role
1986 Brighton Beach Memoirs Eugene Jerome
1987–1988 Breaking the Code Christopher Morcom
1990 Romeo and Juliet Romeo
1991 The Speed of Darkness Eddie
1993 Candida Eugene Marchbanks
1994 Philadelphia, Here I Come! Gareth O'Donnell in Private
1995 Arcadia Valentine Coverly
1999 The Iceman Cometh Don Parritt
2000–2001 The Music Man Harold Hill
2001 The Invention of Love A. E. Housman
2003 Long Day's Journey into Night Edmund Tyrone
2003 The Violet Hour John Pace Seavering
2011–2012 Born Yesterday Paul Verrall
2013 To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch
2013 Pygmalion Professor Henry Higgins
2016 Prodigal Son Alan Hoffman
2016 Camelot King Arthur
2017 Sunday in the Park with George Jules
2017 Richard II Richard II[15]
2018 Edward Albee's At Home at the Zoo Peter

Awards and nominations[]

Awards
Nominations

References[]

  1. ^ "Playbill Vault's Today in Theatre History". Playbill. Retrieved November 2, 2020.
  2. ^ Alvin Klein (January 5, 1986). "For Stage Novice, 'Acting Is It'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  3. ^ HB Studio Alumni
  4. ^ "Robert Sean Leonard, David Javerbaum, Plus a Look at Fall TV". Playbill. June 1, 2008. Archived from the original on June 2, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  5. ^ "Born Yesterday :: Home". bornyesterdayonbroadway.com. Retrieved December 3, 2011.
  6. ^ Tucker, Ken (April 18, 1997). "Classy comes home". Entertainment Weekly (375): 53.
  7. ^ Snierson, Dan (June 29, 2007), "Robert Sean Leonard". Entertainment Weekly. (941/942):69
  8. ^ Shameer Cohen, Sherry. "BWW Review: 'Camelot' in Westport" broadwayworld.com, October 11, 2016
  9. ^ Viaga, Robert (February 11, 2017). "Jake Gyllenhaal 'Sunday in the Park With George' Begins Previews Feb. 11". Playbill.
  10. ^ The Rod Ryan Show: Interview with Robert Sean Leonard Archived July 23, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. None. Retrieved on December 3, 2011.
  11. ^ Warren Curry HALLOWED HALLS: An interview with Chelsea Walls star Robert Sean Leonard. douban.com. 4/18/02
  12. ^ Wynn Rousuck, J. (March 16, 1997). "Model Role Actor: He's got a list of movie and Broadway credits. Now, Robert Sean Leonard is adding Baltimore's Center Stage to his resume". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  13. ^ Brown, Emma (February 8, 2013). "Life's a Baal For Jonthan Marc Sherman". Interview magazine. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  14. ^ Schwartz, Ryan (September 10, 2019). "The Good Doctor: Robert Sean Leonard to Guest-Star in Season 3, Reuniting With House Creator — Get First Look". TVLine. Retrieved September 18, 2019.
  15. ^ Gans, Andrew. "See Who's Joining Robert Sean Leonard in King Richard II". Playbill. Retrieved August 22, 2021.

External links[]

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