Roger Bart
 |
 | This biographical article is written like a résumé. (May 2023) |
Roger Bart | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 29, 1962 Norwalk, Connecticut, U.S. |
| Education | Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1987–present |
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Bart at an event for The Lost Room in 2006 |
Roger Bart (born September 29, 1962) is an American actor and singer. He won a Tony Award and a Drama Desk Award for his performance as Snoopy in the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.
Bart received his second Tony Award nomination for playing Carmen Ghia in the original production of The Producers and his third for his performance as "Doc" Brown in Back to the Future: The Musical. His other accolades include a SAG Award and three Outer Critics Circle Award nominations. In 2007, he began a three-year stint as Frederick Frankenstein in the Broadway and touring production of Young Frankenstein.
Bart performed the song "Go the Distance" from the 1997 animated film Hercules, which was nominated for an Oscar and a Golden Globe.
Early life and education
[edit]Bart was born in Norwalk, Connecticut, the son of a teacher and a chemical engineer, and grew up in Bernardsville, New Jersey.[1][2] His uncle is journalist Peter Bart.[2] He graduated from Bernards High School in 1980 and was later inducted into the school's hall of fame.[3]
He earned his BFA in Acting from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey in 1985.[4]
Bart was close friends with Jonathan Larson: both worked as waiters between theater jobs and frequently hung out at each other's workplaces. He participated in early presentations of Larson's work including Tick, Tick... Boom! and Rent; the main character "Roger" from Rent is named after him.[5][6]
Career
[edit]He made his Broadway debut in Big River as Tom Sawyer in 1985. Additional theatre credits include Jonathan in the Alan Menken/Tim Rice musical King David, Harlequin in Triumph of Love, Snoopy in the Broadway revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown (for which he won the Drama Desk Award and a Tony), Carmen Ghia and later Leo Bloom in The Producers (earning Drama Desk and Tony nominations), and The Frogs at Lincoln Center, which reunited him with fellow Producers star Nathan Lane and Susan Stroman.[7]
In 1996 and 1997, Bart appeared as Bud Frump in the USA national tour of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.[8][9][10]
On television, Bart played George Carlin's son on The George Carlin Show (1994), and on Bram & Alice (2002) he portrayed Bram's assistant, Paul Newman. He became widely known to viewers with his portrayal of George Williams, the unhinged homicidal pharmacist in love with Bree Van de Kamp (Marcia Cross), on Desperate Housewives, which earned him a SAG Award.[11]
Bart provided the singing voice for teenage Hercules in Disney's Hercules, as well as the singing voice of Scamp in Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure. He was featured in the 2004 remake of The Stepford Wives with Nicole Kidman, Matthew Broderick, Bette Midler, Christopher Walken and Glenn Close, and in The Producers (2005), in which he reprised his role of "common-law assistant" Carmen Ghia.[11]
In December 2006, Bart played Howard "The Weasel" Montague in the Sci Fi Channel miniseries The Lost Room. In 2007, he starred as Stuart in Hostel: Part II, the sequel to 2005's Hostel, and had supporting roles in American Gangster and Spy School. In 2008, he appeared in Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay, the sequel to 2004's Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle, and The Midnight Meat Train.[11]
Bart also originated the lead role of Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in the musical adaptation of Mel Brooks' Young Frankenstein, which opened on Broadway in November 2007, following a run in Seattle. He reprised the role alongside former Broadway co-stars Shuler Hensley and Cory English in the United States national tour that launched in September 2009.[12] He ended his run on August 8, 2010, and was succeeded by Christopher Ryan. Bart originally portrayed the role of Igor in the original workshop read-through.[citation needed]
Brad Oscar and Bart reprised their roles as Max Bialystock and Leo Bloom, respectively, in a production of The Producers at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri. The show ran from August 23–29, 2010.[13]
In 2011, Bart was cast in the recurring role of Mason Treadwell on the ABC drama series Revenge.[14]
In 2013, Bart was cast in the recurring role of Roger Riskin on the Showtime drama series Episodes.[15]
Bart was originally set to play the dual role of Charles Frohman and Captain James Hook in the 2014 A.R.T. pre-Broadway production of Finding Neverland. He was ultimately replaced by Michael McGrath.[16]
In 2016, Bart returned to Broadway in the musical Disaster![17]
In 2017, Bart was cast in the recurring role of Vice Principal Nero on the second season of the Netflix comedy-drama series A Series of Unfortunate Events.[18]
In 2018, Bart was cast in the main role of Judge Wilson on the Freeform drama series Good Trouble, the spin-off of The Fosters.
In 2019, Bart was cast as Hades in the world premiere of Disney's musical, Hercules.[19] That same year, he was announced to play Dr. Emmett Brown in the musical adaptation of Back to the Future.[20] After playing the role at the Manchester Opera House and West End's Adelphi Theatre, he reprised the part in the Broadway production.[21]
In 2021, Bart cameoed in the film adaptation of Tick, Tick... Boom!, 30 years after performing in the original show with Jonathan Larson.[22] A character in the film played by Joshua Henry is named "Roger" after him, and is loosely inspired by Bart.[23]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | Hercules | Young Hercules (singing voice) | |
| 1999 | The Insider | Seelbach Hotel Manager | |
| 2001 | Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure | Scamp (singing voice) | Direct-to-video |
| 2004 | The Stepford Wives | Roger Bannister | Remake of the 1975 film |
| 2005 | The Producers | Carmen Ghia | Based on the 2001 musical |
| 2006 | I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With | Burl Canasta | |
| 2007 | Hostel: Part II | Stuart | |
| American Gangster | U.S. Attorney | ||
| 2008 | Spy School | Principal Hampton | |
| Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay | Dr. Beecher | ||
| The Midnight Meat Train | Jurgis | ||
| 2009 | Law Abiding Citizen | Brian Bringham | |
| 2011 | One Night Stand | Himself | |
| 2012 | Excision | Bob | |
| Freaky Deaky | Jerry Baker | ||
| A Green Story | Johnson | ||
| Smiley | Professor Clayton | ||
| The Last Man | Will | Short film | |
| 2013 | April Apocalypse | Jack | |
| Last Vegas | Maurice Tischler | ||
| 2015 | Molly | Brad | Short film |
| Trumbo | Buddy Ross | ||
| 2016 | Internet Famous | Chris! | |
| 2017 | Speech & Debate | Principal Bellingham | |
| 2018 | Ghost Light | Henry Asquith | |
| 2019 | Bayou Tales | Adam | |
| 2021 | Tick, Tick... Boom! | Featured Diner | |
| TBA | Broadway: The Next Generation | Himself | Documentary; filming |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | The George Carlin Show | Ron Blessington | Episode: "George Gets a Big Surprise" |
| 2000 | Law & Order | Alec Hughes | Episode: "Surrender Dorothy" |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Benjy Dowe | Episode: "Closure" | |
| 2002 | Bram & Alice | Paul | Recurring role (8 episodes) |
| 2005 | Out of Practice | Lou Pimsky | Episode: "Losing Patients" |
| International Digital Emmy Awards | Himself (host) | Television special | |
| 2005–2006, 2007, 2012 |
Desperate Housewives | George Williams | 16 episodes (recurring season 1, also starring season 2 episodes 2–9, special guest star season 2 episode 24, uncredited season 8) |
| 2006 | The Lost Room | Howard 'The Weasel' Montague | Television miniseries (2 episodes) |
| My Ex Life | Unknown role | Television movie | |
| 2009 | 30 Rock | Brad Halster | Episode: "Cutbacks" |
| 2010 | CSI: Miami | Bob Starling | 2 episodes |
| Human Target | John Doe | Episode: "Dead Head" | |
| 2011 | Medium | Dennis Caruso | Episode: "Me Without You" |
| Traffic Light | Marty | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| The Event | Richard Peel | Recurring role (10 episodes) | |
| The Life & Times of Tim | Mayor (voice) | Episode: "Percey Davis/Boulevard/Cool Uncle Stu Balls" | |
| 2012 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Jeffrey Fitzgerald | Episode: "Tressed to Kill" |
| Hot in Cleveland | Jimmy | Episode: "Claus, Tails & High-Pitched Males: Birthdates 3" | |
| Himself (uncredited) | Episode: "Some Like it Hot" | ||
| Grimm | Constantine Brinkerhof | Episode: "Big Feet" | |
| Perception | IRS Agent Ethan Kendrick | Episode: "Messenger" | |
| Political Animals | Barry Harris | Television miniseries Recurring role (6 episodes) | |
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Adam Cain | Episode: "Twenty-Five Acts" | |
| Easy to Assemble | Howard Friske | Recurring role (9 episodes) | |
| 2012–2015 | Revenge | Mason Treadwell | Recurring role (11 episodes) |
| 2013 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | Rep | Episode: "The Gang Tries Desperately to Win an Award" |
| 2013–2014 | How I Met Your Mother | Curtis | Recurring role (5 episodes) |
| 2014 | Jessie | Mr. Phil McNichol | Episode: "Krumping and Crushing" |
| The Exes | Sam | Episode: "When Haskell Met Sammy" | |
| How to Build a Better Boy | Dr. James Hartley | Television movie | |
| Celebrity Ghost Stories | Himself | Episode: "Julie White/Roger Bart/Dominique Swain/Thomas Ian Nicholas" | |
| 2014–2017 | Episodes | Roger Riskin | Recurring role (11 episodes) |
| 2015 | Modern Family | Anders | Episode: "Valentine's Day 4: Twisted Sister" |
| Sex & Drugs & Rock & Roll | Jeremy | Episode: "Supercalifragilisticjuliefriggingandrews" | |
| Scream Queens | Dr. Herfmann | Episode: "Chainsaw" | |
| You're the Worst | Jonathan R. Strasburg | Episode: "All About That Paper" | |
| 4th International Academy of Web Television Awards | Himself (host) | Television special | |
| 2016 | Doc McStuffins | Ferris (voice) | Episode: "Blast Off to the Unknown!/Bust a Move" |
| Code Black | Hank Goldman | Episode: "What Lies Beneath" | |
| 2016–2017 | No Tomorrow | Cory Casey | 2 episodes |
| Graves | Lawrence Mills | Recurring role (11 episodes) | |
| 2017 | Grace and Frankie | Steve Clarrington | Recurring role (3 episodes) |
| There's... Johnny! | Angelo | Recurring role (5 episodes) | |
| 2018–2019 | A Series of Unfortunate Events | Vice Principal Nero | 4 episodes |
| 2018 | Quantico | Fedowitz | Episode: "Bullet Train" |
| Elementary | Kip Lowell | Episode: "You've Come a Long Way, Baby" | |
| 2019–2021 | Good Trouble | Judge Wilson | Series regular (19 episodes) |
| 2019 | The Good Fight | Brad Cayman | Episode: "The One Where Kurt Saves Diane" |
| 2021 | The Blacklist | Scooter Rovenpor | 2 episodes |
Theatre
[edit]Awards and nominations
[edit]| Association | Year | Category | Nominated Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Broadway.com Audience Awards | 2024 | Favorite Featured Actor in a Musical | Back to the Future: The Musical | Nominated |
| Favorite Funny Performance | Nominated | |||
| Favorite Onstage Pair (with Casey Likes) | Nominated | |||
| Drama Desk Awards | 1999 | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Won |
| 2001 | The Producers | Nominated | ||
| DVD Exclusive Awards | 2001 | Best Original Song for "A World Without Fences" | Lady and the Tramp 2: Scamp's Adventure | Nominated |
| Online Film & Television Association Awards | 1998 | Best Music, Original Song for "Go the Distance" | Hercules | Nominated |
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | 2006 | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Desperate Housewives | Won |
| Tony Awards | 1999 | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Won |
| 2001 | The Producers | Nominated | ||
| 2024 | Back to the Future: The Musical | Nominated |
References
[edit]- ^ Gardner, Amanda. "THEATER; Tony Awards' New Jersey Ties", The New York Times, July 23, 2008. Retrieved March 21, 2011.
- ^ a b Horwitz, Simi (November 8, 2007). "First Banana". Backstage. Archived from the original on November 6, 2014. Retrieved April 4, 2009.
- ^ Hatala, Greg. "Glimpse of History: Arm-in-arm at commencement", The Star-Ledger, June 23, 2014. Retrieved September 5, 2019. "Some of the school's notable alumni include Tony Award-winning actor Roger Bart ('80), John Geils Jr. of the J. Geils Band ('64) and Academy Award-winning actress Meryl Streep ('67)."
- ^ "Roger Bart". IMDb.
- ^ McPhee, Ryan. "To Days of Inspiration: Explore the Evolution of Rent Through Jonathan Larson's Own Notes". Playbill. Retrieved November 17, 2021.
- ^ Buckley, Michael. "STAGE TO SCREENS: Roger Bart Discusses Producers and "Housewives"". Playbill. Retrieved November 22, 2021.
- ^ Roger Bart at the Internet Broadway Database
- ^ Rousuck, J. Wynn (May 31, 1996). "A cheery revival for 'How to Succeed'". The Baltimore Sun. Archived from the original on September 22, 2012. Retrieved May 20, 2017.
- ^ "Ralph Macchio is fun in 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying' Oct. 1-6". sacnews.net. Archived from the original on July 20, 2011.
- ^ Berson, Misha (October 10, 1996). "How To Succeed in Show Business ... – Since His 'Karate Kid' Days, Ralph Macchio Has Matured – In Age And Talent". The Seattle Times.
- ^ a b c Roger Bart at IMDb
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (July 30, 2009). "Together Again: Bart and Hensley Will Tour in Young Frankenstein". Playbill. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "The Producers". Archived from the original on November 16, 2009.
- ^ Stanhope, Kate (November 17, 2011). "Desperate Housewives' Roger Bart Uncovers Revealing Revenge Role". Yahoo Entertainment. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
- ^ Marechal, AJ (June 3, 2013). "Roger Bart to Recur on Showtime's 'Episodes' (Exclusive)". Variety. Retrieved April 2, 2018.
- ^ Tony Winner Swap: Michael McGrath To Replace Roger Bart in A.R.T.'s Finding Neverland Opening July 23
- ^ Lloyd Webber, Imogen (November 5, 2015). "Look Out! All-Star Disaster! Will Hit Broadway, Starring Adam Pascal, Roger Bart, Faith Prince & More". Broadway.com. Retrieved February 2, 2016.
- ^ Petski, Denise (June 9, 2017). "'Series Of Unfortunate Events': Nathan Fillion, Tony Hale, Sara Rue, Lucy Punch & Roger Bart Join Season 2 Cast". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved April 1, 2018.
- ^ a b Evans, Greg (June 20, 2019). "'Hercules' Stage Musical Adaptation Finds Its Strongman: Jelani Alladin Among Cast Announced For Shakespeare In The Park Production". Deadline.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (October 15, 2019). "Tony Winner Roger Bart Joins Cast of Back to the Future Musical". Playbill. Retrieved October 15, 2019.
- ^ Hall, Margaret (March 22, 2023). "Jelani Remy, Liana Hunt, Nathaniel Hackmann, More Join Back to the Future on Broadway".
- ^ Goffe, Nadira (November 19, 2021). "An Exhaustive List of Every Broadway Cameo in Tick, Tick … Boom!". Slate. Retrieved November 20, 2021.
- ^ Murray, Rebecca (November 17, 2021). "'tick, tick…BOOM!' Q&A with Andrew Garfield and Lin-Manuel Miranda". Showbizjunkies. Retrieved November 19, 2021.
External links
[edit]- Roger Bart at IMDb
- Roger Bart at AllMovie
- Roger Bart at the Internet Broadway Database
- Roger Bart at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- Roger Bart and Brad Oscar – Downstage Center interview at American Theatre Wing.org
- Roger Bart Discusses Producers and "Housewives" at Playbill
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
- 1962 births
- 20th-century American male actors
- 21st-century American male actors
- 20th-century American singers
- 20th-century American male singers
- 21st-century American male singers
- 21st-century American singers
- Living people
- Jewish American male actors
- Jewish singers
- Male actors from Norwalk, Connecticut
- Male actors from New Jersey
- American male film actors
- American male musical theatre actors
- American male television actors
- Drama Desk Award winners
- Mason Gross School of the Arts alumni
- Bernards High School alumni
- People from Bernardsville, New Jersey
- American people of Austrian-Jewish descent
- Tony Award winners
- American male pop singers
- 21st-century American Jews
- Actors from Somerset County, New Jersey