Robert Sean Leonard

Robert Sean Leonard

Robert Sean Leonard, 2007
Born Robert Lawrence Leonard
(1969-02-28) February 28, 1969
Westwood, New Jersey, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1986–present
Spouse(s) Gabriella Salick (m. 2008)
Children 2

Robert Lawrence Leonard (born February 28, 1969), better known by his stage name Robert Sean Leonard, is an American actor. He is known for playing Dr. James Wilson in the television series House (2004–2012) and Neil Perry in the film Dead Poets Society. Leonard won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in The Invention of Love in 2001. His other Broadway 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, and To Kill a Mockingbird. From 2013 to 2014, Leonard had a recurring role as Dr. Roger Kadar on the television series Falling Skies.

Early life

Leonard was born in Westwood, New Jersey, the son of Joyce Patricia (née Peterson), a nurse, and Robert Howard Leonard, a teacher of Spanish.[1][2][3] He grew up in Ridgewood, where he attended Ridgewood High School before moving on to Fordham University and later Columbia University School of General Studies (GS).[4]

Career

Because he shares his birth name with another actor, Leonard uses the name of his brother Sean for his Screen Actors Guild membership.[5]

Leonard is a three-time Tony Award nominee (1993, 2001 and 2003), winning in 2001 (Best Actor – Featured Play) 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 successful 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.[6]

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."[7]

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's Weekly's 100 list as "Dr. Underrated."[8]

Personal life

Leonard maintains a good friendship with House co-star Hugh Laurie,[9] as well as childhood friend, Dead Poets Society and Tape co-star, Ethan Hawke,[10] with whom he founded the Malaparte theater company, along with James Waterston, Steve Zahn, and Frank Whaley.[11][12]

He's been married to Gabriella Salick since 2008. They have two daughters: Eleanor (born 2009) and Claudia (born 2012).

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 A Painted House Jesse Chandler
2003 Malcolm in the Middle Agent Season 5, Episode 12
2004–12 House Dr. James Wilson Main Cast
2013–14 Falling Skies Dr. Roger Kadar Recurring
2013 The Blacklist Frederick Barnes Episode 7
2014 The Good Wife Del Paul Season 6, Episode 3
2015–16 Law & Order: SVU ADA Kenneth O'Dwyer Season 16 Episode 21
Season 17 Episode 3
Season 17 Episode 10
2015 Battle Creek Brock Season 1 Episode 13

Theatre

Year Title Role
1986 Brighton Beach Memoirs Eugene Jerome
1987–88 Breaking the Code Christopher Morcom
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
2000–01 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
2011–12 Born Yesterday Paul Verrall
2013 To Kill a Mockingbird Atticus Finch
2013 Pygmalion Professor Henry Higgins

Awards and nominations

Awards
Nominations

References

  1. ↑ Robert Sean Leonard Biography (1969–). Filmreference.com (February 28, 1969). Retrieved on December 3, 2011.
  2. ↑ STAGE TO SCREENS: Robert Sean Leonard, David Javerbaum, Plus a Look at Fall TV. Playbill.com (June 2, 2008). Retrieved on December 3, 2011.
  3. ↑ http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/northjersey/obituary.aspx?n=joyce-leonard&pid=169478441&fhid=17068
  4. ↑ Alvin Klein (January 5, 1986). "For Stage Novice, 'Acting Is It'". The New York Times. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  5. ↑ "Robert Sean Leonard, David Javerbaum, Plus a Look at Fall TV". Playbill. June 1, 2008. Retrieved January 17, 2008.
  6. ↑ Born Yesterday :: Home. Bornyesterdayonbroadway.com. Retrieved on December 3, 2011.
  7. ↑ Tucker, Ken (April 18, 1997), "Classy comes home". Entertainment Weekly. (375):53
  8. ↑ Snierson, Dan (June 29, 2007), "Robert Sean Leonard". Entertainment Weekly. (941/942):69
  9. ↑ The Rod Ryan Show: Interview with Robert Sean Leonard. None. Retrieved on December 3, 2011.
  10. ↑ Warren Curry HALLOWED HALLS: An interview with Chelsea Walls star Robert Sean Leonard. douban.com. 4/18/02
  11. ↑ 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. Tribune Publishing. Retrieved January 13, 2016.
  12. ↑ Brown, Emma (February 8, 2013). "LIFE'S A BAAL FOR JONATHAN MARC SHERMAN". Interview magazine. Brant Publications. Retrieved January 13, 2016.

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