Happy birthday to performer Mandy Patinkin, born Nov. 30, 1952, in Chicago. After graduating from Juilliard, Patinkin did some TV and radio gigs, before he made his Broadway debut in a revival of the play Trelawny of the “Wells” (1975). The next year, he made his Off-Broadway debut in the musical Rebel Women (1976), followed by his Broadway musical debut in Evita (1979), which earned him the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. Below is the Evita cast in “A New Argentina / Buenos Aires” at the 1981 Tonys.
He moved into film with roles in Ragtime (1981) and the musical Yentl (1983, Golden Globe nom), before returning to the stage in Sunday in the Park with George (1983), which earned Patinkin his second Tony nomination. He followed that with gigs in Lincoln Center’s Follies in Concert (1985), the London studio cast recording of South Pacific (1986), the film The Princess Bride (1987), and the Off-Broadway musical The Knife (1987, Drama Desk nomination). His album Mandy Patinkin (1989) led to several Broadway concerts, beginning with Dress Casual (1989, Drama Desk nomination). Below is Patinkin singing “Finishing the Hat” from Sunday.
In the 1990s, he starred in the film Dick Tracy (1990), the Broadway musical The Secret Garden (1991, Drama Desk nomination), and Falsettos (1992). While filming the TV series Chicago Hope (1994-2000, Emmy Award), Patinkin also did a studio recording of Man of La Mancha (1996), the Broadway concerts Mandy Patinkin in Concert (1997) and Mamaloshen (1998), and the cast album of Myths & Hymns (1999). Below is Patinkin and Madonna in a music video of “What Can You Lose” from Dick Tracy.
He began the 2000s in the Broadway musical The Wild Party (2000), which earned him Drama Desk and Tony nominations, followed by several concerts, including Celebrating Sondheim (2002). In the past decade, he has starred in the London musical Paradise Found (2010), the Broadway concert An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin (2011), and the TV series Homeland (2011-20). Below is The Wild Party cast at the 2000 Tony Awards.