Kevin Chamberlin (born November 25, 1963[3]) is an American actor. He is known for his theatre roles such as Horton in Seussical and Uncle Fester in The Addams Family. For his theatre work, he was nominated for three Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards. He also starred as Bertram Winkle in the Disney Channel Original Series sitcom Jessie from 2011 to 2015. From 2018 to 2019, he starred as The Wizard of Oz in Wicked on Broadway.
Kevin Chamberlin | |
|---|---|
 Chamberlin in 2019 | |
| Born | Kevin Chamberlin[1][non-primary source needed] November 25, 1963[2] Baltimore, Maryland, U.S. |
| Education | Rutgers University, New Brunswick (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1985–present |
| Spouse |
Michael Gans (m. 2008) |
Early and personal life
editChamberlin was born on November 25, 1963, in Baltimore, Maryland,[3] and was raised in Moorestown, New Jersey. In elementary school, he starred as Huck Finn in the school's production of Tom Sawyer. After he graduated from Moorestown High School in 1981,[4] Chamberlin studied acting at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and graduated with a B.F.A. in acting in 1985.[5] Chamberlin has since acted on Broadway, having been nominated for three Tony Awards,[6] and has an extensive list of film[7] and television credits.
Chamberlin is gay.[8] He has been married to TV writer and producer Michael Gans since 2008; they have been together since 1991.[9][10]
Career
editChamberlin made his Broadway debut in 1992 in My Favorite Year[11] Chamberlin has been nominated for Drama Desk and Tony Awards for Dirty Blonde (as Charlie), Seussical (as Horton), and The Addams Family (as Uncle Fester). Additional Broadway theatre credits include Triumph of Love, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Chicago, The Ritz and Wicked.
He appeared in the 1999 film Trick. He also appeared in Die Hard with a Vengeance as an enthusiastic NYPD bomb defusal expert. In Lucky Number Slevin, he again had a supporting role as a New York police officer. Chamberlin's most recent work includes the role of Aron Malsky in the NBC prime-time series Heroes. He also made an appearance in a Law and Order: Special Victims Unit episode titled "Redemption" where he played a man named Roger Berry. He was also a guest on the sitcom Frasier, in season 10 episode 13. Chamberlin previously appeared as Uncle Fester in the musical The Addams Family, a role for which he won a Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Performance By a Featured Actor in a Broadway Musical.[12] Brad Oscar replaced him in the role of Uncle Fester on March 8, 2011.[13] Chamberlin also starred as Dr. Fusion in Teen Beach Movie, a Disney Channel Original Movie starring Ross Lynch, Maia Mitchell, Barry Bostwick, and Steve Valentine which aired July 19, 2013.
In 2019, Chamberlin appeared as Mr. Mushnik in the Pasadena Playhouse production of Little Shop of Horrors alongside George Salazar, Mj Rodriguez, Amber Riley and Matthew Wilkas.[14]
In 2020, Chamberlin was one of the many TikTok users who created an internet meme of a musical version of the 2007 Disney/Pixar film Ratatouille. On December 28, 2020, it was announced that Chamberlin would star as Gusteau in a benefit concert presentation of the musical. The concert streamed exclusively on TodayTix on January 1, 2021.[15]
In 2022, Chamberlin appeared as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. He starred opposite James Monroe Iglehart, Jessie Mueller, Steven Pasquale, and Phillipa Soo.[16] Chamberlin received a Helen Hayes Award for his performance.[17]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Die Hard with a Vengeance | Charles Weiss | |
| 1997 | In & Out | Carl Mickley | |
| 1998 | Letters from a Killer | Cutler | |
| 1999 | Trick | Perry's Ex | |
| 2001 | Herman U.S.A. | Wayne | |
| 2002 | Road to Perdition | Frank the Bouncer | |
| 2004 | Suspect Zero | Harold Speck | |
| Christmas with the Kranks | Mr. Scanlon | ||
| 2005 | Bound by Lies | Gus Boyle | Direct-to-DVD film |
| Loudmouth Soup | Charlie Baker | ||
| 2006 | Lucky Number Slevin | Marty | |
| Queer Duck: The Movie | Additional Voices (voice) | Direct-to-DVD film | |
| 2007 | The Girl Next Door | Officer Jennings | |
| 2008 | Sorry | Hitman | Short Film |
| 2009 | Taking Woodstock | Jackson Spiers | |
| 2012 | Possessions | Keith | |
| 2013 | Meat and Potatoes | Charlie | Short Film |
| 2014 | Lucky Stiff | Fred Mahew III | |
| Silent Shadows | Victor | Short Film | |
| 2016 | Internet Famous | Larry Trambone | |
| 2017 | Irving | Irving | Short Film |
| The Emoji Movie | Gavel (voice) | ||
| 2019 | Wonder Park | Uncle Tony (voice) | |
| The Nightmare Gallery | Dr. Stockton | ||
| Trouble | James (voice) | ||
| 2020 | The Prom | Sheldon | |
| 2021 | Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical | Auguste Gusteau | |
| 2023 | The Zombie Wedding | Buddy Bob Morgan | [18] |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Reading Rainbow | Ted the Grateful Head | Episode: "The Lady with the Ship on Her Head" |
| 1992 | ABC Afterschool Specials | Referee | Episode: "Summer Stories: The Mall - Part 3" |
| 1994 | Ghostwriter | Audubon Poulet | 4 episodes |
| 1995 | New York News | Victor | Episode: "Fun City" |
| 1999 | Earthly Possessions | Policeman | TV movie |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Roger Berry | Episode: "Redemption" |
| 2001–2002 | Ed | Mr. Bronkowski | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | Without a Trace | Episode: "Hang on to Me" | |
| Frasier | Guy in Waiting Room | Episode: "Lilith Needs a Favor" | |
| Kingpin | Cat Man | Episode: "The Odd Couple" | |
| Nip/Tuck | Dr. Pendelton | Episode: "Mandi/Randi" | |
| According to Jim | Wallace | Episode: "The Lemonade Stand" | |
| 2004 | It's All Relative | Wayne | Episode: "Cross My Heart" |
| The D.A. | Prosecutor Eams | Episode: "The People vs. Sergius Kovinsky" | |
| 2005 | Crossing Jordan | Neville | Episode: "You Really Got Me" |
| Listen Up | Dave | Episode: "Tony Whine-Man" | |
| Jake in Progress | Carl | 3 episodes | |
| Inconceivable | Lenny | 2 episodes | |
| Sex, Love & Secrets | Momma | 5 episodes | |
| 2006 | Crumbs | Massage Client | Episode: "Pilot" |
| The Valley of Light | Moody | TV movie | |
| CSI: NY | Patient No. 1 / The Flash | Episode: "Super Men" | |
| So Notorious | Lionel | Episode: "Canadian" | |
| Twenty Good Years | Bailiff | Episode: "Pilot" | |
| 2007 | Heroes | Aron Malsky | 3 episodes |
| State of Mind | Fred Smedresman | 8 episodes | |
| 2009 | Better Off Ted | Mr. Crisp | Episode: "Father, Can You Hair Me?" |
| 2010 | Late Show with David Letterman | Uncle Fester | Episode: "Episode #17.117"; uncredited |
| 2011–2015 | Jessie | Bertram | Main cast; directed 4 episodes |
| 2012 | Austin & Ally | Bertram | Episode: "Austin & Jessie & Ally All Star New Year: Part 2" |
| 2013 | Teen Beach Movie | Dr. Fusion | Disney Channel Original Movie |
| 2015 | Modern Family | Dr. Monty Lemon | Episode: "The Verdict" |
| Where the Bears Are | Beach Minister | Episode: "Bears at Sea, Part 2" | |
| A Christmas Melody | Thomas | Hallmark Channel Original Movie | |
| 2016 | Bunk'd | Bertram | Episode: "Griff Is in the House!" |
| 2017 | Grace and Frankie | Frank | 3 episodes |
| Training Day | Bill Marks | Episode: "Tunnel Vision" | |
| 2018 | A Series of Unfortunate Events | Man in Plaid Pants | 2 episodes |
| 2019 | Team Kaylie | Anton | Episode: "Wax On, Wax Off" |
| 2022 | Outer Range | Karl Cleaver | 2 episodes |
| The Really Loud House | Phillip "Flip" Phillipini | 2 episodes | |
| 2023 | A Really Haunted Loud House | Television film | |
| TBA | Duster | Bob Temple | Upcoming series |
Music videos
edit| Year | Title | Role | Artist | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | Disney's Circle of Stars: Do You Want to Build a Snowman? | Self | Various Artists |
Stage credits
edit| Year | Title | Role | Location | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | My Favorite Year | Ensemble
u/s Herb Lee |
Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway | Original cast |
| 1993 | Abe Lincoln in Illinois | Cavalry Captain / Feargus / Ensemble
u/s Sturveson | ||
| 1996 | One Touch of Venus | Stanley | New York City Center | Encores! |
| 1997 | Triumph of Love | Dimas | Royale Theatre, Broadway | Original cast |
| 1998 | Li'l Abner | Senator Jack S. Phogbound | New York City Center | Encores! |
| 1999 | Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 | Performer | ||
| 2000 | Dirty Blonde | Charlie and others | Helen Hayes Theatre, Broadway | Original cast Nominated – Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play |
| 2001 | Seussical | Horton the Elephant | Richard Rodgers Theatre, Broadway | Original cast Nominated - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical |
| 2002 | Merrily We Roll Along | Charley Kringas | Freud Playhouse | Concert[19] |
| 2004 | Company | David | Regional | |
| 2006 | Chicago | Amos Hart | Shubert Theatre, Broadway | Replacement |
| 2007 | Stairway to Paradise | Performer | New York City Center | Encores! |
| The Ritz | Gaetano Proclo | Studio 54, Broadway | Original cast | |
| 2008-2009 | Chicago | Amos Hart | Ambassador Theatre, Broadway | Replacement |
| National tour | Original cast | |||
| 2009–2010 | The Addams Family | Uncle Fester | Oriental Theater, Chicago | Pre-Broadway Regional Tryout |
| 2010–2011 | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, Broadway | Original cast Nominated - Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical | ||
| 2014 | Hair | Dad | Hollywood Bowl, California | Regional |
| 2015 | Spamalot | Sir Bedevere / Dennis's Mother / Concorde | ||
| 2016 | Disaster! | Maury | Nederlander Theatre, Broadway | Original cast |
| West Side Story | Lt. Schrank / Doc / Officer Krupke | Hollywood Bowl, California | Regional | |
| 2017 | The New Yorkers | Jimmie Deegan | New York City Center | Encores! |
| 2018–2019 | Wicked | The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Gershwin Theatre, Broadway | Replacement |
| 2018 | Parade | Luther Rosser / Mr. Peavy | Roundabout Theatre Company | Workshop |
| 2019 | High Button Shoes | Mr. Pierre Pontdue | New York City Center | Encores! |
| Little Shop of Horrors | Mr. Mushnik | Pasadena Playhouse, California | Regional | |
| Let 'Em Eat Cake | Vice President Alexander Throttlebottom | Carnegie Hall | Concert | |
| 2021 | Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical | Auguste Gusteau | - | Online concert |
| 2022 | Guys and Dolls | Nicely-Nicely Johnson | Kennedy Center, Washington, D.C. | Regional |
| 2023 | The Frogs | Xanthias | Lincoln Center | [20] |
| 2024 | Anything Goes | Moonface Martin | The Muny | Regional |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Work | Award | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Dirty Blonde | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Play | Nominated | ||
| 2001 | Seussical | Tony Award | Best Actor in a Musical | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2010 | The Addams Family | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2023 | Guys and Dolls | Helen Hayes Award | Outstanding Performer in a Visiting Production | Won |
References
edit- ^ "interview(ish) with Kevin Chamberlin". instagram.com.
- ^ Chamberlin, Kevin [@kevinchamberlin] (November 25, 2013). "Happy Birthday to Me. #halfcentury" (Tweet). Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ a b "About". Kevin Chamberlin official website. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2014.
BORN: November 25, 1963 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA
- ^ "Moorestown Council and Moorestown Theater Company honor well known actor, former resident Kevin Chamberlin", The Sun Newspapers, October 12, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2020. "Moorestown native and Moorestown High School 1981 graduate Kevin Chamberlin is returning to his hometown to receive his proclamation given by council and the Moorestown Theater Company's First 'Theater Legend Award' at its Extrava-Gala fundraising dinner dance."
- ^ Karam, Edward (December 14, 1999). "Lord Chamberlin: Kevin Chamberlin Breaks Out of Character Roles--For Now". Playbill.
- ^ "Chamberlin Awards" ibdb.com. Retrieved November 26, 2017
- ^ "Chamberlin Filmography" tcm.com. Retrieved November 26, 2017
- ^ "25 LGBTQIA+ Theatre Artists Share Their 2021 Pride Plans | Playbill".
- ^ Nunn, Jerry (January 6, 2010). "Kevin Chamberlin says uncle". Windy City Times.
- ^ Chamberlin, Kevin [@kevinchamberlin] (July 16, 2015). "@tobefonseca yes I am happily married" (Tweet). Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Kevin Chamberlin (Performer) | Playbill".
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (July 22, 2009). "Addams Family Musical Finds a Broadway Home". Playbill. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ Jones, Kenneth (February 4, 2011). "Brad Oscar Will Play Uncle Fester in Addams Family; Blickenstaff, Grupper, Potter Join Cast". Playbill. Retrieved November 18, 2021.
- ^ "Little Shop of Horrors". Pasadena Playhouse. Retrieved October 9, 2019.
- ^ Evans, Greg (December 28, 2020). "'Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical' All-Star Cast To Include Wayne Brady, Tituss Burgess & Adam Lambert". Deadline.
- ^ "Kevin Chamberlin, Rachel Dratch, More Join Cast of Kennedy Center Guys and Dolls | Playbill".
- ^ Cristi, A. A. "Kennedy Center Guys And Dolls, Kevin Chamberlin, And More Win Helen Hayes Awards". BroadwayWorld.com.
- ^ "'The Zombie Wedding', Weekly World News Rom-Com, Has North American Rights Acquired By Freestyle Digital Media". Deadline Hollywood. March 9, 2024.
- ^ L.A. Reprise! Schedules Special Performance of Merrily We Roll Along with Panaro, DeLaria, and Chamberlin
- ^ Wild, Stephi. "Nathan Lane and More Set For Concert Version of THE FROGS at Lincoln Center". BroadwayWorld.com.
External links
edit- Official website
- Kevin Chamberlin at the Internet Broadway Database
- Kevin Chamberlin at IMDb
- Downstage Center interview at the American Theatre Wing, November 2007