Wikipedia

Barry Bostwick

Barry Knapp Bostwick (born February 24, 1945) is an American actor. He is best known for portraying Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) and Mayor Randall Winston in the sitcom Spin City (1996–2002). Bostwick has also had considerable success in musical theatre, winning a Tony Award for his role in The Robber Bridegroom and performing the role of Danny Zuko in the original production of Grease.

Barry Bostwick
Bostwick at GalaxyCon Richmond in 2024
Born
Barry Knapp Bostwick

(1945-02-24) February 24, 1945 (age 79)
San Mateo, California, U.S.
Education
OccupationActor
Years active1967–present
Spouses
  • ​
    ​
    (m. 1987; div. 1991)​
  • Sherri Jensen
    ​
    (m. 1993)​
Children2

Early life

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Bostwick was born February 24, 1945, in San Mateo, California.[1] He is the son of Elizabeth "Betty" (née Defendorf), a housewife, and Henry "Bud" Bostwick, a city planner and actor.[2] His only sibling, older brother Henry "Pete" Bostwick, died at the age of 32 in a car accident on July 20, 1973.[3] Bostwick attended San Diego's United States International University in 1967, majoring in acting, got his start on the Hillbarn Theatre stage now located in Foster City, and worked for a time as a circus performer. He also attended NYU's Graduate Acting Program, graduating in 1968.[4]

Career

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Bostwick was a member of First National Nothing, who released one album, 1970's "If You Sit Real Still and Hold My Hand, You Will Hear Absolutely Nothing." They are described on the album as "A rock-theater commune made up of musicians, actors, dancers, singers, designers, writers, composers, and friends that started a long, long time ago as a lost tribe in California and has ended up as a theatrical performing company in New York City."

In 1970, Bostwick was a member of a pop band called The Klowns, assembled and promoted by Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus, whose members performed wearing stylized clown makeup and costumes.[5][6] Their sole album, released in 1970, was produced by Jeff Barry, and generated a minor Billboard hit single, "Lady Love."[7][8]

Bostwick replaced C.C. Courtney in the musical Salvation. His next stage appearance was in the 1971 rock opera Soon, which closed after three performances. In 1972, Bostwick originated the role of bad boy Danny Zuko in the stage production of Grease, earning a Tony Award nomination for his performance. This was followed by a voice role as Terr in the English-dubbed version of Fantastic Planet in 1973. He later starred with Tim Curry and Susan Sarandon in The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975), portraying Brad Majors. He also won a Tony Award for his performance in the 1977 musical The Robber Bridegroom. In 1981, Bostwick starred in the TV series adaptation of the 1978 film Foul Play, with his role modeled after Chevy Chase's and co-star Deborah Raffin in Goldie Hawn's part. The following year, he starred in Megaforce. Bostwick starred, along with Carl Weintraub, as Rick Armstrong in the short-lived ABC sitcom Dads during the 1986–87 season. From 1996 to 2002, Bostwick portrayed Randall Winston, the mayor of New York City in the sitcom Spin City opposite Michael J. Fox and his successor, Charlie Sheen. In 2006, Bostwick replaced Peter Scolari as Mr. Tyler, the father of Amanda Bynes's and Jennie Garth's lead characters, on What I Like About You.[9]

Bostwick had a recurring role between 2004 and 2007 on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He has also had leading roles in various mini-series, including George Washington, its sequel George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation, Scruples, A Woman of Substance, War and Remembrance, and Till We Meet Again.

Bostwick served as host of the nationally televised annual Capitol Fourth celebration on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. for eight years. Bostwick was also seen in a Pepsi Twist commercial. In the Cold Case episode "Creatures of the Night," in which he is the main suspect, the theme of the episode revolves around The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which is among his best-known performances to date.

In 2003, Bostwick appeared on Scrubs as a patient diagnosed with prostate cancer, a disease Bostwick had in real life. In 2008, he appeared in an episode of TV series Ugly Betty as an attorney to the Meade family. In 2007, Bostwick gained a recurring role, as Grandpa Clyde Flynn on the animated television series, Phineas and Ferb. Bostwick is also the spokesperson for Optimum Voice.[10] In June 2009, he played Father Jimmy, the ineffective exorcist in the independent horror comedy The Selling, written by Gabriel Diani and directed by Emily Lou.

Other television credits include guest appearances in Charlie's Angels, Hawaii Five-O, The Golden Palace, Grace Under Fire, and Las Vegas.

Bostwick was supposed to appear on the third season of Private Practice as "the Captain," a father of the Addison Montgomery character, but had to resign due to a scheduling conflict.[11] In 2011, Bostwick portrayed a small-town sheriff in the John Landis–produced thriller Some Guy Who Kills People[12]

 
Bostwick at the premiere for Earth in 2009

In October 2010, Bostwick briefly appeared in the Rocky Horror-themed Glee episode.[13]

From 2010 to 2014, Bostwick had a recurring role as Roger Frank on the sitcom Cougar Town which starred Courteney Cox. In season three of the show, we learn that Bostwick's character has become mayor of the town the comedy is set in, Gulf Haven. In 2015, he portrayed Collin Winthrop, father of the Gig Harbor Killer, in the season-ending CSI: Crime Scene Investigation episode "The End Game."[14] He has also had a return to cult musical horror films in the form of Terrance Zdunich's Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival, which is a sequel to the 2012 short film The Devil's Carnival, of which he was not previously a cast member, being a newcomer to the franchise. He starred in Darren Lynn Bousman's segment of the anthology film Tales of Halloween, which was his second time acting under Bousman after Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival,[15] and appeared in the comedy horror film Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves.[16]

In 2020, Bostwick executive produced and starred in the short film Molly Robber as Ron Baker,[17] which won an Audience Award at the 2020 Austin Film Festival[18] and was an official selection at the 2021 Tribeca Film Festival.[19]

Personal life

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Bostwick married Stacey Nelkin in 1987, and they were divorced in 1991. He married his second wife Sherri Ellen Jensen in 1993; they have two children, a son Brian Bostwick and a daughter Chelsea Bostwick.[20]

In 1997, Bostwick was diagnosed with prostate cancer, and had his prostate removed in July of that year.[21] In 2004, he won the Gilda Radner Courage Award from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center.[22]

Select filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes Reference(s)
1971 Jennifer on My Mind Minstrel #1 [23]
1973 Fantastic Planet Narrator Voice [23]
1974 Road Movie Hank
1975 The Wrong Damn Film Alex Rounder [24][25]
The Rocky Horror Picture Show Brad Majors [23][25]
1978 Movie Movie Johnny Danko / Dick Cummings [25]
1982 Megaforce Commander Ace Hunter [23][25]
1990 The Greatest Adventure: Stories from the Bible Joseph Voice, episode: "Joseph and His Brothers" [26]
1993 Eight Hundred Leagues Down the Amazon Garral
Weekend at Bernie's II Arthur Hummel [23][25]
1994 In the Heat of Passion II: Unfaithful Phillip [23][25]
1995 Project: Metalbeast Miller Direct-to-video [23][25]
1996 The Secret Agent Club Vincent Scarletti [23][25]
Spy Hard Norm Coleman [23][25]
2003 101 Dalmatians II: Patch's London Adventure Thunderbolt Voice, direct-to-video [23][26]
Swing Freddie [23][25]
2004 The Skulls III Nathan Lloyd [23][25]
Chestnut: Hero of Central Park Thomas Trundle [23][25]
2007 Nancy Drew Dashiel Zachary Biedermeyer [23][25]
Evening Mr. Wittenborn [23][25]
2009 Hannah Montana: The Movie Mr. Bradley [23][25][27]
2010 Miss Nobody Father Grisham [25]
Bedrooms Roger [23][25]
Moby Dick Captain Ahab [23]
It's a Dog Gone Tale: Destiny's Stand Arlen Hanley
2011 The Selling Father Jimmy
2012 Some Guy Who Kills People Sheriff Walt Fuller [23][25]
FDR: American Badass! Franklin D. Roosevelt [23][25]
2013 Finding Joy Alan [23]
2015 Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival The Watchword [23]
The Scorpion King 4: Quest for Power Sorrell Raskov [23][25]
Home Run Showdown Big Al [23]
2016 The Land Before Time XIV: Journey of the Brave Grandpa Longneck Voice, direct-to-video [23][25][26][28]
Range 15 President
Three Days in August John [23][25]
2017 A Mermaid's Tale Art Direct-to-video [23]
2018 Incredibles 2 Mayor of New Urbem Voice [23][25][26][29]
Santa Girl Santa Claus [23]
2019 Grand-Daddy Day Care Dynamite Dan North [23]
3 from Hell Narrator
Undercover Brother 2 The Man [23]
2020 American Pie Presents: Girls' Rules PeePaw [23]
Molly Robber Ron Baker Short film
2021 Single All the Way Harold [23][30]
2022 In Search of Tomorrow Himself Documentary film
2023 Outlaw Johnny Black Tom Sheally [23]

Television

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Year Title Role Notes Reference(s)
1978 Charlie's Angels Ted Machlin Episode: "Jade Trap" [23]
1979 Murder by Natural Causes Gil Weston Television film [23][25]
You Can't Take It With You Anthony Kirby Jr. [23][25]
Hawaii Five-O Lucas Sandover Episode: "Year of the Horse" [23]
1980 Scruples Spider Elliot Television miniseries [23][25]
1981 Red Flag: The Ultimate Game Maj. Jay Rivers Television film [23][25]
1982 Working Steelworker American Playhouse production [23][25]
1983 Summer Girl Gavin Shelburne Television film [23][25]
An Uncommon Love Mr. Kinser [23][25]
1984 Saturday Night Live Host May 5, 1984 [23][25]
George Washington George Washington Television miniseries [23][25]
1985 A Woman of Substance Major Paul McGill [23][25]
Deceptions Grant Roberts Television film [23][25]
1986 George Washington II: The Forging of a Nation George Washington [23][25]
Betrayed By Innocence Nick DeLeon [23][25]
1987 I'll Take Manhattan Zachary Amberville Television miniseries [23][25]
1988 War and Remembrance Lieutenant Carter "Lady" Aster [23][25]
Body of Evidence Mark Dwyer Television film [23][25]
Addicted to His Love Larry Hogan [23][25]
1989 Till We Meet Again Terrence 'Mac' McGuire Television miniseries [23][25]
Parent Trap III Jeffrey Wyatt Television film [23][25]
Parent Trap: Hawaiian Honeymoon Jeffrey Wyatt [23][25]
1990 Aladdin Genie of the Lamp / Genie of the Ring [23]
Challenger Comm. Francis R. Scobee [23][25]
The Great Air Race Roscoe Turner Television miniseries
1992 The Golden Palace Nick DiCarlo Episode: "Just a Gigolo"
1993 The Last U-Boat Captain Hawkins Television film
Between Love and Hate Justin Conrad [23][25]
Praying Mantis Don McAndrews [23][25]
1994 Once in a Lifetime Dr. Matthew Dane [23][25]
1995 The Secretary Eric Bradford [23][25]
The Return of Hunter Matt Sherry [23][25]
Grace Under Fire Professor Jack Drayson Episode: "Mother & Son & Father Reunion" [23]
High Society Mark Finnegan Episode: "Finnigan's Rainbow"
919 Fifth Avenue Mr. Lawrence Van Degen Television film [23]
1996–2002 Spin City Mayor Randall Winston Main role, 144 episodes [23]
1996 A Different Kind of Christmas Frank Mallory Television film [23][25]
1997 Lexx Thodin Episode: "I Worship His Shadow" [23]
1998 One Hot Summer Night Art Brooks Television film [23][25]
The New Batman Adventures Irv Kleinman Voice, episode: "Mean Seasons" [26]
2003 Scrubs Mr. Randolph Episode: "My Dirty Secret" [23]
2004–2007 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Oliver Gates Recurring role, 5 episodes [23]
2005 Las Vegas Martin Episode: "Down and Dirty"
Cold Case Roy Brigham Anthony Episode: "Creatures of the Night" [23]
2005–2006 What I Like About You Jack Tyler 2 episodes [23]
2007–2012 Phineas and Ferb Grandpa Clyde Flynn Voice, 8 episodes [23][26]
2007 Ugly Betty Roger Adams 2 episodes [23]
Love is a Four Letter Word Mr. Harper Television film [23][25][31]
2008 Depth Charge President Taylor [23][25]
Holiday Baggage Pete Murphy [23][25]
2009 Nip/Tuck Roger Payne Episode: "Don Hoberman" [23]
Supernatural The Amazing Jay Episode: "Criss Angel is a Douchebag" [23]
Ghost Whisperer Don Sullivan Episode: "Till Death Do Us Start" [23]
2009–2010 'Til Death George Von Stuessen 2 episodes [23]
2010–2014 Cougar Town Roger Frank Recurring role (seasons 1–3), 8 episodes [23]
2010 Glee Tim Stanwick Episode: "The Rocky Horror Glee Show" (cameo) [23]
Secrets of the Mountain Henry Beecham Television film [23][25]
2012 Hot in Cleveland Hugh Episode: "What's Behind the Door" [23]
The New Normal Marty Sawyer Episode: "Pardon Me" [23]
2013 Blast Vegas Sal Television film [23][25]
Teen Beach Movie Big Poppa [23]
Masters of Sex Morris Episode: "Brave New World" [23]
Scandal Fitzgerald "Jerry" Grant II 2 episodes
The Haunting Of Himself Episode: "The Haunting of Barry Bostwick" [23]
Psych Roland Armitage Episode: "Psych: The Musical" [23]
2014 Enlisted Russell Episode: "Vets" [23]
Franklin & Bash Jacob "Falcon" Riley Episode: "Falcon's Nest" [23]
New Girl Robert Episode: "LAXmas" [23]
2015 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Collin Winthrop Episode: "The End Game" [23]
The Haunted Hathaways Council Member #1 Episode: "Haunted Family"
Gigi Does It Episode: "Love Thyself"
2016 American Dad! VanDouzen Voice, episode: "The Life Aquatic with Steve Smith"
Childrens Hospital Grandpa Richie Episode: "Grandparents Day"
2016–2017 Still the King Coy Phisher Recurring role, 9 episodes
2016–2018 Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce George McCarthy Recurring role, 6 episodes [23]
2017 The Great Indoors Mather Episode: "The Explorers' Club" [23]
2017–2018 Milo Murphy's Law Clyde Rickenbacker Voice, 2 episodes
2017 American Housewife Thomas Otto Episode: "Family Secrets" [23][32]
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: Home Again Bill Haywith Television film
Tangled: The Series Doctor St. Croix Voice, episode: "Great Expotations" [26]
Christmas in Mississippi Mr. Kriss Television film (Lifetime) [23][25]
2018 Will & Grace Professor Jerry Wise Episode: "Three Wise Men"
Signed, Sealed, Delivered: To the Altar Bill Haywith Television film [23]
2019 Christmas in Louisiana Timothy Winter Television film (Lifetime) [23]
The Goldbergs Professor Majors Episode: "A 100% True Ghost Story" [23]
2021 Doogie Kameāloha, M.D. Will Episode: "Aloha - The Hello One"

Stage productions

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Year Title Role Notes
1969 Cock-A-Doodle-Dandy Porter, The Cock Broadway debut
1969 Hamlet Ghost, Osric, Player
1970 House of Leather Donny Brook Closed after one night
1971 Soon Kelly
1972 Grease Danny Zuko Nominated – Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
1976 They Knew What They Wanted Joe Nominated – Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play
1977 The Robber Bridegroom Jamie Lockhart Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
1981 The Pirates of Penzance The Pirate King
1991 Nick & Nora Nick Charles opposite Joanna Gleason
2014 Camelot Merlin

Video games

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Year Title Role Notes Reference(s)
2018 Lego The Incredibles Mayor Voice role [26]
2022 Need for Speed Unbound Holden Parker III Voice role

Web

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Year Title Role Notes
2013 Research. Dr. Rust [33]
2015 Murder? Barry Bostwick [34]
2015–2016 Inside the Extras Studio Milt Hamilton 20 episodes
2018 The World According to Billy Potwin Grandpa Davis 1 episode
2020 The Rocky Horror Show: Musical Livestream Brad Majors [35]

Awards and nominations

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Year Association Category Nominated work Result
1972 Tony Awards Best Actor in a Musical Grease Nominated
1976 Tony Awards Best Featured Actor in a Play They Knew What They Wanted Nominated
1977 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a Musical The Robber Bridegroom Nominated
Tony Awards Best Actor in a Musical The Robber Bridegroom Won
1978 New York Film Critics Circle Awards Best Supporting Actor Movie Movie Nominated
1979 National Society of Film Critics Awards Best Supporting Actor Movie Movie Nominated
1989 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film War and Remembrance Won
2013 Fangoria Chainsaw Awards Best Supporting Actor Some Guy Who Kills People Nominated

References

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  1. ^ Zompolis, Gregory N. (2004). Images of America, San Mateo. Charleston, SC: Arcadia Publishing. pp. 60–65. ISBN 0738529567.
  2. ^ "Barry Bostwick Biography". Yahoo! Movies. 2008. Archived from the original on September 27, 2006. Retrieved June 7, 2008.
  3. ^ "Development Leader's Son Dies in Crash". San Mateo County Times. July 20, 1973. Retrieved May 24, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "NYU Graduate Acting Alumni". 2011. Archived from the original on July 5, 2012. Retrieved December 1, 2011.
  5. ^ "TV Hot Line". Dayton Daily News. April 29, 1984.
  6. ^ "Barry Bostwick brightens 'Grease'". Daily Press. August 13, 1972.
  7. ^ "Barry Bostwick on Rocky Horror, Spin City, and playing rich assholes". The A.V. Club. June 6, 2015.
  8. ^ "The Hot 100 Chart". Billboard. December 12, 1970. "Lady Love" at #95 chart position.
  9. ^ What I Like About You at IMDb
  10. ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Optimum Voice Commercial with Barry Bostwick". YouTube. October 3, 2008. Retrieved October 1, 2011.
  11. ^ "'Private Practice' Scoop: Addison's Dad Is Sent from 'Heaven'". Fancast.com. October 12, 2009. Archived from the original on December 13, 2009. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  12. ^ "Some Guy Who Kills People". IMDb.
  13. ^ Dos Santos, Kristin (September 10, 2010). "Exclusive: Rocky Horror Original Castmembers to Appear in Glee's Tribute Episode". E! News. Retrieved September 10, 2010.
  14. ^ "The End Game". IMDb. February 15, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  15. ^ "Tales of Halloween Interview Spotlight: Barry Bostwick - Dread Central". Dreadcentral.com. February 4, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  16. ^ "Helen Keller vs. Nightwolves Sees a Teaser Trailer". Dreadcentral.com. March 24, 2015. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  17. ^ Molly Robber (Short 2020) - IMDb, retrieved August 12, 2021
  18. ^ "AFF 2020 Winners Announced". Austin Film Festival. November 2, 2020. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  19. ^ "Molly Robber | 2021 Tribeca Festival". Tribeca. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  20. ^ Lipton, Michael L. (March 10, 1997). "Serial Dad". People.
  21. ^ Moran, Reed W. (March 9, 2002). "Barry Bostwick advises on prostate cancer". USA Today.
  22. ^ "Bostwick Receives Cancer Institute Award". Plainview Daily Herald. March 2, 2003.
  23. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be bf bg bh bi bj bk bl bm bn bo bp bq br bs bt bu bv bw bx by bz ca cb cc cd ce cf cg ch ci cj ck cl cm cn co cp cq cr cs ct cu cv cw cx cy TV Guide. "Barry Bostwick List of Movies and TV Shows - TV Guide". TV Guide. Archived from the original on August 25, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  24. ^ Canby, Vincent (March 11, 1975). "Screen: Sight-Gag Satire:'Wrong Damn Film,' at Screening Room". The New York Times. Retrieved October 27, 2022.
  25. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al am an ao ap aq ar as at au av aw ax ay az ba bb bc bd be Turner Classic Movies. "Barry Bostwick - Turner Classic Movies". Turner Classic Movies. Archived from the original on August 25, 2024. Retrieved August 25, 2024.
  26. ^ a b c d e f g h "Barry Bostwick (visual voices guide)". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved December 6, 2023. A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.
  27. ^ "Production On 'Hannah Montana: The Movie' Is Underway". WJXT. May 23, 2008. Archived from the original on May 28, 2008. Retrieved October 10, 2011.
  28. ^ Universal Pictures Home Entertainment (December 17, 2015). "From Universal Pictures Home Entertainment: The Land Before Time: Journey of the Brave". PR Newswire. Retrieved February 1, 2016.
  29. ^ "Film Review: 'Incredibles 2'". Variety. June 11, 2018. Retrieved June 13, 2018.
  30. ^ Bubp, Ashley (October 6, 2021). "'Single All the Way': Michael Urie's Netflix Holiday Rom-Com Gets First Images". Collider. Retrieved November 27, 2021.
  31. ^ "Love is a Four Letter Word". Hallmark Movies & Mysteries. Archived from the original on January 18, 2019. Retrieved January 26, 2017.
  32. ^ "AMERICAN HOUSEWIFE: FAMILY SECRETS (11/15)". disneyabcpress.com. Disney ABC Television. October 30, 2017. Archived from the original on December 1, 2017. Retrieved November 24, 2017.
  33. ^ "Cast". Mildlyfearsomefilms.com. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  34. ^ "Barry Bostwick". Mildlyfearsomefilms.com. Retrieved October 8, 2017.
  35. ^ Kiefer, Halle (October 26, 2020). "Tim Curry Joins Rocky Horror Picture Show Livestream to Benefit Wisconsin Democrats". Vulture. Retrieved January 10, 2024.

Further reading

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  • Evans, David and Michaels, Scott. Rocky Horror: Concept to Cult. London: Sanctuary, 2002.
  • Lipton, Michael A. and Matsumoto, Nancy. “Serial Dad: Michael J. Fox Looks Up to 6’4” Actor”. People March 10, 1997: 99.
  • Uhry, Alfred. "The Trail of the Robber B". The Robber Bridegroom CD Liner Notes 1998: 2.
  • Hunt, Paula. "Bostwick Tells Story of Survival". Express-News, March 6, 2006.
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