Bill_Irwin
Bill_Irwin
Bill_Irwin
Career
He adapted Molière's play Les Fourberies de Scapin as a comedy called Scapin, and has played the title
role in several productions. He appeared in the play at the off-Broadway Roundabout Theatre Company
Laura Pels Theatre in January through March 1997, after performing in the play at the Seattle Rep.[17]
His adaptation allowed him to incorporate his signature clowning routines into the course of the action.
Irwin performed with The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps at the 1996 Summer Olympics, in a "band on
the run" sequence where he played Dr. Hubert Peterson of the fictitious Federation of United Marching
Associations of America.[18]
Actor
Although Irwin is best known for his theatrical clown work, he has
also been featured in a number of dramatic plays. Irwin appeared
with Steve Martin and Robin Williams in the Lincoln Center Off-
Broadway production of Waiting for Godot, in 1988, in the role of
Lucky.[19] Lucky's only lines consist of a famous 500-word-long
monolog, an ironic element for Irwin since much of his clown-
based stage work was silent.
Irwin's most notable television roles have been Enrico Ballati, "The Flying Man", on the television series
Northern Exposure, Mr. Noodle in the Elmo's World segment of the PBS children's show Sesame Street,
and the "Dick & Jane" serial killer Nate Haskell on CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He was featured in
the 1988 music video of "Don't Worry, Be Happy" by Bobby McFerrin (along with McFerrin and Robin
Williams) and the 1996 music video of "Let Me into Your Heart" by Mary Chapin Carpenter. Irwin was
also featured in HBO's 1997 production Subway Stories. He has also appeared on The Cosby Show,
Saturday Night Live, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Law & Order, and Lights Out.
In 2011, Irwin guest starred in the pilot episode of the CBS television drama A Gifted Man.[26] He starred
in the 2013 medical drama TNT television series, Monday Mornings as Buck Tierney.[27] In 2014, he
guest starred in the episode "The One Percent Solution" of CBS' Elementary.
Irwin voices the robot TARS in the film Interstellar and puppeteers the robot in most scenes (those which
are not computer-generated). He is featured in the PBS series Great Performances, in the episode titled
"Bill Irwin, Clown Prince", initially broadcast in December 2004.[28]
He regularly appears on the NBC crime series Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as therapist Dr. Peter
Lindstrom. Lindstrom normally appears on the show while counseling main character Captain Olivia
Benson.[5] Irwin also appeared on the television series Sleepy Hollow, playing the character of Atticus
Nevins. Between 2017 and 2019, he appeared in the FX television series Legion.
In 2020, he appeared as Su'Kal in Star Trek: Discovery. In 2022, Irwin guest starred on The Gilded Age
on HBO.
Personal life
He is married to Martha Roth, an "actress-turned-nurse midwife", whom he met while seeking treatment
for a stiff neck.[29] They have an adopted son, Santos Patrick Morales Irwin, who was born on December
9, 1991.[29]
In 1992, he won an Obie Award for his performance in Texts for Nothing. Together with David Shiner, he
won a special Tony Award for Live Theatrical Presentation in 1999 for their show, Fool Moon.[31] In
1993, this show had already won a Drama Desk Award for "Unique Theatrical Experience" and an Outer
Critics Circle "Special Achievement" Award.
In 2000, the Jazz Tap Ensemble in Los Angeles received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment
for the Arts (NEA) "for a commission of a new work by Bill Irwin."[32]
In 2004, the Signature Theatre Company (New York), received a $40,000 NEA grant for "the world
premiere production of 'Mr. Fox: A Rumination' by Bill Irwin."[33]
In 2005, he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for his appearance as George in the revival of
Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?[34]
Irwin received a 2008 CFCA Award nomination for "Best Supporting Actor" for his role in Rachel
Getting Married. In 2010, The New Victory Theater presented Irwin with the first-ever New Victory Arts
Award.[35] He was honored for "bringing the arts to kids and kids to the arts." Nathan Lane and Jonathan
Demme spoke at the ceremony. Irwin is also on the board of The New 42nd Street, Inc.
2001 Elmo's World: The Wild Wild West Mr. Noodle Direct-to-video
2002 Igby Goes Down Lt. Smith
2006 Elmo's World: Reach for the Sky Mr. Noodle Direct-to-video
1982 Saturday Night Live The Dancing Man Segment: "The Dancing Man"
1983 The Regard of Flight Performer TV movie
1998 3rd Rock from the Sun Pickles Episode: "Pickles and Ice Cream"
2002 The Laramie Project Harry Woods TV movie
Music videos
1996 "Let Me into Your Heart" Himself Music video; Mary Chapin Carpenter
Stage work
Year Title Role Notes
Accidental Death of
1984 The Sergeant Broadway
an Anarchist
Who's Afraid of
2007 George National tour
Virginia Woolf?
Broadway
2009 Waiting for Godot Vladimir
Drama Desk Award nomination
2009 Bye Bye Birdie Harry MacAfee Broadway
Off-Broadway
2011 King Lear The Fool
Drama Desk Award nomination
References
1. "Bill Irwin Biography" (https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/bio/Bill-Irwin/). Broadway
World. Retrieved September 9, 2020.
2. Isherwood, Charles (March 4, 2013). "Aging Clowns and Brand-New Gags: 'Old Hats,' With
Bill Irwin and David Shiner" (http://theater.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/theater/reviews/old-hats-
with-bill-irwin-and-david-shiner.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0). The New York Times.
Retrieved April 8, 2013.
3. Brantley, Ben (November 8, 2011). "A Fool, His King and the Madness That Engulfs Them"
(http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/theater/reviews/king-lear-at-the-public-theater-revie
w.html). The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
4. Gussow, Mel (May 11, 2008). "How to Deal with Midlife: Keep Dancing" (http://theater.nytim
es.com/2008/05/11/theater/11mcel.html). The New York Times. Retrieved April 8, 2013.
5. "Television" (https://web.archive.org/web/20170324153640/http://thebillirwin.com/television-
svu.html). thebillirwin.com. Archived from the original (http://thebillirwin.com/television-svu.ht
ml) on March 24, 2017. Retrieved January 21, 2016.
6. Bill Irwin Biography (1950-) (http://www.filmreference.com/film/28/Bill-Irwin.html)
filmreference.com
7. "Irwin Biography" (http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/92451%7C0/Bill-Irwin/) tcm.com,
accessed August 18, 2013
8. The National Campaign to Hire Artists to Work in Schools (https://www.youtube.com/watch?
v=flfXYBDWQvM), accessed November 27, 2020
9. " The Regard of Flight on Broadway" (http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/11254/The-R
egard-of-Flight), playbillvault.com, accessed May 12, 2015.
10. Simonson, Robert; Jones, Kenneth (November 2, 1998). "Irwin and Shiner's 'Fool Moon'
Rises on Bway's Atkinson, Nov. 17" (http://www.playbill.com/article/irwin-and-shiners-fool-m
oon-rises-on-bways-atkinson-nov-17-com-78190). Playbill.
11. Jones, Kenneth (August 7, 2003). "Bill Irwin's 'Harlequin Studies', Dissecting Theatre's
Clown, Premieres Sept. 3 Off-Bway" (http://www.playbill.com/article/bill-irwins-harlequin-stud
ies-dissecting-theatres-clown-premieres-sept-3-off-bway-com-114703). Playbill.
12. Jones, Kenneth (April 13, 2004). "Be a Clown: Bill Irwin's 'Mr. Fox: A Rumination' Conjures
Forgotten American Actor" (http://www.playbill.com/article/be-a-clown-bill-irwins-mr-fox-a-ru
mination-conjures-forgotten-american-actor-com-119019). Playbill.
13. Isherwood, Charles (March 4, 2013). "Aging Clowns and Brand-New Gags" (https://www.nyti
mes.com/2013/03/05/theater/reviews/old-hats-with-bill-irwin-and-david-shiner.html?_r=0).
The New York Times.
14. Gans, Andrew; Jones, Kenneth (April 2, 2013). "Off-Broadway Run of Acclaimed 'Old Hats',
By Bill Irwin and David Shiner, Extended Again" (http://www.playbill.com/article/off-broadway
-run-of-acclaimed-old-hats-by-bill-irwin-and-david-shiner-extended-again-com-203993).
Playbill.
15. Hetrick, Adam; Gans, Andrew (May 10, 2013). "Billy Porter, Andrea Martin, 'Pippin', 'Matilda',
'Vanya and Sonia' Win Drama Desk Awards" (http://www.playbill.com/article/billy-porter-andr
ea-martin-pippin-matilda-vanya-and-sonia-win-drama-desk-awards-com-205593). Playbill.
16. Genzlinger, Neil (February 18, 2016). "Review: 'Old Hats,' Mime and Mayhem From Irwin
and Shiner" (https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/19/theater/review-old-hats-mime-and-mayhe
m-from-irwin-and-shiner.html). The New York Times.
17. Viagas, Robert (January 10, 1997). "Bill Irwin Scapin Opens Jan. 9 Off-Broadway" (http://ww
w.playbill.com/article/bill-irwin-scapin-opens-jan-9-off-broadway-com-329077). Playbill.
18. "DCI Cadets 1996 Olympics Performance" (http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=28537
74795331584631&q=dci).
19. Isenberg, Barbara. 'Godot' Leaves Them Waiting for Tickets" (https://www.latimes.com/archi
ves/la-xpm-1988-11-22-ca-508-story.html) Los Angeles Times, November 22, 1988
20. Ehren, Christine (September 9, 2002). "Sally Field and Bill Irwin Prepare a New 'Goat' for
Broadway" (http://www.playbill.com/article/sally-field-and-bill-irwin-prepare-a-new-goat-for-br
oadway-com-108140). Playbill. Retrieved January 19, 2017.
21. Simonson, Robert (September 4, 2005). " 'Virginia Woolf' Howls Its Last on Broadway Sept.
4" (http://www.playbill.com/article/virginia-woolf-howls-its-last-on-broadway-sept-4-com-1277
55). Playbill.
22. Jones, Kenneth (April 30, 2009). "Irwin and Lane Are Waiting for Godot, Opening April 30" (h
ttps://web.archive.org/web/20150214234235/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/irwin-and-l
ane-are-waiting-for-godot-opening-april-30-160424). Playbill. Archived from the original (htt
p://www.playbill.com/news/article/128752-Irwin-and-Lane-Are-Waiting-for-Godot-Opening-A
pril-30) on February 14, 2015.
23. Hetrick, Adam (October 18, 2011). " 'King Lear', With Sam Waterston, Kelli O'Hara, Bill Irwin
and Frank Wood, Begins at the Public Oct. 18" (http://www.playbill.com/article/king-lear-with
-sam-waterston-kelli-ohara-bill-irwin-and-frank-wood-begins-at-the-public-oct-18-com-18364
4). Playbill.
24. "Endgame by Samuel Beckett" (https://irishrep.org/show/2022-2023-season/endgame-2/).
www.irishrep.org. Retrieved February 3, 2023.
25. "Filmography" (https://web.archive.org/web/20080531154601/http://movies.nytimes.com/per
son/34579/Bill-Irwin/filmography). Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. 2008. Archived
from the original (https://movies.nytimes.com/person/34579/Bill-Irwin/filmography) on May
31, 2008. Retrieved August 17, 2013.
26. Wallemberg, Christopher (September 17, 2011). "STAGE TO SCREENS: A 2011-12 TV
Season Packed With Stage Stars" (http://www.playbill.com/article/stage-to-screens-a-2011-
12-tv-season-packed-with-stage-stars-com-182744). Playbill.
27. Ross, Robyn. "TNT Orders David E. Kelley's Medical Drama 'Monday Mornings'" (https://ww
w.tvguide.com/News/TNT-Monday-Mornings-1047164.aspx) May 2012
28. "Great Performances. 'Bill Irwin, Clown Prince' " (https://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/billir
win/). Public Broadcasting Service, 2004, accessed August 19, 2013
29. "Bill Irwin's Biography" (http://www.bill-irwin.com/bio.html) Archived (https://web.archive.org/
web/20160426032555/http://www.bill-irwin.com/bio.html) April 26, 2016, at the Wayback
Machine bill-irwin.com, accessed July 25, 2014
30. Largely New York Listing for Tony Awards and Drama Desk" (http://ibdb.com/production.ph
p?id=4545), Internet Broadway Database. Accessed August 18, 2013.
31. Lefkowitz, David (June 6, 1999). "1999 Tony Winner: Special Award - 'Fool Moon' " (http://w
ww.playbill.com/article/1999-tony-winner-special-award-fool-moon-com-82380). Playbill.
32. "2000 Grant Awards: Creation & Presentation" (https://arts.gov/grants/recent/00grants/C-P.h
tml) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20120925163801/http://www.arts.gov/grants/rece
nt/00grants/C-P.html) September 25, 2012, at the Wayback Machine arts.gov, accessed
August 18, 2013.
33. "2004 Grant Awards: Creativity" (https://www.arts.gov/grants/recent/04grants/creativity.html)
Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20130220194649/http://www.arts.gov/grants/recent/0
4grants/Creativity.html) February 20, 2013, at the Wayback Machine arts.gov, accessed
August 18, 2013.
34. Jones, Kenneth (June 5, 2005). " 'Doubt' Is Best Play, 'Spamalot' Best Musical; Butz, Irwin,
Clark, Jones, Nichols Win 2005 Tonys" (http://www.playbill.com/article/doubt-is-best-play-sp
amalot-best-musical-butz-irwin-clark-jones-nichols-win-2005-tonys-com-126320). Playbill.
35. "Philosophy" (https://web.archive.org/web/20130731054543/http://www.newvictory.org/Abou
t/Philosophy.aspx). New Victory Theater. Archived from the original (http://www.newvictory.or
g/About/Philosophy.aspx) on July 31, 2013. Retrieved August 19, 2013.
36. "Listings - LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT on NBC | TheFutonCritic.com" (http://w
ww.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20210503nbc12/).
37. "Watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Episode: A Final Call at Forlini's Bar" (https://ww
w.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit/video/a-final-call-at-forlinis-bar/9000172721).
NBC.com. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
38. "Endgame" (https://irishrep.org/show/2022-2023-season/endgame-2).
External links
Bill Irwin - Official Site (https://thebillirwin.com)
Bill Irwin - Archival Site (http://www.bill-irwin.com/) Archived (https://web.archive.org/web/20
160421061435/http://www.bill-irwin.com/) April 21, 2016, at the Wayback Machine
Bill Irwin (https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0410347/) at IMDb
Bill Irwin (https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/4537) at the Internet Broadway
Database
Bill Irwin (http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/3540) at the Internet Off-Broadway
Database
The Regard of Flight (http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9501E4D8
1238F935A15757C0A962948260) from The New York Times (Registration required) (1984)
The Harlequin Studies (http://www.curtainup.com/harlequinstudies.html) (2003)
Archive film of Bill Irwin performing Post-Modern Studies in 1983 at Jacob's Pillow (https://w
eb.archive.org/web/20120406070606/http://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/dance/bill-irwi
n?ref=artist&refcar=%2Fartist%2Fi-j)
"A Clown Changes Costume and, Presto: Playwright" - The New York Times (https://www.ny
times.com/2003/09/18/arts/theater/18IRWI.html)