Michael Esper
| Michael Esper | |
|---|---|
| Born |
December 1, 1976 Manhattan, New York City, United States |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1995–present |
Michael James Esper[1] (born December 1, 1976)[2] is an American actor, noted for his stage career.
Early life
Esper was born in Manhattan and raised in Montclair, New Jersey.[3] He is the son of acting teachers William and Suzanne Esper, of the William Esper Studio. He attended Saint Ann's School in Brooklyn Heights. He attended Rutgers University after attending Oberlin College for one year.[4]
Stage career
Esper has appeared on Broadway in Sting's The Last Ship, A Man for All Seasons,[5] Green Day's American Idiot,[6] and The Lyons.[7] He also starred in the Off-Broadway premieres of Leslye Headland's Assistance,[8] Nicky Silver's The Lyons,[9] and Tony Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures.[10]
After a break from stage work, he returned to New York theater in February 2014 with David Grimm's new play Tales from Red Vienna off-Broadway, opposite Nina Arianda.[11] He followed that by starring in Sting's new musical The Last Ship.[12] The Last Ship began previews on Broadway in September 2014 and ran through January 24, 2015. Esper most recently appeared in David Bowie and Enda Walsh's new musical Lazarus at New York Theatre Workshop.[13] He was nominated for a 2016 Outer Critics Circle Award for his performance in Lazarus.[14]
Additional stage credits include Crazy Mary, for which he won the Clarence Derwent Award,[15] Big Bill, subUrbia, Manic Flight Reaction, As You Like It, and The Four Of Us.[16]
Film and television
Esper starred as Dr. Kenneth Jordan on 2013 NBC series Do No Harm. He has had recurring roles on Nurse Jackie , Person of Interest, Shades of Blue, and The Family, as well as guest roles on several other shows. His notable film appearances include: The Drop, Frances Ha, All Good Things, A Beautiful Mind, and Runner Runner.[17] His voice is included on American Idiot: The Original Broadway Cast Recording.[18]
Reception
The New York Daily News described him as a "rising star", and said, "He acts with an emotional openness and authenticity that's as striking as it is uncommon. Esper's talent is evident whether he's punking out on Broadway in the Green Day musical "American Idiot" or assuming the cadence and carriage of 16th-century England in "A Man for All Seasons."[19]
Career
Stage
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Dying is Easy | Albert Matson | |
| 2001 | A Beautiful Mind | Young John Nash | |
| 2002 | American Gun | Burglar | |
| 2005 | Loggerheads | Gill | |
| 2005 | Bittersweet Place | Joey | |
| 2007 | Light and the Sufferer | Paul | |
| 2009 | Bunker Hill | Pete Walsh | TV pilot |
| 2010 | All Good Things | Daniel Marks | |
| 2012 | Watching TV with the Red Chinese | Billy | |
| 2012 | Frances Ha | Dan | |
| 2012 | Crazy Love | Joey | Short film |
| 2013 | Runner Runner | Billy Petricoff | |
| 2014 | The Drop | Rardy |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Law & Order | David Sutton | Episode: "Take-Out" |
| 2013 | The Good Wife | Gregory Steck | Episode: "The Wheels of Justice" |
| 2013 | Do No Harm | Dr. Kenneth Jordan | 13 episodes |
| 2013–14 | Person of Interest | Jason Greenfield | 2 episodes |
| 2014 | Believe | Jack Callahan | Episode: "Sinking" |
| 2014–15 | Nurse Jackie | Gabe | 7 episodes |
| 2014 | Halt and Catch Fire | Ron Cane | Episode: "Close to the Metal" |
| 2015 | Elementary | Donald Pruitt | Episode: "The Cost of Doing Business" |
| 2016 | Shades of Blue | Donnie Pomp | 11 episodes |
| 2016 | The Family | Doug/Pocked-Marked Man | 12 episodes |
| 2016 | BrainDead | Noah Feffer | 2 episodes |
References
- ↑ Blank, Matthew. "PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Intelligent Homosexual's Guide Star Michael Esper". Playbill. Retrieved January 4, 2015.
- ↑ "Michael Esper – Broadway Theatre Credits, Photos, Who's Who – Playbill Vault". Retrieved January 4, 2015.
- ↑ Dziemianowicz, Joe. "Spotlight: Hometown actor Michael Esper now on Broadway in the comedy 'The Lyons'|". The New York Daily News.
- ↑ Spaner, Whitney. "Curtain Cutie: Michael Esper". PAPERMAG.
- ↑ Brantley, Ben. "Martyr Me a Little (the Perils of Thomas)" The New York Times. October 8, 2008
- ↑ Isherwood, Charles. "Stomping Onto Broadway With a Punk Temper Tantrum" The New York Times. April 21, 2010
- ↑ "Michael Esper". The Broadway League.
- ↑ Isherwood, Charles. "Heads Will Roll When Calls Don't in This Office Culture Gone Wild". The New York Times. The New York Times.
- ↑ Brantley, Ben. "The Curse of Kinship, but a Fear of Isolation". The New York Times. The New York Times.
- ↑ Brantley, Ben. "Debating Dialectics and Dad's Suicide Plan" The New York Times. May 5, 2011
- ↑ "Complete Cast Announced for MTC World Premiere of David Grimm's Tales From Red Vienna". TheaterMania. Retrieved January 23, 2014.
- ↑ Gans, Andrew. "Michael Esper, Jimmy Nail, Aaron Lazar, Sally Ann Triplett and More Will Star in Sting's The Last Ship on Broadway". Playbill.
- ↑ Brantley, Ben. "Review: David Bowie Songs and a Familiar Alien in 'Lazarus'". The New York Times. The New York Times.
- ↑ "American Psycho and She Loves Me Lead 2016 Outer Critics Circle Award Nominations". TheaterMania.com. TheaterMania.com. Retrieved 19 April 2016.
- ↑ Broadway.com staff. Zoe Kazan and Michael Esper Win 2008 Clarence Derwent Awards Broadway.com May 16, 2008
- ↑ "Michael Esper". Lortel Archives.
- ↑ "Michael Esper". IMDb.
- ↑ Jones, Kenneth. "Idiot's Delight! American Idiot Cast Album Wins Grammy Award" Playbill.com February 13, 2011
- ↑ Dziemianowicz, Joe. "Spotlight: Hometown actor Michael Esper now on Broadway in the comedy 'The Lyons' New York Daily News. April 20, 2012