Craig Bierko
Encyclopedia
Craig Philip Bierko is an American
actor and singer.
, the son of Pat and Rex Bierko, who ran a local community theatre. Bierko's mother was a Jewish convert to Roman Catholicism. Bierko has said he is "very connected" to his Jewish heritage.
and Matthew Perry
in the CBS
sitcom Sydney
, however the production lasted just 13 episodes. He went on to make steady appearances in various television shows including Amen
, Wings and Ally McBeal
. Bierko may be best-known for his role as Timothy in the 1996 action film The Long Kiss Goodnight
, as Max Baer in the film Cinderella Man
, as Tom Ryan in Scary Movie 4
(spoofing Tom Cruise
throughout the film) and on the Broadway stage as Harold Hill in The Music Man
. He was also the original choice for the character of Chandler Bing
on the sitcom Friends
but turned it down. He had a short role as Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker
)'s jazz musician love interest in the fourth season of Sex and the City
. He had another short role as attorney Jeffrey Coho during the third season of the ABC television series Boston Legal
and as a lead in the short-lived Unhitched
. He was also cast as Dave Lister
in the pilot for the American version of Red Dwarf
, which was not picked up as a series. He appeared in 2001's Kate and Leopold in an uncredited role.
Bierko was slated to appear on Broadway in the Manhattan Theatre Club
production of To Be or Not to Be
but withdrew from the production August 29, 2008, for unspecified reasons. He recently starred as Sky Masterson in the Broadway
revival of Guys and Dolls which began performances at the Nederlander Theatre
on February 5, 2009, and officially opened on March 1, 2009. The production closed on June 14, 2009 after 113 performances.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor and singer.
Early life
Bierko was born in Rye Brook, New YorkRye Brook, New York
Rye Brook is a village in Westchester County, New York, United States, within the town of Rye. Prior to the village's establishment on July 7, 1982, the area was an unincorporated section of the town of Rye...
, the son of Pat and Rex Bierko, who ran a local community theatre. Bierko's mother was a Jewish convert to Roman Catholicism. Bierko has said he is "very connected" to his Jewish heritage.
Career
Craig got his big break in 1990 when he was cast opposite Valerie BertinelliValerie Bertinelli
Valerie Anne Bertinelli is an American actress, best known for her roles as Barbara Cooper Royer on the television series One Day at a Time , Gloria on the television series Touched by an Angel and Melanie Moretti on the sitcom Hot in Cleveland .- Early years :Bertinelli was born in Wilmington,...
and Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry
Matthew Perry is Canadian-American television and film actor.Matthew Perry or Matt Perry may also refer to:*Matthew C. Perry , American naval officer who forcibly opened Japan to trade with the West...
in the CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
sitcom Sydney
Sydney (TV series)
Sydney is an American situation comedy series that aired on CBS in 1990. It was created and written by Michael J. Wilson and Douglas Wyman and starred Valerie Bertinelli, Matthew Perry and Craig Bierko.-Synopsis:...
, however the production lasted just 13 episodes. He went on to make steady appearances in various television shows including Amen
Amen
The word amen is a declaration of affirmation found in the Hebrew Bible and New Testament. Its use in Judaism dates back to its earliest texts. It has been generally adopted in Christian worship as a concluding word for prayers and hymns. In Islam, it is the standard ending to Dua and the...
, Wings and Ally McBeal
Ally McBeal
Ally McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama series which aired on the Fox network from 1997 to 2002. The series was created by David E. Kelley, who also served as the executive producer, along with Bill D'Elia...
. Bierko may be best-known for his role as Timothy in the 1996 action film The Long Kiss Goodnight
The Long Kiss Goodnight
The Long Kiss Goodnight is a 1996 action thriller film starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson, written by Shane Black and directed by Renny Harlin.-Plot:...
, as Max Baer in the film Cinderella Man
Cinderella Man
Cinderella Man is a 2005 American drama film by Ron Howard, titled after the nickname of heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock and inspired by his life story. The film was produced by Howard, Penny Marshall, and Brian Grazer.-Plot:James J...
, as Tom Ryan in Scary Movie 4
Scary Movie 4
Scary Movie 4 is the fourth film of the Scary Movie franchise, directed by David Zucker, written by Jim Abrahams, Craig Mazin and Pat Proft, and produced by Craig Mazin and Robert K. Weiss. It is distributed by The Weinstein Company via its Dimension Films unit in the U.S. and Television, and...
(spoofing Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise
Thomas Cruise Mapother IV , better known as Tom Cruise, is an American film actor and producer. He has been nominated for three Academy Awards and he has won three Golden Globe Awards....
throughout the film) and on the Broadway stage as Harold Hill in The Music Man
The Music Man
The Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
. He was also the original choice for the character of Chandler Bing
Chandler Bing
Chandler Muriel Bing is a fictional character on the popular U.S. television sitcom Friends, portrayed by Matthew Perry.-Background:Chandler Muriel Bing was born on April 8, 1968, the son of an erotic novelist mother and a cross-dressing Las Vegas star and is of Scottish ancestry. Chandler was Ross...
on the sitcom Friends
Friends
Friends is an American sitcom created by David Crane and Marta Kauffman, which aired on NBC from September 22, 1994 to May 6, 2004. The series revolves around a group of friends in Manhattan. The series was produced by Bright/Kauffman/Crane Productions, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
but turned it down. He had a short role as Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker is an American film, television, and theater actress and producer.She is best known for her leading role as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO television series Sex and the City , for which she won four Golden Globe Awards, three Screen Actors Guild Awards, and two Emmy Awards...
)'s jazz musician love interest in the fourth season of Sex and the City
Sex and the City
Sex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
. He had another short role as attorney Jeffrey Coho during the third season of the ABC television series Boston Legal
Boston Legal
Boston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC...
and as a lead in the short-lived Unhitched
Unhitched
Unhitched is an American television comedy that aired as a mid-season replacement on Fox from March 2, 2008 to March 30, 2008. The series was originally scheduled to premiere at 9:30 pm ET, but aired 30 minutes later due to the runover of Nascar. The show is created by Kevin Barnett, Mike Bernier...
. He was also cast as Dave Lister
Dave Lister
David "Dave" Lister, commonly referred to simply as Lister, is a fictional character from the British science fiction situation comedy Red Dwarf, portrayed by Craig Charles...
in the pilot for the American version of Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf
Red Dwarf is a British comedy franchise which primarily comprises eight series of a television science fiction sitcom that aired on BBC Two between 1988 and 1999 and Dave from 2009–present. It gained cult following. It was created by Rob Grant and Doug Naylor, who also wrote the first six series...
, which was not picked up as a series. He appeared in 2001's Kate and Leopold in an uncredited role.
Bierko was slated to appear on Broadway in the Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club
Manhattan Theatre Club is a theater company located in New York City. Under the leadership of Artistic Director Lynne Meadow and Executive Producer Barry Grove, Manhattan Theatre Club has grown since its founding in 1970 from an Off-Off Broadway showcase into one of the country’s most acclaimed...
production of To Be or Not to Be
To Be or Not to Be (play)
To Be or Not to Be was a Broadway play, a remake of the 1942 film To Be or Not to Be. It was written by Nick Whitby and produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City. Previews started on September 16, 2008 and the show opened on October 14 at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre for a limited...
but withdrew from the production August 29, 2008, for unspecified reasons. He recently starred as Sky Masterson in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
revival of Guys and Dolls which began performances at the Nederlander Theatre
Nederlander Theatre
David T. Nederlander Theatre is a 1,232-seat Broadway theatre located at 208 West 41st Street, in New York City . One of the Nederlander Organization's nine Broadway theatres, the legacy of the theatre began with David Tobias Nederlander, for whom the theatre is named.Built by Walter C...
on February 5, 2009, and officially opened on March 1, 2009. The production closed on June 14, 2009 after 113 performances.
Filmography
- Love Note (1987)
- SydneySydney (TV series)Sydney is an American situation comedy series that aired on CBS in 1990. It was created and written by Michael J. Wilson and Douglas Wyman and starred Valerie Bertinelli, Matthew Perry and Craig Bierko.-Synopsis:...
(1990) - Wings (1990)
- Red Dwarf (1992) (unaired television pilotTelevision pilotA "television pilot" is a standalone episode of a television series that is used to sell the show to a television network. At the time of its inception, the pilot is meant to be the "testing ground" to see if a series will be possibly desired and successful and therefore a test episode of an...
) - Danielle Steel's StarDanielle Steel's StarDanielle Steel's Star is a 1993 made-for-television film starring Jennie Garth, Craig Bierko, Terry Farrell, Penny Fuller and Mitchell Ryan. This film is based on the novel Star by author Danielle Steel...
(1993) - The Long Kiss GoodnightThe Long Kiss GoodnightThe Long Kiss Goodnight is a 1996 action thriller film starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson, written by Shane Black and directed by Renny Harlin.-Plot:...
(1996) - 'Til There Was You'Til There Was You'Til There Was You is a 1997 American romantic drama film directed by Scott Winant. The screenplay, written by Winnie Holzman, traces thirty-odd years in the parallel lives of two people whose intertwined paths finally converge when their mutual interest in a community project brings them...
(1997) - johnsJohns (film)Johns is a 1996 American drama film starring David Arquette and Lukas Haas, who portray hustlers who work Santa Monica Boulevard. The title refers both to the slang term for a sex client and to several characters in the film named John .Johns was one of several films dealing with this subject...
(1997) - Sour GrapesSour Grapes (film)Sour Grapes is a 1998 American comedy film written and directed by Larry David.-Plot:Richie Maxwell is down to his last quarter at a slot machine in Atlantic City, so he asks cousin Evan for two more coins for one more spin — a spin that wins a $400,000 jackpot.The joy of victory is quickly...
(1998) - Fear and Loathing in Las VegasFear and Loathing in Las Vegas (film)Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas is a 1998 American drama film directed by Terry Gilliam, starring Johnny Depp as Raoul Duke and Benicio del Toro as Dr. Gonzo. It was adapted from Hunter S. Thompson's 1971 novel of the same name....
(1998) - The Thirteenth FloorThe Thirteenth FloorThe Thirteenth Floor is a 1999 science fiction film directed by Josef Rusnak and loosely based upon Simulacron-3 , a novel by Daniel F. Galouye...
(1999) - The SuburbansThe SuburbansThe Suburbans is a 1999 comedy-drama that satirizes the 1980s revival hype around the turn of the 21st century. It stars Jennifer Love Hewitt and Donal Lardner Ward, who also co-wrote and directed the movie....
(1999) - Ally McBealAlly McBealAlly McBeal is an American legal comedy-drama series which aired on the Fox network from 1997 to 2002. The series was created by David E. Kelley, who also served as the executive producer, along with Bill D'Elia...
(2000) 1ep season 3 - Kate & LeopoldKate & LeopoldKate & Leopold is a 2001 romantic-comedy fantasy that tells a story of a duke who travels through time from New York in 1876 to the present and falls in love with a career woman in the modern New York...
(2001) (uncredited) - Sex and the CitySex and the CitySex and the City is an American television comedy-drama series created by Darren Star and produced by HBO. Broadcast from 1998 until 2004, the original run of the show had a total of ninety-four episodes...
: Season 4 (2002) - Dickie Roberts: Former Child StarDickie Roberts: Former Child StarDickie Roberts: Former Child Star is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Sam Weisman and starring David Spade and Mary McCormack.- Plot :...
(2003) - Cinderella ManCinderella ManCinderella Man is a 2005 American drama film by Ron Howard, titled after the nickname of heavyweight boxing champion James J. Braddock and inspired by his life story. The film was produced by Howard, Penny Marshall, and Brian Grazer.-Plot:James J...
(2005) - Scary Movie 4Scary Movie 4Scary Movie 4 is the fourth film of the Scary Movie franchise, directed by David Zucker, written by Jim Abrahams, Craig Mazin and Pat Proft, and produced by Craig Mazin and Robert K. Weiss. It is distributed by The Weinstein Company via its Dimension Films unit in the U.S. and Television, and...
(2006) - DanikaDanikaDanika is a 2006 horror film directed by Israeli Ariel Vromen. It stars Marisa Tomei, Craig Bierko and Regina Hall. The film was released on DVD in the US on December 26, 2006.-Plot:...
(2005) - For Your ConsiderationFor Your Consideration (film)For Your Consideration is a 2006 comedy film directed by Christopher Guest. It was co-written by Guest and Eugene Levy, both also starring in the film....
(2006) - Boston LegalBoston LegalBoston Legal is an American legal dramedy created by David E. Kelley, which was produced in association with 20th Century Fox Television for the ABC...
: Season Three (2006) - UnhitchedUnhitchedUnhitched is an American television comedy that aired as a mid-season replacement on Fox from March 2, 2008 to March 30, 2008. The series was originally scheduled to premiere at 9:30 pm ET, but aired 30 minutes later due to the runover of Nascar. The show is created by Kevin Barnett, Mike Bernier...
(2008) - Superhero MovieSuperhero MovieSuperhero Movie is a 2008 American spoof film written and directed by Craig Mazin, produced by David Zucker and Robert K. Weiss, and starring Drake Bell, Sara Paxton, Christopher McDonald, and Leslie Nielsen...
(2008) - Meet Bill (2008) (uncredited)
- Head Case (2009)
- DamagesDamages (TV series)Damages is an American television drama series created by the writing and production trio of Daniel Zelman and brothers Glenn and Todd A. Kessler . It is broadcast in the United States on the DirecTV channel Audience Network after originally airing on FX and is produced by the creators' own...
(2010) - The Change Up (2011)
Awards and recognition
- 100 Most Creative People in Entertainment "It" List, 2003 Entertainment WeeklyEntertainment WeeklyEntertainment Weekly is an American magazine, published by the Time division of Time Warner, that covers film, television, music, broadway theatre, books and popular culture...
- Sexiest Broadway Star - PeoplePeople (magazine)In 1998, the magazine introduced a version targeted at teens called Teen People. However, on July 27, 2006, the company announced it would shut down publication of Teen People immediately. The last issue to be released was scheduled for September 2006. Subscribers to this magazine received...
(2000) - Theatre World Award (Winner) (2000)
- Broadway.com Audience Awards (Winner) (2000)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for The Music ManThe Music ManThe Music Man is a musical with book, music, and lyrics by Meredith Willson, based on a story by Willson and Franklin Lacey. The plot concerns con man Harold Hill, who poses as a boys' band organizer and leader and sells band instruments and uniforms to naive townsfolk before skipping town with...
(Nominee) (2000) - Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical for The Music Man (Nominee) (2000)
- Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Actor in a Musical for The Music Man (Nominee) (2000)