Larry Bryggman
Encyclopedia
Larry Bryggman is an American
actor
.
of Swedish descent; his father worked for a neon
sign company and his mother was a piano
teacher. Bryggman attended the City College of San Francisco
as well as the American Theatre Wing
in New York
. He made his off-Broadway
debut in 1962, with A Summer Ghost.
in the soap opera
As the World Turns
, a role he played from July 18, 1969 to December 14, 2004. Originally the role was a minor background part, which only required Bryggman to work two episodes, but he was later hired to a contract in 1970. For his role as Dr. Dixon, Bryggman received two Daytime Emmy Award
s for Outstanding Actor in a Drama
, in 1984 and 1987.
He has also made several notable appearances in major films, most notably ...And Justice for All
, Die Hard with a Vengeance and Spy Game
.
In December 2004, Bryggman's picture suddenly stopped appearing in the opening credits of As the World Turns
. Although many actors were rarely seen on the show, As the World Turns
had a history of keeping its veteran actors under contract. After a few weeks of not appearing in the opening credits, it was revealed that Larry Bryggman decided to quit after being offered a large pay cut. Though no onscreen attempt was made to explain the character's absence—his character simply stopped appearing—vintage clips of Bryggman were featured in ATWTs fiftieth anniversary show in April 2006. For the show's final episodes, it was explained that Dr. John Dixon
had been working at Johns Hopkins
for an undisclosed period of time, but had been asked by Dr. Reid Oliver
to return to Oakdale Memorial to consult on the ailing Christopher Hughes
.
In 2005, Bryggman starred as the Judge in the Atlantic Theater Company
's off-Broadway and Los Angeles productions of the David Mamet
farce "Romance
," for which he has received universal rave reviews and a nomination for the 2005 Drama Desk Award
for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play. James C. Taylor for the Los Angeles Times
calls Bryggman's performance "one of the finest comedic performances seen on an American stage this decade".
Bryggman has twice been nominated for the Tony Award
for Best Featured Actor in a Play; in 1994 for Picnic, and in 2001 for Proof. He also appeared in the original 1976 Broadway cast of Checking Out
.
Beginning on August 27, 2010, Bryggman returned to ATWT for 12 episodes, before the show finished its run on September 17, 2010.
. His present wife, Tracey Hanley, was an assistant director on Guiding Light. Daughter Riley Claire was born on June 11, 2003 in Manhattan.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
.
Early life
Bryggman was born in Concord, CaliforniaConcord, California
Concord is the largest city in Contra Costa County, California, USA. At the 2010 census, the city had a population of 122,067. Originally founded in 1869 as the community of Todos Santos by Salvio Pacheco, the name was changed to Concord within months...
of Swedish descent; his father worked for a neon
Neon
Neon is the chemical element that has the symbol Ne and an atomic number of 10. Although a very common element in the universe, it is rare on Earth. A colorless, inert noble gas under standard conditions, neon gives a distinct reddish-orange glow when used in either low-voltage neon glow lamps or...
sign company and his mother was a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
teacher. Bryggman attended the City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco
City College of San Francisco, or CCSF, is a two-year community college in San Francisco, California. The Ocean Avenue campus, in the Ingleside neighborhood, is the college's primary location...
as well as the American Theatre Wing
American Theatre Wing
The American Theatre Wing is a New York City-based organization "dedicated to supporting excellence and education in theatre," according to its mission statement...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He made his off-Broadway
Off-Broadway
Off-Broadway theater is a term for a professional venue in New York City with a seating capacity between 100 and 499, and for a specific production of a play, musical or revue that appears in such a venue, and which adheres to related trade union and other contracts...
debut in 1962, with A Summer Ghost.
Career
Bryggman is known for his role as Dr. John DixonJohn Dixon (ATWT)
Dr. John Dixon, M.D. is a fictional character on the American TV soap opera, As the World Turns. He was portrayed by Larry Bryggman from July 18, 1969 until December 14, 2004. Dixon is a cardiologist at Oakdale Memorial Hospital where he is also Chief and Acting Chief of Staff at Memorial Hospital...
in the soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
, a role he played from July 18, 1969 to December 14, 2004. Originally the role was a minor background part, which only required Bryggman to work two episodes, but he was later hired to a contract in 1970. For his role as Dr. Dixon, Bryggman received two Daytime Emmy Award
Daytime Emmy Award
The Daytime Emmy Awards are awards presented by the New York-based National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences and the Los Angeles-based Academy of Television Arts & Sciences in recognition of excellence in American daytime television programming...
s for Outstanding Actor in a Drama
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
The Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series is an award which has been given every year at the Daytime Emmys ceremony since 1974.In the lists below, the winner of the award for each year is shown first, followed by the other nominees....
, in 1984 and 1987.
He has also made several notable appearances in major films, most notably ...And Justice for All
...And Justice for All (film)
...And Justice For All is a 1979 courtroom drama film, directed by Norman Jewison. The movie stars Al Pacino, John Forsythe, Jack Warden, Lee Strasberg, Jeffrey Tambor, Christine Lahti, Craig T. Nelson and Thomas G. Waites. It was also 75-year-old character actor Sam Levene's final film...
, Die Hard with a Vengeance and Spy Game
Spy Game
Spy Game is a 2001 American spy film directed by Tony Scott and starring Robert Redford and Brad Pitt. The film grossed $62,362,785 in the United States and $143,049,560 worldwide.-Plot:...
.
In December 2004, Bryggman's picture suddenly stopped appearing in the opening credits of As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
. Although many actors were rarely seen on the show, As the World Turns
As the World Turns
As the World Turns is an American television soap opera that aired on CBS from April 2, 1956 to September 17, 2010. Irna Phillips created As the World Turns as a sister show to her other soap opera Guiding Light...
had a history of keeping its veteran actors under contract. After a few weeks of not appearing in the opening credits, it was revealed that Larry Bryggman decided to quit after being offered a large pay cut. Though no onscreen attempt was made to explain the character's absence—his character simply stopped appearing—vintage clips of Bryggman were featured in ATWTs fiftieth anniversary show in April 2006. For the show's final episodes, it was explained that Dr. John Dixon
John Dixon (ATWT)
Dr. John Dixon, M.D. is a fictional character on the American TV soap opera, As the World Turns. He was portrayed by Larry Bryggman from July 18, 1969 until December 14, 2004. Dixon is a cardiologist at Oakdale Memorial Hospital where he is also Chief and Acting Chief of Staff at Memorial Hospital...
had been working at Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins
Johns Hopkins was a wealthy American entrepreneur, philanthropist and abolitionist of 19th-century Baltimore, Maryland, now most noted for his philanthropic creation of the institutions that bear his name, namely the Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Johns Hopkins University and its associated...
for an undisclosed period of time, but had been asked by Dr. Reid Oliver
Reid Oliver
Dr. Reid Oliver was a fictional character on CBS's daytime drama As the World Turns. He was portrayed by Eric Sheffer Stevens and made his first appearance on January 19, 2010...
to return to Oakdale Memorial to consult on the ailing Christopher Hughes
Christopher Hughes II
Christopher Robert "Chris" Hughes II is a fictional character on the daytime soap opera As the World Turns. Dylan Bruce recently played Chris from October 25, 2007 to October 15, 2008. Two-time Emmy nominee Daniel Cosgrove took over the role in 2010....
.
In 2005, Bryggman starred as the Judge in the Atlantic Theater Company
Atlantic Theater Company
Atlantic Theater Company is an Off-Broadway non-profit theater, whose mission is to produce great plays "simply and truthfully utilizing an artistic ensemble." The company was founded in 1985 by David Mamet, William H. Macy, and 30 of their acting students from New York University, inspired by the...
's off-Broadway and Los Angeles productions of the David Mamet
David Mamet
David Alan Mamet is an American playwright, essayist, screenwriter and film director.Best known as a playwright, Mamet won a Pulitzer Prize and received a Tony nomination for Glengarry Glen Ross . He also received a Tony nomination for Speed-the-Plow . As a screenwriter, he received Oscar...
farce "Romance
Romance (Mamet play)
Romance is a play by David Mamet. It opened in 2005 off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company in New York and was also performed at London's Almeida Theatre, starring John Mahoney, later that year...
," for which he has received universal rave reviews and a nomination for the 2005 Drama Desk Award
Drama Desk Award
The Drama Desk Awards, which are given annually in a number of categories, are the only major New York theater honors for which productions on Broadway, Off-Broadway, Off-Off-Broadway compete against each other in the same category...
for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play. James C. Taylor for the Los Angeles Times
Los Angeles Times
The Los Angeles Times is a daily newspaper published in Los Angeles, California, since 1881. It was the second-largest metropolitan newspaper in circulation in the United States in 2008 and the fourth most widely distributed newspaper in the country....
calls Bryggman's performance "one of the finest comedic performances seen on an American stage this decade".
Bryggman has twice been nominated for the Tony Award
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Best Featured Actor in a Play; in 1994 for Picnic, and in 2001 for Proof. He also appeared in the original 1976 Broadway cast of Checking Out
Checking Out (play)
Checking Out is a 1976 Broadway play written by Allen Swift. It opened on September 14, 1976 at the Longacre Theatre and closed on September 25, 1976 after 16 performances.-Original Production:...
.
Beginning on August 27, 2010, Bryggman returned to ATWT for 12 episodes, before the show finished its run on September 17, 2010.
Personal life
From 1992-1997, he was married to As the World Turns co-star Jacqueline SchultzJacqueline Schultz
Jacqueline Schultz is a film and television actress-Career:In addition to her recurring roles on two television soap operas — as Dee Stewart on As the World Turns ; and as the last Patti Tate on Search for Tomorrow — Schultz has appeared in over twenty-five other television productions, including...
. His present wife, Tracey Hanley, was an assistant director on Guiding Light. Daughter Riley Claire was born on June 11, 2003 in Manhattan.