American actor (born 1963)
Kevin Chamberlin (born November 25, 1963[ 3] ) is an American actor. He is known for his theatre roles such as Horton in Seussical and Uncle Fester in The Addams Family . For his theatre work, he was nominated for three Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards . He also starred as Bertram Winkle in the Disney Channel Original Series sitcom Jessie from 2011 to 2015. From 2018 to 2019, he starred as The Wizard of Oz in Wicked on Broadway.
Early and personal life
Chamberlin was born on November 25, 1963, in Baltimore, Maryland,[ 3] and was raised in Moorestown, New Jersey . In elementary school, he starred as Huck Finn in the school's production of Tom Sawyer . After he graduated from Moorestown High School in 1981,[ 4] Chamberlin studied acting at Rutgers University 's Mason Gross School of the Arts in New Brunswick, New Jersey, and graduated with a B.F.A. in acting in 1985.[ 5]
Chamberlin has since acted on Broadway, having been nominated for three Tony Awards ,[ 6] and has an extensive list of film[ 7] and television credits.
Chamberlin is gay.[ 8] He has been married to TV writer and producer Michael Gans since 2008; they have been together since 1991.[ 9] [ 10]
Career
Chamberlin made his Broadway debut in 1992 in My Favorite Year [ 11] Chamberlin has been nominated for Drama Desk and Tony Awards for Dirty Blonde (as Charlie), Seussical (as Horton), and The Addams Family (as Uncle Fester). Additional Broadway theatre credits include Triumph of Love , Abe Lincoln in Illinois , Chicago , The Ritz and Wicked .
He appeared in the 1999 film Trick . He also appeared in Die Hard with a Vengeance as an enthusiastic NYPD bomb defusal expert. In Lucky Number Slevin , he again had a supporting role as a New York police officer. Chamberlin's most recent work includes the role of Aron Malsky in the NBC prime-time series Heroes . He also made an appearance in a Law and Order: Special Victims Unit episode titled "Redemption " where he played a man named Roger Berry. He was also a guest on the sitcom Frasier , in season 10 episode 13. Chamberlin previously appeared as Uncle Fester in the musical The Addams Family , a role for which he won a Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Performance By a Featured Actor in a Broadway Musical.[ 12] Brad Oscar replaced him in the role of Uncle Fester on March 8, 2011.[ 13]
Chamberlin also starred as Dr. Fusion in Teen Beach Movie , a Disney Channel Original Movie starring Ross Lynch , Maia Mitchell , Barry Bostwick , and Steve Valentine which aired July 19, 2013.
In 2019, Chamberlin appeared as Mr. Mushnik in the Pasadena Playhouse production of Little Shop of Horrors alongside George Salazar , Mj Rodriguez , Amber Riley and Matthew Wilkas .[ 14]
In 2020, Chamberlin was one of the many TikTok users who created an internet meme of a musical version of the 2007 Disney /Pixar film Ratatouille . On December 28, 2020, it was announced that Chamberlin would star as Gusteau in a benefit concert presentation of the musical. The concert streamed exclusively on TodayTix on January 1, 2021.[ 15]
In 2022, Chamberlin appeared as Nicely-Nicely Johnson in Guys and Dolls at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts . He starred opposite James Monroe Iglehart , Jessie Mueller , Steven Pasquale , and Phillipa Soo .[ 16] Chamberlin received a Helen Hayes Award for his performance.[ 17]
Filmography
Film
Television
Music videos
Stage credits
Theater work
Year
Title
Role
Location
Notes
1992
My Favorite Year
Ensemble
u/s Herb Lee u/s Sy Benson
Vivian Beaumont Theatre , Broadway
Original cast
1993
Abe Lincoln in Illinois
Cavalry Captain / Feargus / Ensemble
u/s Sturveson
1996
One Touch of Venus
Stanley
New York City Center
Encores!
1997
Triumph of Love
Dimas
Royale Theatre , Broadway
Original cast
1998
Li'l Abner
Senator Jack S. Phogbound
New York City Center
Encores!
1999
Ziegfeld Follies of 1936
Performer
2000
Dirty Blonde
Charlie and others
Helen Hayes Theatre , Broadway
Original cast Nominated – Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play
2001
Seussical
Horton the Elephant
Richard Rodgers Theatre , Broadway
Original cast Nominated - Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical
2002
Merrily We Roll Along
Charley Kringas
Freud Playhouse
Concert[ 19]
2004
Company
David
Regional
2006
Chicago
Amos Hart
Shubert Theatre , Broadway
Replacement
2007
Stairway to Paradise
Performer
New York City Center
Encores!
The Ritz
Gaetano Proclo
Studio 54 , Broadway
Original cast
2008-2009
Chicago
Amos Hart
Ambassador Theatre , Broadway
Replacement
National tour
Original cast
2009–2010
The Addams Family
Uncle Fester
Oriental Theater , Chicago
Pre-Broadway Regional Tryout
2010–2011
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre , Broadway
Original cast Nominated - Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical
2014
Hair
Dad
Hollywood Bowl , California
Regional
2015
Spamalot
Sir Bedevere / Dennis's Mother / Concorde
2016
Disaster!
Maury
Nederlander Theatre , Broadway
Original cast
West Side Story
Lt. Schrank / Doc / Officer Krupke
Hollywood Bowl, California
Regional
2017
The New Yorkers
Jimmie Deegan
New York City Center
Encores!
2018–2019
Wicked
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz
Gershwin Theatre , Broadway
Replacement
2018
Parade
Luther Rosser / Mr. Peavy
Roundabout Theatre Company
Workshop
2019
High Button Shoes
Mr. Pierre Pontdue
New York City Center
Encores!
Little Shop of Horrors
Mr. Mushnik
Pasadena Playhouse , California
Regional
Let 'Em Eat Cake
Vice President Alexander Throttlebottom
Carnegie Hall
Concert
2021
Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical
Auguste Gusteau
-
Online concert
2022
Guys and Dolls
Nicely-Nicely Johnson
Kennedy Center , Washington, D.C.
Regional
2023
The Frogs
Xanthias
Lincoln Center
[ 20]
2024
Anything Goes
Moonface Martin
The Muny
Regional
Awards and nominations
References
^ "interview(ish) with Kevin Chamberlin" . instagram.com .
^ Chamberlin, Kevin [@kevinchamberlin] (November 25, 2013). "Happy Birthday to Me. #halfcentury" (Tweet ). Archived from the original on November 19, 2021. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Twitter .
^ a b "About" . Kevin Chamberlin official website. Archived from the original on October 26, 2014. Retrieved October 26, 2014 . BORN: November 25, 1963 in Baltimore, Maryland, USA
^ "Moorestown Council and Moorestown Theater Company honor well known actor, former resident Kevin Chamberlin" , The Sun Newspapers , October 12, 2015. Retrieved November 7, 2020. "Moorestown native and Moorestown High School 1981 graduate Kevin Chamberlin is returning to his hometown to receive his proclamation given by council and the Moorestown Theater Company's First 'Theater Legend Award' at its Extrava-Gala fundraising dinner dance."
^ Karam, Edward (December 14, 1999). "Lord Chamberlin: Kevin Chamberlin Breaks Out of Character Roles--For Now" . Playbill .
^ "Chamberlin Awards" ibdb.com. Retrieved November 26, 2017
^ "Chamberlin Filmography" tcm.com. Retrieved November 26, 2017
^ "25 LGBTQIA+ Theatre Artists Share Their 2021 Pride Plans | Playbill" .
^ Nunn, Jerry (January 6, 2010). "Kevin Chamberlin says uncle" . Windy City Times .
^ Chamberlin, Kevin [@kevinchamberlin] (July 16, 2015). "@tobefonseca yes I am happily married" (Tweet ). Archived from the original on October 19, 2022. Retrieved December 2, 2022 – via Twitter .
^ "Kevin Chamberlin (Performer) | Playbill" .
^ Jones, Kenneth (July 22, 2009). "Addams Family Musical Finds a Broadway Home" . Playbill . Retrieved November 18, 2021 .
^ Jones, Kenneth (February 4, 2011). "Brad Oscar Will Play Uncle Fester in Addams Family ; Blickenstaff, Grupper, Potter Join Cast" . Playbill . Retrieved November 18, 2021 .
^ "Little Shop of Horrors" . Pasadena Playhouse . Retrieved October 9, 2019 .
^ Evans, Greg (December 28, 2020). " 'Ratatouille: The TikTok Musical' All-Star Cast To Include Wayne Brady, Tituss Burgess & Adam Lambert" . Deadline .
^ "Kevin Chamberlin, Rachel Dratch, More Join Cast of Kennedy Center Guys and Dolls | Playbill" .
^ Cristi, A. A. "Kennedy Center Guys And Dolls , Kevin Chamberlin, And More Win Helen Hayes Awards" . BroadwayWorld.com .
^ " 'The Zombie Wedding', Weekly World News Rom-Com, Has North American Rights Acquired By Freestyle Digital Media" . Deadline Hollywood . March 9, 2024.
^ L.A. Reprise! Schedules Special Performance of Merrily We Roll Along with Panaro, DeLaria, and Chamberlin
^ Wild, Stephi. "Nathan Lane and More Set For Concert Version of THE FROGS at Lincoln Center" . BroadwayWorld.com .
External links