Craig Bierko

Craig Bierko
Born Craig Philip Bierko
(1964-08-18) August 18, 1964
Rye Brook, New York, U.S.
Occupation Actor, singer
Years active 1990–present

Craig Philip Bierko (born August 18, 1964) is an American actor and singer.

Early life

Bierko was born in Rye Brook, New York, the son of Pat (Distillator) and Rex Bierko, who ran a local community theatre.[1][2] Bierko's mother was a Jewish-born convert to Roman Catholicism. Bierko has said he is "very connected" to his Jewish heritage.[3] His surname is Polish.[4] He attended Boston University intending to study broadcast journalism at the School of Public Communications but graduated from Northwestern University in 1986 with a BS in theater arts from the School of Speech.[5][6]

Career

Bierko got his big break in 1990 when he was cast opposite Valerie Bertinelli 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, The Powers That Be, 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.[7] He had a short role as a jazz musician love interest for Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker) 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, and in TV's Law and Order: Special Victim's Unit as Andy Eckerson, a United States Deputy Marshal who is working with the SVU (and ex-flame Det. Olivia Benson) to recapture an escaped convict.[8] His role as heavyweight champion Max Baer in the 2005 movie Cinderella Man, starring Russell Crowe and directed by Ron Howard, was controversial since Baer was depicted as vicious and cruel. Baer's family, especially actor son Max Baer Jr. bitterly resented it and publicly attacked the film.

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.[9] He 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.[10] The production closed on June 14, 2009 after 113 performances.[11] He performed the role of Peter in the 2011 New York Philharmonic production of Stephen Sondheim's Company with Neil Patrick Harris, Patti Lupone and Stephen Colbert.

Bierko was slated to replace Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull in Matilda the Musical at the Shubert Theatre along with Jill Paice as Miss Honey on 3 September, but did not start performances until 17 September due to a "minor injury".[12] On November 19, it was announced that Bierko will not return to the role of Miss Trunchbull due to "medical circumstances", following a shoulder injury sustained during rehearsals.[13]

On July 22, 2014, it was announced that Craig has been cast in a lead role in the Lifetime dramedy series UnREAL, playing Chet, who is the "eccentric and drug-using" creator of a reality dating show.[14]

Personal life

Bierko has dated actresses Charlize Theron and Janeane Garofalo.[15]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Love Note Craig Johnson Video
1990 Victimless Crime
1993 Danielle Steel's Star Spencer Hill Television film
1996 Johns Christmas Radio Preacher
1996 The Long Kiss Goodnight Timothy
1997 'Til There Was You Jon Hass
1998 Sour Grapes Richie Maxwell
1998 Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas Lacerda
1999 The Suburbans Mitch
1999 The Thirteenth Floor Douglas Hall, John Ferguson, David
2000 The Cherry Picker Short film
2001 Kate & Leopold Actor in Advertisement Uncredited
2002 I'm With Lucy Peter
2003 Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star George Finney
2003 Hench at Home Terry Hench Television film
2004 Hair High Sarge (voice)
2005 Cinderella Man Max Baer
2005 Untitled David Diamond/David Weissman Project Dylan Television film
2006 Scary Movie 4 Tom
2006 Danika Randy Merrick
2006 For Your Consideration Talk Show Host
2007 Meet Bill Sergeant Uncredited
2008 Superhero Movie Wolverine Deleted scenes
2008 A Bad Situation Richard Video
2011 Company Peter New York Philharmonic production
2011 The Change-Up Valtan
2011 Bad Seed Bert
2012 The Three Stooges Mac
2013 Louder Than Words Eddie Stolzenberg
2013 If I Had Wings Geoff Taylor
2016 Equity Benji Akers
2016 Fair Market Value Lucas

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1987 Roomies Dale Episode: "The Ditch"
1987 Our House Douglas Episode: "The Children's Crusade"
1987 ABC Afterschool Specials Carl Warner Episode: "The Day My Kid Went Punk"
1988 Amen Bellman Episode: "A Sight Case of Murder (2)"
1988 Eisenhower and Lutz Waiter Episode: "Don't Change a Hair for Me"
1989 The Young and the Restless Greg
1989 Newhart Dirk 2 episodes
1989 Guns of Paradise Johnny Ryan 2 episodes
1990 Sydney Matt Keating 13 episodes
1990 Wings Matt Sargent Episode: "The Puppet Master"
1990 Murphy Brown Alex Episode: "Rootless People"
1991 Empty Nest Fred Episode: "The Man That Got Away"
1991 Baby Talk Bill Noonan Episode: "A Star Is Born"
1992 The Powers That Be Joe Bowman 4 episodes
1992 Red Dwarf Dave Lister Unaired television pilot
1993 Bodies of Evidence Thomas Wilkes Episode: "Trial by Fire"
1994–1995 Madman of the People B.J. Cooper 16 episodes
1995 Pride & Joy Greg Sherman 6 episodes
1998 Mad About You Gardner Mulloy Episode: "Weekend in L.A."
2000 Ally McBeal Dennis Martin Episode: "In Search of Pygmies"
2001 Sex and the City Ray King 2 episodes
2002 The Court Harlan Brandt
2003, 2016 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Deputy Marshal Andy Eckerson, Bobby D'Amico 2 episodes
2006 The Great Malonies Episode: "Pilot"
2006–2007 Boston Legal Jeffrey Coho 14 episodes
2007 Nip/Tuck Bob Easton Episode: "Carly Summers"
2008 Unhitched Jack "Gator" Gately 6 episodes
2009 Head Case Episode: "The Big Book"
2010 The Good Wife Duke Roscoe Episode: "Infamy"
2010 Damages Terry Brooke 4 episodes
2010 The League Craig O'Connor Episode: "Bro-Lo El Cuñado"
2010–2011 The Temp Life Eddie Chiapetta 3 episodes
2011 Suite 7 Alan Episode: "Superman"
2011–2012 Leap Year Andy Corvell 5 episodes
2011 Necessary Roughness Ray Santino 2 episodes
2011 Easy to Assemble Jebedehia Bateman 8 episodes
2011 The Mentalist Doc Dugan Episode: "The Redshirt"
2012 6 passi nel giallo Harry Chase Episode: "Visions of Murder"
2012, 2014 Hot in Cleveland Donald 2 episodes
2012 Elementary Jim Fowkes Episode: "The Rat Race"
2013 Body of Proof Dr. Derrick Malcolm Episode: "Committed"
2013–2014 The Michael J. Fox Show Bill 2 episodes
2013 Unforgettable Marco Lantini Episode: "A Moveable Feast"
2015–present UnREAL Chet Wilton

Awards and recognition

References

  1. ↑ "Craig Bierko Biography (1965?-)". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  2. ↑ "Births". The New York Times. 23 August 1964. Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  3. ↑ Lipton, Brian Scott (2004-12-02). "MODERN MAN". TheaterMania. Retrieved 2006-12-13.
    "My mother is Jewish, though she converted to Catholicism," Bierko says, "so we ended up being Christmas tree Jews. I grew up in Westchester with a lot of Jewish friends, and I feel very connected to that part of my heritage. When I read the play, it was the first time I'd seen that part of myself addressed."
  4. ↑ "Craig Bierko on Twitter". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  5. ↑ "The Acting Cycle". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  6. ↑ Craig Bierko biography
  7. ↑ "With Friends Like These" Archived January 21, 2015, at the Wayback Machine.
  8. ↑ "Craig Bierko". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  9. ↑ "Bierko Withdraws from To Be or Not To Be"
  10. ↑ "Luck Be a Lady": Guys and Dolls Returns to Broadway Feb. 5
  11. ↑ Adelaide's New Lament: Broadway's Guys and Dolls to Close June 14 Archived June 12, 2009, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. "http://www.playbill.com/news/article/181698-Injury-Delays-Craig-Bierkos-Arrival-in-Matilda-Chris-Hoch-Steps-in-as-Trunchbull-Sept-3" playbill.com, September 3, 2013
  13. ↑ Hetrick, Adam. playbill.com, November 19, 2013
  14. ↑ Andreeva, Nellie (22 July 2014). "Craig Bierko To Star In New Lifetime Series 'Un-Real', Michael Irby Joins 'The Lottery'". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
  15. ↑ "Craig Bierko: Sexiest Broadway Star". Retrieved 22 July 2016.
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