Bill Irwin
Birth Place: Santa Monica, CA, USA
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BIO
Bill Irwin is an actor, writer, director, and creator whose original stage works include The Regard of Flight (1982), Largely New York (1989), Fool Moon (1993), The Harlequin Studies (2003), and Mr. Fox: A Rumination (2004). The Regard of Flight transferred to Broadway in 1987. In 2013, he co-created and starred in the Off-Broadway production Old Hats with David Shiner and Nellie McKay; the show was revived in 2016 with Shiner and Shaina Taub. He also adapted Molière's Les Fourberies de Scapin into Scapin and performed the title role in multiple productions, including a 1997 engagement at Roundabout Theatre Company's Laura Pels Theatre.
Irwin's stage acting credits include Waiting for Godot (1988) alongside Steve Martin and Robin Williams, The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia? (2002), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (2005), the Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot (2009), Bye Bye Birdie (2009), King Lear (2011), and Endgame (2023). He also directed the Roundabout Theatre Company production of A Flea in Her Ear in 1998.
His film career began with Popeye (1980). Additional film credits include Eight Men Out (1988), My Blue Heaven (1990), Stepping Out (1991), Scenes from a Mall (1991), Hot Shots! (1991), Silent Tongue (1994), A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), The Laramie Project (2002), Lady in the Water (2006), Across the Universe (2007), Rachel Getting Married (2008), and Interstellar (2014), for which he voiced and puppetteered the robot TARS.
On television, Irwin has appeared in Northern Exposure, Sesame Street as Mr. Noodle, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Adventures of Pete & Pete, The Cosby Show, Saturday Night Live, 3rd Rock from the Sun, Law & Order, and Lights Out. Later television credits include A Gifted Man (2011), Monday Mornings (2013), Elementary (2014), Sleepy Hollow, Legion (2017–2019), Star Trek: Discovery (2020), and The Gilded Age (2022). He has also had a recurring role as Dr. Peter Lindstrom on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Irwin will return to Broadway in late 2026 in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of The Imaginary Invalid.
STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
Creator
Playwright
Playwright
Awards and Nominations
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Bill Irwin, Endgame
Bill Irwin, Endgame
Bill Irwin, On Beckett
Bill Irwin, Old Hats
Bill Irwin, King Lear
Bill Irwin, Waiting for Godot
Bill Irwin, Waiting for Godot
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Bill Irwin, Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
Bill Irwin, Texts for Nothing
Bill IrwinFool Moon
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Bill Irwin, Texts for Nothing
Bill IrwinLaregly/New York (The Further Adventures of a Post-Modern Hoofer)
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Bill IrwinLargely New York
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Bill Irwin, Largely New York
Bill Irwin, Largely New York
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Bill Irwin, Largely New York
Bill Irwin, Largely New York
Bill Irwin, Largely New York
Bill Irwin, Largely New York
Bill Irwin, Waiting for Godot
Bill IrwinThe Regard of Flight
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Bill Irwin
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Bill Irwin has appeared on Broadway in 13 shows.
Bill Irwin has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Endgame, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play (The Lortels) for Endgame, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for On Beckett, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Old Hats, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for King Lear , Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Waiting for Godot, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Waiting for Godot, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, Outstanding Solo Performance (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Texts for Nothing , Outstanding Lead Actor, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Fool Moon, Performance (Obie Awards) for Texts for Nothing, Outstanding Director, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Laregly/New York (The Further Adventures of a Post-Modern Hoofer), Special Awards (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Largely New York , Special Awards (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Largely New York, Unique Theatrical Experience (Drama Desk Awards) for Largely New York, Special Citation (New York Drama Critics Circle Awards) for Largely New York, Best Choreography (Tony Awards) for Largely New York, Best Direction of a Play (Tony Awards) for Largely New York, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Largely New York, Outstanding Featured Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Waiting for Godot, Outstanding Lead Actor, Touring Production or Prior to New York (Helen Hayes Awards) for The Regard of Flight and Special Citations for his inspired clowning (Obie Awards).
Bill Irwin has won several awards, including Outstanding Lead Performer in an Off-Broadway Play at the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Endgame. He received the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play for Edward Albee's Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?. Additionally, he was honored with a Performance Award at the Obie Awards for Texts for Nothing. Irwin also received Special Awards from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Largely New York, as well as a Special Citation from the New York Drama Critics Circle Awards for the same production.
Bill Irwin has written 7 shows including The Regard of Flight (Playwright), The Regard of Flight and The Clown Bagatelles (Creator), Largely New York (Playwright), Scapin (Adaptation), The Harlequin Studies (Playwright), Mr. Fox: A Rumination (Playwright), Old Hats (Co-Creator).
