Nathan Lane
First Standings Revealed for the 2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards (May 22, 2026)
Photos: Inside the 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards (May 22, 2026)
Exclusive: Billy Eichner Looks Back on Theater-Filled Childhood in New Audio Memoir (May 19, 2026)
BIO
Lane made his professional theatre debut in 1978 in an off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Nathan Lane (Willy Loman) made his Broadway debut in the 1982 revival of Noël Coward’s Present Laughter as Roland Maule (Drama Desk nomination), directed by and starring George C. Scott. Followed by Merlin, The Wind in the Willows, Some Americans Abroad, On Borrowed Time, Guys and Dolls (Tony nomination, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards), Laughter on the 23rd Floor, Love! Valour! Compassion! (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards), A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards), The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Producers (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards and the Olivier Award in London), The Play What I Wrote, The Frogs, The Odd Couple, Butley, November, Waiting For Godot (Outer Critics Circle nomination), The Addams Family (Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle nominations and the Drama League Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theater Award), The Nance (Tony and Drama Desk nominations, Outer Critics Circle and the Drama League Distinguished Performance Awards), It’s Only A Play, The Front Page (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle nominations), Angels in America (Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle Awards), Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus, Pictures From Home, and the Goodman Theater production at BAM of The Iceman Cometh. He has been seen Off-Broadway in many plays and in 1992 received the Obie for Sustained Excellence of Performance, including Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Common Pursuit, The Lisbon Traviata (Drama Desk, Lucille Lortel Awards), Lips Together, Teeth Apart, Love! Valour! Compassion! (Obie Award), Measure for Measure directed by Joe Papp (St. Clair Bayfield Award), The Film Society, Mizlansky/Zilinsky or Schmucks, She Stoops to Conquer, Trumbo, and Do Re Mi at Encores. He has also received the John Willis Lifetime Achievement Award from the Theater World Awards, the Hal Prince Lifetime Achievement Award from the Drama Desk Awards, the Sondheim Award from the Signature Theater, and the Eugene O’Neill Monte Cristo Award.
On television he has been seen in numerous guest roles including “Frasier,” “Mad About You,” “Sex and the City,” “30 Rock,” “Absolutely Fabulous,” “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” “Difficult People,” and “The Blacklist” as well as recurring roles on “The Good Wife” and “Modern Family.” He received critical acclaim as F. Lee Bailey in “The People vs. OJ,” Det. Lewis Michener in “Penny Dreadful: City of Angels,” and as Dominick Dunne in “Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.” He was most recently seen as Bunny Schneiderman in “Mid-Century Modern,” Ward McAllister in “The Gilded Age” and as Teddy Dimas in “Only Murders in the Building” for which he received his first Primetime Emmy Award after a record breaking eight nominations in the guest actor category. He has also received two Daytime Emmy Awards and the People’s Choice Award.
He has appeared in 40 films, including Ironweed, Frankie and Johnny, The Lion King, The Birdcage, Mouse Hunt, Stuart Little, Love’s Labour’s Lost, Nicholas Nickleby, The Producers and Beau Is Afraid. He has received two Golden Globe nominations, an American Comedy Award, a SAG Award, and a Critics Choice Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2006 he received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and in 2008 he was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame.
Photos
STAGE CREDITS
Productions
Writing
Movies
[ 1987 ] Harold Allen
[ 1989 ] Charlie Sorrell
[ 1990 ] Baw - The Waponi Advance Man
[ 1991 ] Tim
[ 1991 ] Wally Thurman
[ 1993 ] Desk Sergeant
[ 1993 ] Ed Chapman
[ 1994 ] Timon
[ 1995 ] Father Dan
[ 1996 ] Albert
[ 1997 ] Ernie Smuntz
[ 1999 ] Phil Webster
[ 1999 ] Snowbell
[ 2000 ] Costard
[ 2000 ] Irving Mansfield
[ 2000 ] Kirk Stans
[ 2000 ] Preed
[ 2002 ] Mysterious Disco Man
[ 2002 ] Snowbell
[ 2002 ] Vincent Crummles
[ 2004 ] Richard Levy the Driven
[ 2004 ] Spot, Scott
[ 2005 ] Max Bialystock
[ 2008 ] Art Crumb
[ 2009 ] Hamegg
[ 2010 ] Uncle Albert
[ 2012 ] Brighton
[ 2013 ] Carl Kapin
[ 2016 ] Dr. Petrov
[ 2016 ] Herschel
[ 2017 ] Harold
[ 2017 ] Roy Cohn
[ 2017 ] Roy Cohn
[ 2023 ] Oracle of the Sun
[ 2024 ] Luno
TV Shows
Joseph Pinoni
George
Pepper Saltzman
Teddy Dimas
Spot Helperman, Scott Leadready
Bing Shalimar, Herman in Fantasy Sequence
Clarke Hayden
Phillip Cross
Dominick Dunne
[ 2025-2025 ] Bunny Schneiderman
[ 2022-2025 ] Ward McAllister
[ 2023-2025 ] Yorbo (voice)
[ 2021-2025 ] Teddy Dimas
[ 2021-2025 ] Teddy Dimas
Awards and Nominations
Nathan Lane, Death of a Salesman
winner
Nathan Lane, Death of a Salesman
Nathan Lane, Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman
winner
Nathan Lane, Angels in America
winner
Nathan Lane, Angels in America
winner
Nathan Lane, Angels in America
winner
Nathan Lane, Angels in America
Nathan Lane, The Front Page
Nathan Lane, The Front Page
Nathan Lane, The Front Page
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Nathan Lane, The Nance
Nathan Lane, The Addams Family
winner
Nathan Lane
Nathan Lane, The Addams Family
Nathan Lane, Waiting for Godot
winner
Nathan Lane, The Producers
winner
Nathan Lane, The Producers
winner
Nathan Lane, The Producers
winner
Nathan Lane, The Producers
winner
Nathan Lane, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
winner
Nathan Lane, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
winner
Nathan Lane, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum
winner
Nathan Lane, Love! Valour! Compassion!
winner
Nathan Lane, Love! Valour! Compassion
winner
Nathan Lane, Love! Valour! Compassion!
Nathan Lane, Love! Valour! Compassion!
winner
Nathan Lane, Guys and Dolls
winner
Nathan Lane
winner
Nathan Lane , Guys and Dolls
Nathan Lane , Guys and Dolls
winner
Nathan LaneThe Lisbon Traviata
Nathan Lane, The Lisbon Traviata
Nathan Lane , Lisbon Traviata
Nathan Lane, Lisbon Traviata
Nathan Lane, The Lisbon Traviata
Nathan Lane, Present Laughter
Videos
Video: Nathan Lane Explains How DEATH OF A SALESMAN Achieves Intimacy at the Winter Garden
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-05-05 09:08:42
Video: DEATH OF A SALESMAN Celebrates Opening Night On Broadway
by A.A. Cristi - 2026-04-10 18:46:47
Video: Nathan Lane Was 'Mesmerized' Seeing DEATH OF A SALESMAN as a Kid
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-04-01 11:08:14
Video: Nathan Lane Slams 'Stupidity' of Timothée Chalamet’s Opera and Ballet Comments
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-03-12 15:14:19
Video: Lorne Michaels Spotlighted in New Trailer for LORNE Documentary
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-03-05 10:11:24
Video: Watch the Trailer for New HBO Two-Part Mel Brooks Documentary
by Josh Sharpe - 2026-01-08 12:15:42
Video: Kristin Chenoweth, Darren Criss & More in FINDING YOUR ROOTS Season 12 Trailer
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-10-08 14:27:28
Video: HBO Previews Season 3 Finale of THE GILDED AGE in Tense New Sneak Peek
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-08-04 15:21:53
Video: Morgan Spector Recalls Breakout Role in Broadway's A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-31 11:11:30
Video: THE GILDED AGE Stars Denée Benton and Louisa Jacobson Talk Season 3, Working with Broadway Legends & More
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-21 13:12:52
Video: Audra McDonald, Denée Benton, & More Discuss Portrayal of Black Elite in THE GILDED AGE
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-17 15:20:43
Video: See Andrea Martin as Madame Dashkova in New Sneak Peek of THE GILDED AGE
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-07-07 16:40:07
Video: THE GILDED AGE Stars Morgan Spector and Carrie Coon Discuss Theater's Impact on the Series
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-06-17 13:56:05
Video: Jean Smart Talks 'Terrifying' Prospect of Performing a One-Woman Show
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-06-09 14:17:08
Video: How Jean Smart Learned Her Lines for One-Woman Show CALL ME IZZY
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-06-03 12:27:33
Video: Nathan Lane, Matt Bomer, and Nathan Lee Graham Sing CHICAGO in MID-CENTURY MODERN Clip
by Josh Sharpe - 2025-05-06 10:29:00
News
by Team BWW - May 22, 2026
The first standings have been revealed for the 2026 Theater Fans' Choice Awards. The Theater Fans' Choice Awards honor and celebrate the best of New York Theater - as decided by the most important critics, the audience at large.
by Bruce Glikas - May 22, 2026
The Outer Critics Circle announced the winners of the 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards, and celebrated the winners of the 2025-2026 Broadway and Off-Broadway season at a ceremony. Check out photos here!
by Josh Sharpe - May 19, 2026
In his new audio memoir, Billy Eichner looks back on his childhood, filled with movies, music, and Broadway musicals. BroadwayWorld caught up with the performer to discuss his experience working on the book and what he hopes to do next.
by Ben Waterhouse - May 19, 2026
Tony Nominations were announced earlier this month Tuesday, providing many shows, particularly new musicals, with a shot in the arm, as many had been previously struggling.
by Josh Sharpe - May 18, 2026
Tony Award-winner Bette Midler will voice the Fairy Godmother in Steps, a new animated reimagining of Cinderella from Netflix. Midler joins a cast that includes current Tony Award nominee Stephanie Hsu, Amanda Seyfried, and Ali Wong.
by Marissa Faith Curley - May 16, 2026
On Gold Derby’s Awards Magnet podcast, Nathan Lane mused over the possibility of a revivial for The Producers and he has one man in mind to take on Max Bialystock who would make it worthwhile - Jack Black.
by Nicole Rosky - May 17, 2026
The best of the New York City theatre community was at Town Hall for the 70th Annual Drama Desk Awards, the theater award honoring excellence across all of New York City’s theatrical landscape. Check out a full list of winners here.
by Nicole Rosky - May 15, 2026
The best of Broadway and off-Broadway were on hand at the Ziegfeld Ballroom to celebrate 92nd Annual Drama League Awards, hosted by Emmy Award winner Frank DiLella. Check out a full list of winners here.
by Nicole Rosky - May 15, 2026
Just yesterday, the 2026 Tony Award nominees gathered at the Sofitel New York to meet the press for the first time and BroadwayWorld was there for the special day. Check out photos of the 2026 nominees here!
by A.A. Cristi - May 14, 2026
Goodman Theatre announced the full cast for ICEBOY!, a new musical comedy starring Emmy winners Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman, alongside Grey Henson, Sarah Stiles, and Cedric Yarbrough, directed by Marc Bruni.
by A.A. Cristi - May 13, 2026
GALECA: The Society of LGBTQ Entertainment Critics announced nominations for the 4th annual Dorian Theater Awards, with SCHMIGADOON! earning nine nods and THE LOST BOYS close behind with eight nominations.
by Nicole Rosky - May 14, 2026
Fresh off his breakout turn on HBO’s The Gilded Age, Ben Ahlers is stepping onto the Broadway stage for the very first time- and doing it in one of the season’s most talked-about revivals. Ahlers checked in with BroadwayWorld to tell us about about his journey in the show so far, living up to the hype, and so much more.
by Josh Sharpe - May 16, 2026
The nominations are here for the 2026 Tony Awards. This year, a high number of titles have onscreen counterparts, and we have rounded up how to watch these versions at home, from The Lost Boys to Schmigadoon!
by Nicole Rosky - May 23, 2026
The 2026 Tony nominees are already winners... literally. For some, this marks their first nomination, but others have already won Tony Awards in seasons past. We took a look at which nominees have won at least a Tony or two (or four!) - amongst them, they've gathered a total 64 awards.
by Nicole Rosky - May 11, 2026
The Outer Critics Circle (OCC), the official organization of writers on New York theatre for out-of-town, national, and digital news publications, has just announced the winners of the 2026 Outer Critics Circle Awards. We have the full list.
by Bruce Glikas - May 8, 2026
The New York Drama Critics' Circle celebrated the 2025-2026 season with honors for Little Bear Ridge Road, Ragtime, Cats: The Jellicle Ball, and more. BroadwayWorld was inside the event for an exclusive look at the evening’s honorees and attendees. Check out the photos!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 7, 2026
In its 12th year, more than 200 young NYC public school theatre artists gathered at Broadway’s Schoenfeld Theatre to make their Broadway debuts at The 2026 Shubert Foundation High School Theatre Festival. See photos and videos!
by Sidney Paterra - May 9, 2026
The results of the 2026 Tony races are very much still up in the air, but many of this season's nominated revivals have been Tony-tested before. How did they fare? The past may not always be the best indicator of the future, but accolades of years past provide interesting insight nonetheless. Check out a complete list of who was nominated, in what categories, and most importantly... if they won!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - May 6, 2026
Ruben Santiago-Hudson, David Stone, Tracy Letts and David Rockwell will present the Honorary Awards at the 92nd Annual Drama League Awards, taking place at The Ziegfeld Ballroom.
by Stephi Wild - May 5, 2026
Theater Resources Unlimited and the League of Professional Theatre Women will present a Town Hall discussion on gender equality in theater, hosted at Polaris North Studio in NYC with simultaneous streaming available.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Nathan Lane has appeared on Broadway in 27 shows.
Nathan Lane has appeared on London's West End in 2 shows.
Nathan Lane's first West End show was The Producers which opened in 2004
Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Death of a Salesman, Outstanding Lead Performer in a Broadway Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Death of a Salesman, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman, Best Featured Actor in a Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Angels in America, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Angels in America, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Angels in America, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Angels in America, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Front Page, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Front Page, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Front Page, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Nance, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The Nance, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Nance, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Nance, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Addams Family, Distinguished Achivement in Musical Theatre (Drama League Awards), Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Addams Family, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Waiting for Godot, Best Actor in a Musical (Olivier Awards) for The Producers, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Producers, Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Producers, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Producers, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Best Actor - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Outstanding Featured Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Outstanding Featured Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion, Best Actor - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Best Off Broadway Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion!, Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Guys and Dolls, Sustained Excellence of Performance (Obie Awards), Best Actor - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Guys and Dolls , Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Guys and Dolls, Outstanding Lead Actor (The Lortels) for The Lisbon Traviata, Best Actor - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Lisbon Traviata, Best Actor - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Lisbon Traviata , Best Actor - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Lisbon Traviata , Outstanding Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for The Lisbon Traviata and Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Present Laughter.
Nathan Lane has received numerous accolades throughout his career, including the following awards: - Best Featured Actor in a Play (BroadwayWorld Awards) for Angels in America - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Angels in America - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Angels in America - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Angels in America - Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre (Drama League Awards) - Best Actor in a Musical (Olivier Awards) for The Producers - Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for The Producers - Outstanding Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Producers - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for The Producers - Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - Best Actor - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum - Outstanding Featured Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion - Outstanding Featured Actor - Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion! - Best Actor - Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Love! Valour! Compassion! - Outstanding Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Guys and Dolls - Sustained Excellence of Performance (Obie Awards) - Best Actor - Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Guys and Dolls - Outstanding Lead Actor (The Lortels) for The Lisbon Traviata.
Nathan Lane has written 1 shows including The Frogs (Bookwriter).
Videos
