BWW Profile: Liev Schreiber Emmy-Nominated Star of the Stage and Screen

In anticipation of the live 67th Annual Emmy Award broadcast on FOX on Sunday, September 20th, BWW will be spotlighting the Emmy nominated TV performances of some of Broadway's biggest stars. If you want to follow along and interact with all of BroadwayWorld's Emmy coverage, check out #BWWEmmys on Twitter!

The last time Liev Schreiber was nominated for an Emmy, the general public barely knew his name.

A Tony Award-winner and three-time nominee, Schreiber has a slew of stage credits to his name, justifying the Broadway community's claim on his talent.

It's hard to even know where to begin with this versatile actor. But it's worth noting first of all, that he seems to slip under the radar. Maybe because he has a name that 90% of people aren't sure how to pronounce (let's be real. You didn't know until you looked him up on Wikipedia), or maybe his shortage of major roles in blockbuster films. Whatever the reason, Schreiber is recognizable without being anyone's particular favorite- at least on the screen. On stage, that's a different story.

He made his mark on Broadway with his third Broadway show, GLENGARRY GLEN ROSS. Schreiber's portrayal of Richard Roma earned him critical acclaim and a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. Ben Brantley (yes, the hardball New York Times critic) raved about Schreiber's performance, calling him brilliant.

"As for the brilliant Mr. Schreiber, who plays the preening master salesman of the moment, it seems he can conquer pretty much any style of theater," Brantley wrote. "Having shone in Pinter, Shakespeare and LaBute, he now reinvents the Mamet pitchmeister."

His next Broadway endeavor again earned him another Tony nomination as he played Barry Champlain in TALK RADIO in 2007. Yet again, Brantley had nothing but the highest praise to bestow. Brantley called Schreiber, "the most lacerating portrait of a human meltdown this side of a Francis Bacon painting." I can barely fathom what that even means, but GOOD GRAVY! Looking at just his comments on Schreiber's performances, it looks like Brantley just hands out flowery compliments like candy.

There was, in fact, a time when it looked like Schreiber might be the new Kenneth Branagh Mr. Shakespeare, because he kept starring in one Shakespearean play after another. And bless his heart, he got caught in some kind of HAMLET trap and performed in two different versions of the show in rapid succession- one film version, as Laertes and one stage version as the title role. Too much death for two years, y'all. He received his third Tony nomination for A VIEW FROM THE BRIDGE in 2010.

Fun fact: that season was the season for screen actors to invade Broadway! Also nominated for TONY AWARDS* were Jude Law (HAMLET), Denzel Washington (FENCES- Won), Christopher Walken (A BEHANDING IN SPOKANE), Laura Linney (THE ROYAL FAMILY), Valerie Harper (LOOPED), Viola Davis (FENCES- Won), Sean Hayes (PROMISES PROMISES)- the list keeps going, y'all!- Kelsey Grammer (LA CAGE AUX FOLLES), and Catherine Zeta-Jones (A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC- Won).

Though we in the Broadway community take great pride in his stage triumphs, we can admit that Schreiber is widely known for his screen roles. He has been in many, though most of them are not major smash hits by any means. One of my favorite films of his was KATE AND LEOPOLD. As he played "the other guy," to Hugh Jackman's "the gorgeous guy," this film is not the best for showcasing Schreiber's talent, but it is still one of the best-known films he has appeared in. Second to Hugh Jackman yet again, he joined the X-MEN franchise in 2009 as Victor Creed/Sabertooth.

His first Emmy nomination came for his role in RKO 281 for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, for which he also received a Golden Globe nomination. Most recently of course, he has starred as the title character in the television series RAY DONOVAN, for which he has received two Golden Globe nominations. This year marks his first Emmy nod for the role. It should be noted, however, that he has yet to appear on an episode of LAW & ORDER. In light of this, can we really count him as part of the Broadway family?

Schreiber is in the camp of the super-educated actors whose original plan did not involve acting. He earned an MFA from the Yale School of Drama and attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London, all in the hopes of pursuing a screenwriting career. But one thing led to another... And he decided he'd rather pursue a profession known for iffy job security and constant personal judgment instead. I guess it was a no-brainer.

In total, Schreiber has a zillion screen credits, one Tony Award, two additional Tony nominations, two Golden Globe nominations, and two Emmy nominations. It seems about time that he took home another statue, don't you think? Maybe. But Of all years, this is a HARD year for Lead Actor in a Drama series. Just see these names: Jeff Daniels in the final season of THE NEWSROOM. Jon Hamm in the final season of MAD MEN. Kevin Spacey in HOUSE OF CARDS (for which he's already won this year's Golden Globe Award). I'd say any win besides them would be undoubtedly characterized as an upset. Can Schreiber do it? We'll see tomorrow night!

Watch some Liev Schreiber highlights below!

The 67th Primetime Emmy Awards telecast will air live coast-to-coast on Sunday, September 20th (8 PM ET/5 PM PT) on FOX from the Microsoft Theater L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. And be sure to visit BWW TV for live coverage of the 2015 Primetime EMMY AWARDS.

*That was the first Tonys ceremony I had ever seen. Needless to say, I was convinced Broadway was literally just a stopping place for has-been film stars.

Follow Sally on Emmys night for some sassy tweets: @BwayGinger