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Reed Birney

Birth Place: Alexandria, VA, USA

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BIO

Reed Birney won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play in 2016 for The Humans and was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play in 2014 for Casa Valentina. Birney won a 2006 Obie Award for Sustained Excellence in Performance. He made his New York debut at Playwrights Horizons in 1976 in Gemini. He's also appeared there in Herself As Lust (1982), An Imaginary Life (1994), The Butterfly Collection (2000), Pen (2006), The Savannah Disputation (2009) and last season's Circle Mirror Transformation (Obie, Drama Desk awards). Other New York appearances include Tigers Be Still (Roundabout), Blasted (Soho Rep); Stuff Happens (The Public, Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble); Our Leading Lady (MTC); Bug (Barrow Street); Loose Knit, The Family of Mann (Second Stage); The Common Pursuit (Promenade); Volunteer Man (Rattlestick); Bedfellows (Bat Theatre); and Minor Demons, The Exact Center of the Universe (Century Center). Regional includes The Lisbon Traviata (Seattle Rep) and the world premiere of Neil Simon's Hotel Suite (Walnut Street). TV work includes episodes of "Gossip Girl," "Kings" and "My Generation."

Photos

STAGE CREDITS

Lunar Eclipse Lunar Eclipse
[Off-Broadway]
Second Stage Theater Production, 2025
George
Chester Bailey Chester Bailey
[Off-Broadway]
Irish Repertory Theatre New York Premiere Production, 2022
Dr. Philip Cotton
Nassim Nassim
[Off-Broadway]
Barrow Street Theatricals Off-Broadway Production, 2018
Performer
Guest Performer
A Woman of No Importance A Woman of No Importance
[Off-Broadway]
One Night Only Concert Presentation Production, 2017
Performer
1984 1984
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2017
O'Brien
Man from Nebraska Man from Nebraska
[Off-Broadway]
Second Stage Off-Broadway Premiere, 2017
Ken
The Humans The Humans
[Broadway]
Original Broadway Production, 2016
Erik Blake
The Humans The Humans
[Off-Broadway]
Roundabout Theatre Company Off-Broadway Production, 2015
Erik Blake
I'm Gonna Pray for You So Hard I'm Gonna Pray for You So Hard
[Off-Broadway]
World Premiere Atlantic Theater Production, 2015
David
Casa Valentina Casa Valentina
[Broadway]
Manhattan Theatre Club Production, 2014
Isadore/Charlotte
Taking Care of Baby Taking Care of Baby
[Off-Broadway]
MTC Production & U.S. Premiere, 2013
Performer
Picnic Picnic
[Broadway]
Roundabout Theatre Company Production, 2013
Howard Bevans
Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling
[Off-Broadway]
Atlantic Theater Company Production, 2011
Performer
A Small Fire A Small Fire
[Off-Broadway]
Playwrights Horizons Production, 2011
John Bridges
Circle Mirror Transformation Circle Mirror Transformation
[Off-Broadway]
Playwrights Horizons Production, 2009
Performer
The Savannah Disputation
[Off-Broadway]
2009
Father Murphy
Blasted Blasted
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 2008
Performer
Our Leading Lady
[Off-Broadway]
Original Off-Broadway Production, 2007
Gavin DeChamblay
an oak tree
[Off-Broadway]
2006
Father [Replacement]
Stuff Happens
[Off-Broadway]
2006
Tony Blair [Replacement]
Pen
[Off-Broadway]
2006
Jerry
Bug
[Off-Broadway]
2004
Dr. Sweet
The Butterfly Collection
[Off-Broadway]
2000
Performer
The Exact Center of the Universe
[Off-Broadway]
1999
Appleton Howell
The Exact Center of the Universe
[Off-Broadway]
1999
Appleton Howell
The Knee Desires the Dirt
[Off-Broadway]
1998
Performer
Minor Demons
[Off-Broadway]
1997
Deke Winters
Volunteer Man
[Off-Broadway]
1996
Performer
The Family of Mann
[Off-Broadway]
1994
Steve/Uncle Willy
An Imaginary Life
[Off-Broadway]
1993
Dr. Jeff Portnoy
Loose Knit
[Off-Broadway]
1993
Bob
A Murder of Crows
[Off-Broadway]
1992
Andy
Spare Parts
[Off-Broadway]
1990
Perry
Zero Positive
[Off-Broadway]
1988
Himmer
The Common Pursuit
[Off-Broadway]
1986
Martin Musgrove [Replacement]
The Flight of the Earls
[Off-Broadway]
1984
Timothy Strain
Winterplay
[Off-Broadway]
1983
Performer
The Master and Margarita
[Off-Broadway]
1978
Performer
Gemini
[Broadway]
1977
Randy Hastings
Gemini
[Off-Broadway]
1977
Randy Hastings
Gemini
[Off-Broadway]
1976
Performer
Actor, Lawyer, Indian Chief
[Chester, CT (Regional)]
World Premiere, 2002
Performer

Movies

Not a Pretty Picture
[ 1976 ] Fred
Four Friends
[ 1981 ] Louie
Chain Letters
[ 1985 ] Greg
Means and Ends
[ 1985 ] Ryan
Crimewave
[ 1985 ] Vic Ajax
You Are Here
[ 1997 ] Jack's Boss
A Perfect Murder
[ 1998 ] Merchant Prince #1
Uptown Girls
[ 2003 ] Executive
The Ten
[ 2007 ] Jim Stansel
Changeling
[ 2008 ] Mayor Cryer
Morning Glory
[ 2010 ] Governor Willis
Twelve Thirty
[ 2010 ] Martin
Girl Most Likely
[ 2012 ] Dr. Chalmers
Molly's Theory of Relativity
[ 2013 ] Asher, Zak's father
Adult World
[ 2013 ] Todd
In Your Eyes
[ 2014 ] Dr. Maynard
Jackrabbit
[ 2015 ] Paul Bateson
Mad Women
[ 2015 ] Richard, husband
Half the Perfect World
[ 2016 ] Peter
Occupy, Texas
[ 2016 ] Uncle Nolan
The Last Nazi
[ 2019 ] Harry
All the Little Things We Kill
[ 2019 ] Senator Gerald Hess
The Forty-Year-Old Version
[ 2020 ] J. Whitman
Lost Girls
[ 2020 ] Peter Hackett
The Hunt
[ 2020 ] Pop
Strawberry Mansion
[ 2021 ] Peter
Mass
[ 2021 ] Richard
Baby Ruby
[ 2022 ] Dr. Rosenbaum
The Menu
[ 2022 ] Richard

TV Shows

Gossip Girl
Mr. Prescott
Home Before Dark
Sylvester Lisko
House of Cards
Donald Blythe, Rep. Donald Blythe, VP Donald Blythe
Law & Order
Everett Brown
Law & Order: Criminal Intent
Fred Martz, A.D.A. Stillman
The Blacklist
Tom Connolly
Titans
Doctor Adamson

Awards and Nominations

Drama League Awards - 2017 - Distinguished Performance Award

Reed Birney, Man From Nebraska

The Lortels - 2017 - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

Reed Birney, Man From Nebraska

Drama League Awards - 2016 - Distinguished Performance Award

Reed Birney, The Humans

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2016 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Reed Birney, The Humans

The Lortels - 2016 - Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play

Reed Birney, The Humans


winner
Tony Awards - 2016 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Reed Birney, The Humans

Drama Desk Awards - 2015 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Reed Birney, I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard

Drama Desk Awards - 2015 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Reed Birney, You Got Older

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2015 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Reed Birney, I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2014 - Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play

Reed Birney, Casa Valentina

Drama League Awards - 2014 - Distinguished Performance Award

Reed Birney, Casa Valentina

Tony Awards - 2014 - Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play

Reed Birney, Casa Valentina

Drama Desk Awards - 2013 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Reed BirneyUncle Vanya


winner
Drama Desk Awards - 2011 - Special Award

Reed Birney, Reed Birney

Outer Critics Circle Awards - 2011 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Reed Birney The Dream of the Burning Boy


winner
Obie Awards - 2010 - Performance

Reed Birney, Circle Mirror Transformation

Drama Desk Awards - 2008 - Outstanding Actor in a Play

Reed Birney, Blasted


winner
Obie Awards - 2006 - Sustained Excellence of Performance

Reed Birney


winner
Obie Awards - 2004 - Performance

Reed Birney, Bug

Videos

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'Lunar Eclipse,' a new play by Donald Margulies, makes its world premiere at Shakespeare & Company. Directed by James Warwick, the play features Karen Allen and Reed Birney as a long-married couple reflecting on life and time during a lunar eclipse.
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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How many Broadway shows has Reed Birney been in?

Reed Birney has appeared on Broadway in 5 shows.

How many West End shows has Reed Birney been in?

Reed Birney has not appeared in the West End.

What awards has Reed Birney been nominated for?

Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Man From Nebraska, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play (The Lortels) for Man From Nebraska, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for The Humans, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Humans, Outstanding Lead Actor in a Play (The Lortels) for The Humans, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Humans, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for You Got Older, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for I'm Gonna Pray For You So Hard, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Casa Valentina, Distinguished Performance Award (Drama League Awards) for Casa Valentina, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for Casa Valentina, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Uncle Vanya, Special Award (Drama Desk Awards) for Reed Birney, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for The Dream of the Burning Boy, Performance (Obie Awards) for Circle Mirror Transformation, Outstanding Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Blasted, Sustained Excellence of Performance (Obie Awards) and Performance (Obie Awards) for Bug.

What awards has Reed Birney won?

Reed Birney has won several awards, including: Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Play (Tony Awards) for The Humans; Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play (Drama Desk Awards) for Casa Valentina; a Special Award (Drama Desk Awards) for Reed Birney; Performance (Obie Awards) for Circle Mirror Transformation; Sustained Excellence of Performance (Obie Awards); and Performance (Obie Awards) for Bug.

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