Austin Pendleton - 2012 BTP Guest Artist

Austin Pendleton has led one of the most diverse careers on stage and television and in film of any industry professional today – and that includes as actor, director, playwright and teacher.  He began his career at the prestigious Williamstown Theatre Festival in Massachusetts, where he has acted and directed many times.  His Broadway credits are extensive and include roles in noted productions of The Diary of Anne Frank and Grand Hotelas well as the original productions of Oh Dad, Poor Dad..., Fiddler on the Roof, Hail Scrawdyke (Derwent Award),The Last Sweet Days of Isaac (Obie Award), The Sorrows of Frederick, Doubles, The Imposter, The Loop and Sophistry.  He was also fortunate to play the title roles in several Off-Broadway productions including Hamlet,Richard III, Uncle Vanya, Keats and Jeremy Rudge.  

Austin’s film credits include the memorable role of Frederick Larrabee in 1972’s What's Up Doc?, Trial and Error, The Associate, The Mirror Has Two Faces, Mr. and Mrs. Bridge, The Proprietor, Guarding Tess, The Fifteen Minute Hamlet, Catch-22 and Amistad.  He also voiced the character of Gurgle in the Disney animated film Finding Nemoand is currently scheduled to appear in at least three major motion pictures in 2012.  TV appearances include Frasierand another memorable turn: murderer William Giles, a recurring role in HBO’s acclaimed series Oz.

Austin is a playwright (Orson's Shadow, Booth and Uncle Bob), director (Spoils of War, The Runner Stumbles andElizabeth Taylor in The Little Foxes), teacher (HB Studio and The New School), and member of Chicago's Steppenwolf Ensemble.

Currently, there is a documentary film in production on Austin's life and work called The Austin Pendleton Project: Where The Work Is, co-directed by Gene Gallerano and David Holmes, which includes interviews with many people he has worked with throughout his career including Meryl Streep, Olympia Dukakis and Maggie Gyllenhaal.