Mandy Patinkin

Mandy Patinkin Headshot

Actor • Singer

Birth Date: November 30, 1952

Age: 71 years old

Birth Place: Chicago, Illinois

A polarizing talent who inspired fervent fans as well as devoted detractors, Mandy Patinkin broke through with his Tony-winning turn as Che, the narrator of the 1979 Broadway smash "Evita." He earned a Golden Globe nomination opposite Barbra Streisand in "Yentl" (1983), a Tony nomination for starring in the 1984 musical "Sunday in the Park with George" and cinematic immortality with the line "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die" in "The Princess Bride" (1987). After the latter film brought him mainstream fame, he appeared in major feature films including "Alien Nation" (1988) and "Dick Tracy" (1990) and earned an Emmy for his love-him-or-hate-him turn as the tormented, sharp-tongued Dr. Jeffrey Geiger on "Chicago Hope" (CBS, 1994-2000). Surprising many, he left the series after one season to focus on his recording and theatrical careers, returning to the series only near its end. Patinkin resurfaced on the hit crime drama "Criminal Minds" (CBS, 2005- ), but shocked viewers, critics and colleagues alike when he just stopped showing up to work after two seasons, adding to his career-long reputation as a difficult performer. Regardless of any baggage, he found a new home as Claire Danes' wise, protective CIA mentor on the critically acclaimed series "Homeland" (Showtime, 2011- ). Beloved as well as mocked for his intense, over-the-top performance style, Mandy Patinkin proved to be a passionate artist who followed his heart and instincts instead of playing the stardom game.

Born Nov. 30, 1952 in Chicago, IL, Mandel Bruce Patinkin came from a Russian and Polish Jewish family and was raised in conservative Judaism. Nicknamed "Mandy," he began singing as a child in synagogue and briefly attended the University of Kansas before transferring to Juilliard to study drama. Showing a temperamental side that would haunt him throughout his career, the high-strung, emotional Patinkin clashed with his teachers and dropped out to pursue the stage. Success came quickly, and he created the role of Mark, the gay lover of a cancer-stricken man in the Pulitzer Prize-winning "The Shadow Box." Singing remained his true passion, however, and he nabbed the role of the lifetime when he was cast in the new Andrew Lloyd Webber/Tim Rice Broadway musical, 1979's "Evita" as the narrator, a one-man Greek chorus named Che in honor of the famous revolutionary. The demanding role required Patinkin to expend considerable energy, and although some critics mocked the high tenor's fervently over-the-top performance, the actor's hard work paid off when he won a Tony Award for his efforts.

Patinkin segued to the screen with performances in a pair of high-profile films that made much of his own heritage. He played Tateh, a Jewish immigrant who finds success in America as a filmmaker in Milos Forman's sprawling but uneven adaptation of E.L. Doctorow's novel "Ragtime" (1981), and an accused spy with shades of Julius Rosenberg in another adaptation of the author's works, "Daniel" (1983). He notched a Golden Globe nomination and made his biggest impression that same year, however, opposite director-actress Barbra Streisand in "Yentl" (1983), playing Avigdor. Many fans were disappointed that Patinkin was not given the chance to sing in the film, but were pleased when he returned to Broadway the following year to star in the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical "Sunday in the Park with George," loosely inspired by the life of pointillist painter Georges Seraut. He earned a Tony nomination and a CableACE Award for his role, but his professional reputation soon took a big hit. Signed to star opposite Meryl Streep in Nora Ephron's autobiographical dramedy "Heartburn" (1986), Patinkin was fired by director Mike Nichols and replaced by Jack Nicholson.

Dogged by a growing reputation for being mercurial and erratic both on set and off, Patinkin returned to the stage to star in the bizarre sex change musical, 1987's "The Knife," which received poor reviews across the board. He chalked up a major triumph that same year, however, when he played a flamboyant, revenge-seeking swashbuckler in Rob Reiner's instant classic "The Princess Bride" (1987). His oft-stated delivery of the immortal line, "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die" stuck with audiences, who would go on to quote it back to him decades after the fact. He scored a cult success with the multilayered "Alien Nation" (1988), in which he played an extraterrestrial rookie cop paired with a bitter, alcoholic veteran (James Caan), as well as took the small, semi-musical role of 88 Keys, the pianist for the nightclub singer Breathless Mahoney (Madonna), in Warren Beatty's candy-colored hit "Dick Tracy" (1990). Off-screen, he recorded his self-titled debut album and began to tour, working up a set of songs that would comprise his second album, 1990's Dress Casual. He starred as the emotionally frozen uncle of a fierce-tempered orphan in the Broadway adaptation of "The Secret Garden" and continued to record and perform music, including a string of performances on "Late Show with David Letterman" (CBS, 1993- ).

Many were surprised when Patinkin next accepted a leading role on David E. Kelley's hospital drama "Chicago Hope" (CBS, 1994-2000), but his portrayal of the brilliant but caustic heart surgeon Dr. Jeffrey Geiger definitely made waves. Although some fans and critics complained that Patinkin was too hammy and, in a nod to the actor's vanity, sang too frequently, others adored his intensity. For his efforts, Patinkin won an Emmy, a Golden Globe nomination and the lion's share of attention. Despite his success, he left the show after one season to return to the gypsy life of guest spots, including a memorable role as Lisa Simpson's would-be husband on "The Simpsons" (Fox, 1989- ). He also focused on singing and touring, including his pet project, 1998's Yiddish album Mamaloshen. He earned an Emmy nomination for his guest spot on "The Larry Sanders Show" (HBO, 1992-98) and made high-profile appearances as the titular tragic hero of "The Hunchback" (TNT, 1997) and a kid-friendly comic villain in "The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland" (1999). "Chicago Hope" fans had reason to rejoice when Patinkin began an Emmy-nominated recurring run near the show's end, helping inject some much-needed adrenaline to the sagging series.

The actor returned to Broadway as the lead in a new 2000 production of "The Wild Party," but his performance divided critics and reportedly alienated his fellow cast members, who allegedly found him unprofessional and difficult. Still, Patinkin took home another Tony nomination and went on to spearhead a series of concerts celebrating the music of famed theater composer Stephen Sondheim. He returned to series television as Rube Sofer, a supernatural mentor to a newly dead grim reaper on the black comedy "Dead Like Me" (Showtime, 2003-05), but found a sturdier, more popular vehicle with "Criminal Minds" (CBS, 2005- ), where he essayed the part of Jason Gideon, an experienced but troubled FBI profiler. Although the gritty crime series was an immediate hit, Patinkin's difficult professional nature reared its head again and he shocked the industry - and infuriated many of his co-stars and colleagues - when he abruptly stopped showing up for work after two seasons. In several interviews given before he dropped out, Patinkin spoke of his dislike of televised violence and his difficulty reconciling his participation in the series. Although his intentions might have been noble, Patinkin ended up leaving the series in the messiest possible manner and several of his castmates would later give interviews that cast the actor in a less than flattering light.

Off-screen, Patinkin overcame many health issues, including a degenerative eye disease called keratoconus that led to him receiving two corneal transplants, and a successful battle with prostate cancer. As always, singing remained his greatest and most unwavering of passions, and he returned to musical performance, landing a starring role in the London-based musical "Paradise Found" in 2010. The following year, he made a triumphant return to television with his subtle characterization of Saul Berenson, the CIA's Middle-East Division Chief and mentor to Claire Danes' passionate, emotionally disturbed agent Carrie Mathison on "Homeland" (Showtime, 2011- ). The critically acclaimed hit, based on the Israeli series "Hatufim" ("Kidnapped"), was the perfect showcase for Patinkin's larger-than-life gravitas, and he and Danes enjoyed an almost father-daughter-like onscreen chemistry that proved to be one of the show's many assets. Between seasons of the series, Patinkin provided a voice for the English-language version of Hayao Miyazaki's animated hit "The Wind Rises" (2014) and played a supporting role in Zach Braff's comedy-drama "Wish I Was Here" (2014).

By Jonathan Riggs

Credits

Death and Other DetailsStream

Actor
Rufus Cotesworth
Series
2024
55%

The Magician's ElephantStream

Voice
Vilna Lutz
Movie
2023
65%

Benjamin FranklinStream

Voice
Benjamin Franklin
Movie
2022
78%

Benjamin Franklin - A Discussion with Mandy Patinkin and Michael Douglas

Self
Show
2022

Indivisible: Healing Hate

Narrator
Show
2022

Zerlina

Guest
Show
2020

Before You Know It

Actor
Mel Gurner
Movie
2019

Life Itself

Actor
Irwin Dempsey
Movie
2018

The Good FightStream

Actor
Hal Wackner
Series
2017
95%

Smurfs: The Lost Village

Voice
Papa Smurf
Movie
2017

WonderStream

Actor
Mr. Tushman
Movie
2017
86%

48 Hours Presents: The Spymasters - CIA in the Crosshairs

Narrator
Show
2016

Show People

Guest
Show
2016

Ali & Nino

Actor
Duke Kipiani
Movie
2016

La reina de España

Actor
Jordan Berman
Movie
2016

Spymasters: CIA in the CrosshairsStream

Narrator
Movie
2015

The Late Show With Stephen ColbertStream

Guest
Talk
2015

The Late Late Show With James CordenStream

Guest
Talk
2015

q

Guest
Show
2014

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

Wish I Was Here

Actor
Gabe
Movie
2014

The Wind Rises

Voice
Hattori
Movie
2013

Live! With Kelly and Michael

Guest
Talk
2012

Finding Your RootsStream

Guest
Reality
2012

CBS This Morning: Saturday

Guest
Show
2012

CBS This Morning

Guest
Show
2012

LIVE with Kelly

Guest
Talk
2011

HomelandStream

Actor
Saul Berenson
Series
2011
85%

Q With Jian Ghomeshi

Guest
Show
2011

Joffrey: Mavericks of American Dance

Narrator
Movie
2011

Jock

Voice
Basil
Movie
2011

The Whole Truth

Guest Star
Show
2010

George Stroumboulopoulos Tonight

Guest
Show
2010

Access Hollywood Live

Guest
Show
2010

Three Rivers

Guest Star
Show
2009

Late Night With Jimmy Fallon

Guest
Talk
2009

The One Show

Guest
Show
2006

Wonder Pets!Stream

Guest Voice
Groundhog
Series
2006

Everyone's Hero

Voice
Stanley
Movie
2006

Choking Man

Actor
Rick
Movie
2006

The Colbert Report

Guest
Talk
2005

Criminal MindsStream

Actor
Jason Gideon
Series
2005

NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323

Actor
Al Cummings
Movie
2004

Dead Like MeStream

Actor
Rube Sofer
Series
2003
84%

Jimmy Kimmel Live!Stream

Guest
Talk
2003

NTSB: The Crash of Flight 323

Actor
Al Cummings
Movie
2003

Piñero

Actor
Joseph Papp
Movie
2001

Boston Public

Guest Star
Series
2000

Strange Justice

Actor
Kenneth Duberstein
Movie
1999

The Adventures of Elmo in GrouchlandStream

Actor
Huxley
Movie
1999
77%

Lulu on the Bridge

Actor
Philip Kleinman
Movie
1998

Ellis Island

Narrator
Show
1997

The Hunchback

Actor
Quasimodo
Movie
1997

Men With Guns

Actor
Andrew
Movie
1997

Broken Glass

Actor
Dr. Harry Hyman
Movie
1996

Touched by an AngelStream

Guest Star
Series
1994

Chicago Hope

Actor
Dr. Jeffrey Geiger
Series
1994

Chicago Hope

Guest Star
Dr. Jeffrey Geiger
Series
1994

Squanto: A Warrior's Tale

Actor
Brother Daniel
Movie
1994

The Music of Chance

Actor
Jim Nashe
Movie
1993

Picket FencesStream

Guest Star
Series
1992
82%

Charlie RoseStream

Guest
Talk
1991

Impromptu

Actor
Alfred De Musset
Movie
1991

El Médico

Actor
Movie
1991

True Colors

Actor
John Palmeri
Movie
1991

The Doctor

Actor
Dr. Murray Kaplan
Movie
1991

Law & OrderStream

Guest Star
Series
1990

Dick TracyStream

Actor
88 Keys
Movie
1990
61%

The SimpsonsStream

Guest Voice
Hugh St. John Alastair Parkfield
Series
1989
85%

The House on Carroll Street

Actor
Cochran
Movie
1988

Alien Nation

Actor
Det. Samuel `'George'` Francisco
Movie
1988

The Princess BrideStream

Actor
Iñigo Montoya
Movie
1987
98%

American MastersStream

Narrator
Franchise
1986

Sunday in the Park With George

Actor
Georges Seurat / George
Show
1986

Castle in the SkyStream

Voice
Louis
Movie
1986
96%

Maxie

Actor
Nick
Movie
1985

DanielStream

Actor
Paul Isaacson
Movie
1983
43%

YentlStream

Actor
Avigdor
Movie
1983
68%

RagtimeStream

Actor
Tateh
Movie
1981
83%

Night of the Juggler

Actor
Allesandro the Cabbie
Movie
1980

CBS News Sunday Morning

Guest
News
1979

French Postcards

Actor
Sayyid
Movie
1979

TaxiStream

Guest Star
Alan
Series
1978

Great PerformancesStream

Music Performer
Franchise
1972

Masterpiece

Actor
Franchise
1971

60 MinutesStream

Guest
News
1968

The Dick Cavett ShowStream

Guest
Talk
1968

Today

Guest
News
1952

News aboutMandy Patinkin