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Dan Futterman

 
Actor: Dan Futterman
  • Born: Jun 08, 1967 in Silver Spring, Maryland
  • Occupation: Actor, Writer
  • Active: '90s-2000s
  • Major Genres: Drama, Comedy
  • Career Highlights: The Birdcage, Capote, A Mighty Heart
  • First Major Screen Credit: Class of '61 (1993)

Biography

Most fans got their first taste of Dan Futterman when he played the son of Robin Williams in 1996's The Birdcage. Futterman actually began his professional acting career in 1991, however, when he was cast in the stage production of Club Soda just two years after he graduated from Columbia University. He continued with other successful stage roles, like Louis Ironson in the Broadway production of Angels in America in 1993.

It was around this same time that Futterman began his on-screen career, appearing in the TV movie Daughters of Privilege, and in his first feature-film role with the critically acclaimed The Fisher King in 1991. Steady work continued to come until the 32-year-old actor was cast in a recurring role in the series Judging Amy in 1999. He stayed with the show until its run ended in 2005. It was around this time that another of Futterman's projects got off the ground as well; he'd been working on a screen adaptation of Gerald Clarke's book Capote, and it was in 2005 that the script's final product was released in theaters to a flood of success and praise. The film was nominated for five Oscars, and star Philip Seymour Hoffman took one home for Best Actor. Futterman had officially launched a successful career as a screenwriter, but he wasn't through working in front of the camera. In 2007, he signed on to play Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl in the film A Mighty Heart. Appearing opposite Angelina Jolie, Futterman portrayed the reporter, who was so tragically kidnapped and murdered while working in Pakistan, leaving his wife, Mariane (Jolie), to investigate his death. ~ Cammila Albertson, All Movie Guide
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Wikipedia: Dan Futterman
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Dan Futterman
Born June 8, 1967 (1967-06-08) (age 42)
Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
Spouse(s) Anya Epstein

Daniel Futterman (born June 8, 1967) is an American actor and screenwriter. Although he is known for several high-profile acting roles, including Val Goldman in the film The Birdcage and Vincent Gray on the CBS television series Judging Amy, he is also a screenwriter.[1] In 2005, he wrote the screenplay for the film Capote for which he received an Academy Award nomination and an Independent Spirit Award, Boston Society of Film Critics award, and Los Angeles Film Critics Association award.

Contents

Biography

Personal life

Futterman, one of three siblings,[2] was born in Brooklyn, New York,[3] to a lawyer father and a psychoanalyst mother.[3] He was raised in Conservative Judaism and grew up in an "intellectual family".[2][3][4] Futterman grew up in Larchmont, New York, and graduated from Mamaroneck High School in 1985 and Columbia University in 1989. Height: 5' 9" (1.75 m).

Futterman is married to television writer Anya Epstein (sister of Boston Red Sox General Manager and Executive Vice President Theo Epstein),[1] with whom he has two daughters: Sylvie (b. 2001) and Eve (b. 2005).[4]

Acting career

In 1991, Futterman landed his first stage role in the WPA production Club Soda. He also succeeded Joe Mantello as the voluble Louis Ironson in Tony Kushner's Tony award winning play Angels in America on Broadway in 1993. Futterman portrayed an American diplomat's son who runs into trouble in South Africa in Jon Robin Baitz's A Fair Country (1996). He portrayed a slick card player with big dreams in Dealer's Choice (1997).

Futterman's first film role was as a thug who menaces Robin Williams in The Fisher King (1991). He appeared as a teacher in the romantic comedy Breathing Room/'Til Christmas (1996). Far Harbor/Mr. Spreckman's Boat (also 1996) was an ensemble piece which featured Futterman as a smarmy doctor in an interracial relationship. Also in 1996 he played Val, the son of gay lovers and nightclub owners Albert and Armand in The Birdcage. He also appeared as the American half of a pair of twenty-something con artists in London in Shooting Fish (1997). He also had the leading role as a befudled young gay man seeking for his missing lover in the NYC-based award-winning drama/thriller Urbania. Futterman's most recent film is A Mighty Heart with Angelina Jolie; he portrays murdered journalist Daniel Pearl.[1]

Futterman has also made several guest appearances in primetime television. He costarred with Mickey Rourke as a teacher who clashes with a priest in Thicker Than Blood (TNT, 1998) and appeared alongside Ron Eldard and Martin Donovan in the World War II drama When Trumpets Fade (HBO, 1998). In 1999, Futterman made the leap to series TV, co-starring as the brother of the central character on the CBS series Judging Amy. Futterman also had a recurring role as the on-again, off-again boyfriend of a beautiful and gainfully-employed woman (Kiele Sanchez) on the WB drama Related. He also guest-starred in a four-episode story arc on the sitcom Will and Grace. Futterman was slated to appear in a recurring role on the new ABC drama Brothers & Sisters, also written by Jon Robin Baitz, but bowed out due to scheduling conflicts. He filmed an appearance alongside former "Birdcage" costar Calista Flockhart playing her fiancee, but that version of the pilot underwent massive rewrites and never aired. Previously he also played a metrosexual man (pastry chef Stephan) on Sex and the City.

Writing career

Futterman wrote the screenplay for Capote, and Futterman's friend Bennett Miller directed the film. Futterman and Miller graduated together from Mamaroneck High School and have been friends since 7th grade. The two recruited another old friend, actor Philip Seymour Hoffman, to star as Capote and began the process of getting the independent film made. Futterman and Hoffman were Executive Producers of the film. Futterman was recognized with several award nominations, including an Oscar nod for Best Adapted Screenplay.

In 2007, Futterman stated that he will focus on his writing career.[5][1] He is adapting the novel Everything Changes into a film script for Columbia Pictures.[4]

Futterman and Epstein are in development with HBO to write and executive-produce a half-hour drama series called "T" about a trans man going through gender transition; it is based on a story from the radio show This American Life, and Ira Glass and Alissa Shipp of This American Life will be executive producers as well.[6]

Filmography

As actor

As writer

References

External links


 
 
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Actor. Copyright © 2009 All Media Guide, LLC. All rights reserved.  Read more
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