Danny Burstein

Danny Burstein (born June 16, 1964) is an American actor of stage and screen, who made his Broadway debut in 1992. He is a six-time Tony Award nominee; for The Drowsy Chaperone (2006), South Pacific (2008), Follies (2012), Golden Boy (2013), Cabaret (2014) and Fiddler on the Roof (2016). Burstein has also been nominated for 4 Drama Desk Awards (winning twice), 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards (winning 3 times), 2 Drama League Awards, a Grammy Award, an Astaire Award, a Lucille Lortel Award, an Ovation Award and a Drama-Logue Award (won). His other Broadway credits include The Seagull (1992), Saint Joan (1993), and Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010).

Burstein's television work includes a feature-length episode of the BBC sitcom Absolutely Fabulous (2002); appearing as different characters in six episodes of the NBC drama series Law & Order (1995–2015), and playing the recurring part of Lolly Steinman on the HBO series Boardwalk Empire (2010–11). His film appearances include Transamerica (2005), Deception (2008), The Family Fang (2015) and Indignation (2016).

Early life and education

Burstein was born in Mt. Kisco, New York, and was raised in New York City.^[1] Danny's biological parents separated when he was two months old. He was raised by his mother, Virginia (Vega), a painter, and his stepfather, Harvey Burstein, a professor of Greek philosophy.^[2][3][4] His mother, who is from Costa Rica, is Catholic and of Spanish descent, and his stepfather is Jewish.^[5][6][7] Burstein attended the High School of the Performing Arts and Queens College in New York City. He received an MFA in Acting from the University of California, San Diego in 1990. Burstein's first acting job was in the chorus of The Music Man at The Muny in St. Louis during college.^[8]

Career

On Broadway, Burstein's sixteen appearances, which have garnered him six Tony Award nominations, have included A Little Hotel on the Side (1992), Yakov in The Seagull (1992–93), in Saint Joan and Three Men on a Horse (both in 1993), Paul in Company (1995), 1st Officer William Murdoch in Titanic (1997–99), Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone (2006–07),^[9] Luther Billis in South Pacific (2008–10),^[10] Taxi Driver in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010–11), Tokio in "Golden Boy" (2012-2013),^[11] Max in the Sharr White play, The Snow Geese (2013),^[12] Herr Schultz in the 2014 revival of Cabaret (2014–15) and Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof (2015-2016).

Burstein's Off-Broadway credits include Talley's Folly opposite Sarah Paulson at The Roundabout Theater Company for which he was nominated for a Lucille Lortel Award and a Drama League Award; the world premieres of A. R. Gurney's Mrs. Farnsworth (2004), opposite Sigourney Weaver and John Lithgow, at The Flea Theater^[13] and Psych (2001) at Playwrights Horizons.^[14] He also starred in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change (1996 and 2002) at the Westside Theatre;^[15] as Ru/Floor Monitor/Pianist in Merrily We Roll Along (1994) at the York Theatre at St. Peter's Church;^[16]All in the Timing at the Houseman; as Daniel in Alan Menken and David Spencer's Weird Romance at the WPA; as Solomon in The Rothschilds and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, both at Circle in the Square; The United Way at Ensemble Studio Theater; and A Class Act at Manhattan Theater Club. He appeared in two concerts at Carnegie Hall: the Ira Gershwin centennial and as Steward in Sail Away, (1999).^[17][18] He appeared in the Encores! (New York City Center) staged concert productions of DuBarry Was a Lady (1996), as Romeo Skragg in Li'l Abner (1998), as Tailor-Merchant in The Boys from Syracuse (1997) and as Mister Mister in The Cradle Will Rock (2013).^{[18][19] [20]}

He played the role of Buddy Plummer in the Kennedy Center production of Follies, which ran from May 7, 2011 through June 19, 2011 at the Eisenhower Theater, co-starring with Bernadette Peters, Ron Raines, and Jan Maxwell.^[21] He reprised that role in the Broadway engagement of Follies at the Marquis Theatre from August 7, 2011 (in previews) through January 22, 2012, and continued with the production in its engagement at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California from May 3, 2012 through June 9, 2012.^[22] He won the Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical^[23] and was nominated for the Tony Award, Best Actor in a Musical.^[24]

Burstein can be heard on the cast recording of many of these musicals. Among his many recordings is the musical Sweet Little Devil in which he introduced three George Gershwin, Buddy DeSylva songs. The score originally went unrecorded in 1924 and was finally recorded by PS Classics, with Burstein playing the role of Sam in 2012.^[25]

Burstein's film roles include Duane Incarnate (2004),^[26] Transamerica (2005),^[27] Deception (2008),^[28] Nor'easter (2013), Trust, Greed, Bullets and Bourbon (2013), American Milkshake (2013),^[29] Autumn Whispers (2013), Affluenza (2014), Blackhat (2015), directed by Michael Mann, The Family Fang (2015), opposite Nicole Kidman and directed by Jason Bateman, Construction (2015),^[30] Indignation (2016), written and directed by James Schamus, and the upcoming The Sounding, written & directed by Catherine Eaton. His many television credits include all the Law & Order series, the BBC's Absolutely Fabulous (2002),^[31] the FX series Louie (2010),^[32] and The Good Wife. He was cast in HBO's Boardwalk Empire after director Martin Scorsese saw him in South Pacific, and after auditioning for three different characters, he landed the part of Lolly Steinman.^[33]

Burstein has lent his voice in a number of video games, including Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas, Manhunt 2, Grand Theft Auto IV, and Neverwinter Nights 2.

He made his Metropolitan Opera debut as Frosch in Die Fledermaus (2013-14 season).

Burstein serves on the Artists Committee of the Kennedy Center Honors and has been a guest lecturer teaching at many universities such as Yale, NYU, Juilliard, UCSD and Queens College.

Burstein plays the role of Tevye in the 2015 Broadway revival of Fiddler on the Roof, at the Broadway Theatre, directed by Bartlett Sher. The revival began in previews on November 20, 2015 and officially opened on December 20.^{[34] [35]}

Personal life

Burstein is married to actress Rebecca Luker^[36] and has two sons, Alexander and Zachary.^[37][38]

Awards and nominations

• He is the 2014 recipient of the Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors' José Ferrer Tespis Award.
• He was nominated for the 2012 Astaire Award for his performance in Follies.^[39]
• He was nominated for five Outer Critics Circle Awards winning three times for South Pacific, Follies, and Fiddler on the Roof.^[39]

References

External links

• Danny Burstein at the Internet Broadway Database
  
• Danny Burstein at the Internet Movie Database
• Danny Burstein at Internet Off-Broadway Database
• Burstein's official website
• Panarello, Joseph F. "Behind the Stage Door with Danny Burstein", July 6, 2006 (Broadway World.com)