James Riordan (actor)
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James Riordan(born February 15, 1969, inCleveland,Ohio) is a New York City-basedBroadway,film and television actor.
Theatre work
[edit]Broadway
[edit]On Broadway James Riordan played Frank Whitworth inJerusalemwithMark Rylance,and inThe Elephant ManwithBilly Crudup,Kate BurtonandRupert Graves.TheNew York Daily Newsreview ofThe Elephant Mancalled his performance "wonderful" in a "variety of roles"[1]and Curtain UP said, "The supporting cast is also well chosen, with especially good work fromJack Gilpin,and James Riordan ".[2]James Riordan's other Broadway credits are "Present Laughter" withKevin Kline[3]Dance of DeathstarringHelen MirrenandIan McKellenand the comedyNoises OffbyMichael Frayn,[4]
Off-Broadway
[edit]The Countess
[edit]Off-Broadway James Riordan portrayedVictorianart criticJohn RuskininThe Countessby Gregory Murphy at both the Samuel Beckett and later theLamb's TheatreTheater.[5]The New York Timescalled the performance "excellent".[6]Time Outwrote "Riordan and Woodward have a thrilling, tightly wound confidence on stage. These are two heavyweight performances."[7]TheaterMania wrote "James Riordan gives a stunning performance in what may well be the play's most difficult role. Ostensibly playing the villain, Riordan gives his Ruskin dignity and vulnerability. He is, in the end, as much a victim as Effie. As the plot unfolds, you can see the character's arrogance as well as his shame";[8]andThe Star-Ledgersaid "Riordan is impressive as Ruskin, expansive to the point of tears as the critic describes a work of art that he finds beautiful, yet curiously chill when he encounters genuine emotions."[9]The New York Presswrote of the performance "What impresses itself most on the mind and memory are the two central performances. – I fully appreciated the artistry in Mr. Riordan's performance as the famous art critic, evincing in the play's opening moments a kind of scholarly preening that is neither ridiculous nor unattractive, a lecture-hall combination of magnanimity and authority that keeps us wondering, long afterward, precisely what we're seeing, even if we already know the story. There's a good deal of grace and nuance in his portrait of Ruskin as a man who is moved almost to the point of tears by art, for whom Beauty and the idea of it are two separate things. And there's a chilling accuracy in the way he manages to capture the difference between the way certain men behave with their wives, and the way they talk about them with other men. But more than petulance, what we hear in his voice when he speaks of 'what she was once' and 'what she might be' is romance for the past and the romance of ideal possibility, and we see a man who overvalues both."[10]Clive BarnesofThe New York Postwrote "The play is nicely acted, with James Riordan as an appropriately smug and testy Ruskin."[11]
Lovers
[edit]Also Off-Broadway, Riordan appeared in the revival ofBrian Friel'sLovers;a pair of related one act plays "Winners" and "Losers".The New York Timescalled the production "expertly acted".[12]The Associated Presswrote "Riordan is intense and funny as Andy. Brazda and Riordan share a couple of perfectly timed farcical scenes, hastily trying to make love while he frenetically shouts poetry so her mother won't ring that bell"[13]The Wall Street Journalwrote of the performance "What you see inLoversare Mr. Friel's small-town characters, realized so fully (by Mr. Riordan and Ms. Salata in particular) that they give the impression of having been played by ordinary people. Don't be fooled, though: Mr. Barr's cast knows just what to do with Mr. Friel ".[14]The New York Poststated "Kati Brazda and James Riordan are winning as the lovers in" Losers "[their] fumbling expressions of middle-aged lust are hilarious, especially when Hanna abandons all restraint and climbs atop her lover as if he were a mountain to be scaled. The expertly comic performances add to the merriment. All told," Losers "makes winners of its audience."[15]Time Outwrote "Loversis beautifully rendered by a strong ensemble (particularly Riordan as the resigned Andy and Salata as the Fiery Mag). "[16]DC Theater Scene wrote, "Riordan, in the Carney role, has everything under control. He's comfortable in the period clothes, he's got the Northern Ireland accent down pat, and he's able to be sinister and commanding one minute, and the oaf complete with pratfalls the next. A lovely performance that drives this family comedy/drama from start to finish,"[17]and CurtainUp said, "Riordan is especially engaging, nimbly shifting between monologues and active romps with Hanna. He battles hilariously to get Hanna away from Cissy (Cynthia Darlow), her controlling, overly religious mother. It will come as no surprise that the old battle axe is the winner in this scenario."[18]
Other Off-Broadway work includes a revival of the rarely performed "DonogoobyJules Romainsat the Mint Theater company. Reviewing the production,John Simonwrote "most of the actors do well, notably James Riordan as Lamendin."[19]Talkin’ Broadway wrote, "Riordan plays our (anti)hero, Lamendin, to comic perfection as the character metamorphoses from a sad sack to a possessed megalomaniac."[20]Time Outsaid, "The first act is witty, but wordy and meandering, and for much of it, Riordan appears to be biding his time until he can feast on the meatier delights of the second,"[21]and Broadway World wrote, "It's to the great credit of the spirited company of actors, projection designers and French playwright Jules Romains himself, that the Mint Theater Company's new production ofDonogooalways feels like something wildly funny is just about to happen. Riordan has his amusing moments as the befuddled everyman who grows drunk with power but the whole company seems to be aching for a chance to let loose. "[22]CurtainUp wrote: “Riordan handles his Lemandin's many permutations without missing a line. He segues smoothly from insecure sadsack to audacious scoundrel.”[23]
Riordan also appeared withDavid Eigenbergin the New York premiere ofNeal Bell's surrealist playReady for the Riverat the Home For Contemporary Theater and Art.The New York Timeswrote "the play is superbly acted"[24]andThe Village Voicesaid "James Riordan is a serio-comic standout as the motel keeper haunted by a thrifty ghost."[25]
Regional Theater
[edit]During the summer of 2022, James Riordan appeared withTimothy Busfieldin the world premier of a play co-authored byTom Hanks"Safe Home" The play was based on a series of short stories by Hanks. The play was performed at the Shadowlands Theater Company in Upstate NY. TheSullivan County Democratcalled the production "Triumphant" and wrote: "James Riordan steals the show quite a few times as a pissed off Cleveland fan in 1924 who had the audience chortling, and as Virgil Buell’s best friend Bud, a man dealing with the traumatic memories of war, and what it can make a man do" "[26]Broadway Worldwrote: "Especially versatile in various roles -- including war veteran, baseball fan, and Greek diner owner -- is James Riordan"[27]
Television
[edit]On television, he appeared as Franklin Werner in theHBOseriesBoardwalk Empire,in a recurring role on the final season of the television seriesDamages,and in recurring roles on the daytimesoap operasAs the World TurnsandAll My Children.He has appeared multiple times onLaw & Order,Law & Order: Special Victims UnitandLaw & Order: Criminal Intent.James Riordan also played "James Brett" in the 2012 ABC Studios television pilotDark Horsedirected byRoland Emmerich.In 2014, he appeared as "Ian Wright" on the CBS television seriesThe Blacklist.
Riordan's film credits includeThe Hoaxdirected byMy Life as a DogdirectorLasse HallstromandChoose.[28]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Director | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
2012 | Dark Horse | James Brett | Roland Emmerich | TV film |
2017 | The Post | Vice Admiral Joseph Francis Blouin | Steven Spielberg |
Television
[edit]Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | One Life to Live | Wayman Link | Episode #1.5742 |
1991 | Loving | ADA Mark Winter | Episode #1.2173 |
2000 | Wonderland | Francis Polk | Episode: "20/20 Hindsight" |
2006 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Reuben | Episode: "6,741" |
2004–2007 | Law & Order | Miles Foster, Jeremy Pollack, Roger Mallory | 2 episodes |
2009 | All My Children | Judge Edward Pearson | 8 episodes |
2009 | Gossip Girl | Coop | Episode: "Southern Gentlemen Prefer Blondes" |
2007–2010 | As The World Turns | Dr. Greg Hearn/Dr. Daniel Hearn | 15 episodes |
2012 | Damages | British Interviewer | 3 episodes |
2013 | White Collar | Everett | Episode: "The Original" |
2013 | Boardwalk Empire | Franklin Werner | Episode: "New York Sour" |
2013 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Brett Landau | Episode: "October Surprise" |
2014 | The Blacklist | Ian Wright | Episode: "Milton Bobbit (No. 135)" |
2015 | Public Morals | Dandy Lanier | Episode: "Starts with a Snowflake" |
2016 | Person of Interest | Dr. Aaron Wendell | Episode: "6,741" |
2016 | Limitless | Dr. Howard Gilroy | Episode: "Stop Me Before I Hug Again" |
2018 | Bull | Judge Wentworth | Episode: "Separation" |
2019 | Blue Bloods | Chris Johnson | Episode: "Two-Faced" |
2021 | Halston | Henry Bissett | Episode: "Becoming Halston" |
2022 | The Gilded Age | Dr. Ambrose Lewis | recurring Season 2 |
References
[edit]- ^Howard Kissel (April 15, 2001)."Inspired Performances Add to Play's Beauty".Daily News.New York.
- ^Elyse Sommer (2002)."Review: The Elephant Man".CurtainUp.
- ^"James Riordan".
- ^"James Riordan".RetrievedAugust 4,2012.
- ^"James Riordan".Lortel Archives.RetrievedAugust 4,2012.
- ^"Theater Review: A Critic Who Takes His Work Home".The New York Times.RetrievedAugust 4,2012.
- ^Barbara and Scott Siegel (May 12, 2000)."Review: The Countess".Theater Mania.
- ^"The Countess | TheaterMania".theatermania.
- ^"News Archives | Star-Ledger Print Edition - - The Star-Ledger | New Jersey Newspaper – NJ".nj.Archived fromthe originalon February 21, 2010.
- ^Kramer, Mimi."Ruskin's Runaway Countess".nypress.
- ^Barnes, Clive (January 21, 2000)."'The Countess' Has Sex-Scandal Appeal ".New York Post.
- ^Jaworowski, Ken (September 30, 2012)."'Lovers' by Brian Friel at Beckett Theater ".The New York Times.
- ^"Review: Bittersweet views of romance in 'Lovers'".Yahoo!.
- ^Teachout, Terry (September 28, 2012)."Love and Its Discontents".The Wall Street Journal.
- ^Scheck, Frank (October 1, 2012)."In love with middle-aged lust".New York Post.
- ^"Lovers | in New York".Time Out New York.
- ^"Lovers".DC Theatre Scene.October 4, 2012.
- ^"Theater review: 'Mary Broome' | curtainup".curtainup.
- ^"westchesterguardian".westchesterguardian.
- ^"Talkin' Broadway Off-Broadway – Donogoo – 6/23/14".talkinbroadway.
- ^"Donogoo | Theater in New York".Time Out New York.
- ^Dale, Michael."BWW Reviews: The Mint Digs Up 1930 French Farce, DONOGOO".BroadwayWorld.
- ^"Donogoo a Curtainup Off Broadway Review".curtainup.
- ^Holden, Stephen (October 16, 1991)."Theater in Review".The New York Times.
- ^"villagevoiceready.pdf".Google Docs.
- ^"Triumphant 'Safe Home' premieres".
- ^"Review: SAFE HOME at Shadowland Stages Is Based on Short Stories by Tom Hanks".
- ^"The Post (2017)".IMDb.