John Douglas Thompson
John Douglas Thompson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1964 (age 59–60) |
| Education | Le Moyne College(BA) Brown University(MFA) |
| Occupation | Actor |
John Douglas Thompson(born 1964) is anEnglish-Americanactor. He is aTony Awardnominee and the recipient of twoDrama Desk Awards,threeObie Awards,anOuter Critics Circle Award,and aLucille Lortel Award.
The New York TimescriticBen Brantleydescribed Thompson as "one of the most compelling classical stage actors of his generation".[1]
Early life and education[edit]
Thompson was born inBath, England,toJamaicanparents, and was raised inMontreal, QuebecthenRochester, New York.[2][3]He graduated fromLe Moyne CollegeinSyracuse, New Yorkin 1985, where he studied marketing and business.[4]In the early 1990s, he worked as a traveling computer salesman inNew England.After losing his job, Thompson decided to pursue acting and enrolled at theBrown University/Trinity Repertory Companyprogram inProvidence, Rhode Island.[5]
Career[edit]
Thompson began appearing in a variety of lead and supporting roles across New England, most notably at theAmerican Repertory TheaterandShakespeare and Company,[3]also giving his first performance as Othello at theTrinity Repertory Companyprior to attaining critical success in New York.[6]
In 2005, he made hisBroadwaydebut, oppositeDenzel Washington,asFlaviusinJulius Caesar,and later played Le Bret in the 2007 Broadway production ofCyrano de Bergerac,alongsideJennifer GarnerandKevin Kline.
Thompson had a breakout year in 2009, garnering critical acclaim for playing the titular roles in theOff-Broadwayproductions ofOthelloandThe Emperor Jones,withThe New York Timesstating "There may be no better classical actor working in the New York theater right now".[7]He won aLucille Lortel Awardand anObie Awardfor his performance inOthello,and received aDrama Desk Awardnomination forThe Emperor Jones.
He starred oppositeKate MulgrewasAntonyin a regional production ofAntony and CleopatrainHartford,Connecticutin 2010,[8]and played Joe Mott in a 2012 production ofThe Iceman ComethinChicagowithNathan LaneandBrian Dennehy.[9]Also in 2012, Thompson appeared inThe Bourne Legacyin the minor role of Lt. Gen. Paulsen.
Thompson received rave reviews for originating the role ofLouis Armstrongand other characters in the 2014 Off-Broadway production of the one-actor playSatchmo at the Waldorf,which he reprised at theWallis Annenberg Center for the Performing ArtsinBeverly Hills.[10][11]He received a Drama Desk Award and anOuter Critics Circle Awardfor his solo performance.
In 2014, he played the titular role in the Off-Broadway production ofTamburlaine, Parts I and II,and reprised his performance as Joe Mott in the 2015 New York transfer of the Chicago production ofThe Iceman Cometh.Thompson won a second Obie Award for his performance in both plays, and was presented with a special Drama Desk Award in the same year for "invigorating theater in New York through his commanding presence, classical expertise, and vocal prowess".[12]
In 2018, Thompson appeared in the role of The Starkeeper in Broadway'sCarouselatImperial Theatre,New York, alongsideJoshua Henry,Jessie Mueller,andRenee Fleming.[13]
In addition to his theater work, Thompson has appeared on television inLaw & Order,Law & Order: SVUandConviction.He also appeared in the short filmMidwayand the legal dramaMichael Clayton.He appears as Dr. Mitchell in the 2020HBO MaxfilmLet Them All Talkdirected bySteven Soderbergh.
In the 2022 filmTill,Thompson playedEmmett Till's Mississippi uncleMose Wright;his performance was singled out by Oscar nomineeAndrea Riseboroughas the one "from the past year you’ve been especially moved by".[14]
In 2024, he will make hisRoyal Shakespeare Companydebut as the titular role inOthello.[15]
Selected stage work[edit]
Awards and nominations[edit]
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Othello | Nominated |
| Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Lead Actor | Won | ||
| Obie Award | Performance | Won | ||
| 2010 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Play | The Emperor Jones | Nominated |
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Lead Actor | Nominated | ||
| 2014 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Solo Performance | Satchmo at the Waldorf | Won |
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Solo Performance | Won | ||
| Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Solo Show | Nominated | ||
| 2015 | Drama Desk Award | Special Award | Honouree | |
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | The Iceman ComethandTamburlaine, Parts I and II | Nominated | |
| Obie Award | Performance | Won | ||
| 2017 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Jitney | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play | Nominated | ||
| New York Drama Critics' Circle | Special Citation | Honouree | ||
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | A Doll's House/The FatherandJitney | Nominated | |
| 2018 | Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Julius Caesar | Nominated |
| 2022 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Actor in a Play | The Merchant of Venice | Nominated |
| 2023 | Obie Award | Sustained Achievement in Performance | Endgame (play)andHamlet | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Lead Performance in a Play | Endgame (play) | Nominated | |
| Drama League Award | Distinguished Performance | Nominated | ||
| Lucille Lortel Award | Outstanding Lead Performer in a Play | Nominated | ||
| Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series | The Gilded Age | Nominated | |
References[edit]
- ^Brantley, Ben (December 16, 2009)."Artistic Success, No Name Brand Necessary".The New York Times.RetrievedFebruary 17,2020.
- ^Happy Journey of an Actor as Tragic Hero,Monica Drake,The New York Times,September 30, 2009
- ^abJohn Douglas Thompson Biography (1964–)
- ^Le Moyne Alumni
- ^John Douglas Thompson sells OthelloArchived2010-02-02 at theWayback Machine
- ^Ever MoorArchived2010-02-02 at theWayback Machine
- ^"Fanfare for the New, the Old, the Less Heralded",Charles Isherwood,The New York Times,December 20, 2009
- ^abThis Cleo Is No Baby on the Nile,Anita Gates,The New York Times,October 22, 2010
- ^ab"The Iceman Cometh | Goodman Theatre".goodmantheatre.org.Retrieved2021-03-27.
- ^Webster, Andy (2014-03-21)."A Singular Trumpeter Unreels His Life".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-03-28.
- ^"'Satchmo at the Waldorf': Theater Review ".The Hollywood Reporter.2015-05-30.Retrieved2021-03-28.
- ^Cox, Gordon (2015-04-23)."Drama Desk Nominations: 'Hamilton' Leads the Polls (FULL LIST)".Variety.Retrieved2021-03-28.
- ^"Carousel - PlayBill - Imperial Theatre - NY".
- ^Bahr, Sarah (2023-01-24)."Andrea Riseborough Can't Believe She Was Nominated for an Oscar, Either".The New York Times.New York.Retrieved2023-02-06.
- ^abCullwell-Block, Logan (January 16, 2024)."John Douglas Thompson-Led Othello, Sanaz Toossi's English, More in Upcoming Royal Shakespeare Company Season".Playbill.RetrievedMay 25,2024.
- ^Brantley, Ben (2014-11-18)."It's Best Not to Make Him Angry".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-03-27.
- ^"'The Iceman Cometh': Theater Review ".The Hollywood Reporter.2015-02-12.Retrieved2021-03-27.
- ^Brantley, Ben (2016-05-26)."Review: Spouses Gasping for Air in Twinned Ibsen and Strindberg Plays".The New York Times.ISSN0362-4331.Retrieved2021-03-27.
- ^Collins-Hughes, Laura (February 3, 2022)."Artistically in Sync, and Reunited for 'The Merchant of Venice'".The New York Times Company. The New York Times.Retrieved2 March2022.
