Happy Birthday To One Of My Favorites- Austin Pendelton

My first professional role was as Motel the tailor in Fiddler on The Roof, in one of the very first non-Broadway/non-touring company productions of this warhorse. Austin Pendleton was the first performer to play the part, in which he had one of the play's best non-Tevye songs- Miracle of Miracles. We both received strong reviews for our work, but I had no idea at the time, in a few years our paths would cross.

He is one of those great working character actors that audiences know, but don’t seem to recall the name. He has hundreds of theatre credits all over the USA, as an actor, director & playwright. Just recently Pendleton appeared in Brecht's Mother Courage & Her Children with Meryl Streep & Kevin Kline, & in Romeo & Juliet, both produced by The Public Theatre at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. In 2009 Pendleton directed Uncle Vanya (a role he himself played to great acclaim) at the Classic Stage Company starring Maggie Gyllenhall & Peter Saarsgard. Also last year Pendleton starred in the Off-Broadway production of Love Drunk, & in the summer of 2009, he appeared as Herbie in Wyoming Performing Arts Institute’s production of Gypsy. Pendleton then went on to direct Tennessee Williams' autobiographical play Vieux Carré at The Pearl Theatre Company off-Broadway. In January & February 2010, Pendleton directed 2 plays: Bus Stop at The Olney Theatre & Golden Age at The Philadelphia Theatre Company. In April 2010, Pendleton will appear off-Broadway in the romantic comedy of Limonade Tous Les Jours by Charles Mee.  he is a long time member of the Steppenwolf Theatre ensemble. Pendelton is always working; what more could an actor wish for?

Hollywood has been less generous to Pendleton. He was cast in a small role in Skidoo (1968), often considered one of the worst film of all time, & a low point in the careers of most of its participants: Jackie Gleason, Groucho Marx, Carol Channing, & Otto Preminger. I first noticed Austin Pendelton for his hilarious & original turn in one of my favorite films- What's Up, Doc? (1972). In The Front Page (1974) he was very strong as a condemned killer plagued by a bad head cold on the eve of his execution. I loved him in HBO's Oz as the mentally unstable murderer William Giles, & he was the voice of Gurgle in Finding Nemo.


In the mid 1970s, he was my acting teacher at HB Studios in NYC. He was the best theatre teacher I have ever had, & I there are many people that I have known & worked with through the years that would have to admit that I could have used some strong acting instruction at times. His advice & guidance were always kind, gentle & on the mark. I don’t know anything of his private life; I very much doubt he is gay, although he has been associated with may productions with gay themes. He turns 70 today.