Justin Kirk
Kirk at the 2017 WonderCon
Born (1969-05-28) May 28, 1969 (age 54)
Salem, Oregon, U.S.
EducationCircle in the Square Theatre School
OccupationActor
Years active1990–present

Justin Kirk (born May 28, 1969[1]) is an American actor. He gained prominence for his roles as Prior Walter in the HBO miniseries Angels in America (2003), for which he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie, and Andy Botwin in the Showtime dark comedy series Weeds (2005–2012).

Early life

Kirk was born in Salem, Oregon.[1] His mother was of Russian-Jewish descent and his father was of Danish and English ancestry.[2]

Kirk grew up in Union, Washington,[1] where he attended a grade school on a Native American reservation, until his family moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota, when he was 12 years old. He attended high school there and performed at Children's Theatre Company.[3][4]

Kirk moved to New York City after graduating. He played guitar in several New York bands in the early 1990s, most notably The Dimestore Darlings.[5] He completed a two-year conservatory acting program at Circle in the Square Theatre School.[2][6]

Career

Kirk began his career on stage appearing off-Broadway in productions such as The Applicant, Shardston, Loose Ends, Thanksgiving, and Lovequest Live.[7] He made his Broadway debut in Frank Gilroy's play Any Given Day which was performed at the Longacre Theatre. From 1994 to 1995, he played Bobby Brahms in Terrence McNally’s award-winning play Love! Valour! Compassion! on and off-Broadway for which he received an Obie Award for Best Performance. He next starred as Stephen Hoffman in Jon Marans’s two-character play Old Wicked Songs, staged at the New York's Promenade Theatre and Los Angeles' Geffen Playhouse. In 2012, he appeared in the role of Trip Wyeth succeeding Thomas Sadoski in Jon Robin Baitz’s play Other Desert Cities.

Kirk made his television debut in the short-lived CBS drama series New York News. From 1999 to 2001, he starred in The WB comedy drama series Jack & Jill. In 2003, he played Prior Walter in the HBO miniseries Angels in America, directed by Mike Nichols and based on Tony Kushner's award-winning play of the same name. For his role, he received critical acclaim, earning a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie. He gained further acclaim and recognition for his starring role as Andy Botwin in the Showtime dark comedy series Weeds. The series ran for eight seasons.

In 2012, he was cast as the lead in the NBC sitcom Animal Practice. The series was canceled after nine episodes, due to low ratings.[8] In 2015, he appeared in two episodes of WGN period drama series Manhattan and FX/FXX comedy drama series You're the Worst. In 2018, he joined the cast of Showtime comedy drama series Kidding, which was executive produced by Michel Gondry. In 2020, he began playing the role of Hamilton Burger in the HBO's reimagined Perry Mason. In 2021, he appeared in the drama series Succession as Congressman Jeryd Mencken.

Kirk first appearance on screen was in the Mike Nichols' 1994 romantic horror film Wolf in a photograph as Laura Alden's deceased brother. He credited Ann Roth, Nichols' longtime costume designer with whom he previously worked on the play Any Given Day for the job.[9] He made his feature film debut in the 1997 drama film Love! Valour! Compassion! recreating his stage role. His other film roles include Vamps (2012), Mr. Morgan's Last Love (2013), Justice League: War (2014), Ghostbusters (2016), Molly's Game (2017), The Tribes of Palos Verdes (2017), and Vice (2018).

Acting credits

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1994 Wolf Laura's brother Appeared in a photograph, uncredited
1997 Love! Valour! Compassion! Bobby Brahms
1999 The Eden Myth Aldo Speck
Chapter Zero Lonnie
2002 Teddy Bears' Picnic Damien Pritzker
Outpatient Morris Monk
2006 Ask the Dust Sammy
Hollywood Dreams Robin Mack
Puccini for Beginners Philip
Flannel Pajamas Stuart Sawyer
2007 Operation Homecoming: Writing the Wartime Experience Narrator
2008 Food Fight Narrator
2009 Against the Current Jeff Kane
Four Boxes Trevor Grainger
2010 Elektra Luxx Benjamin
See You in September A.J.
The Presence The Man
The Legend of Hallowdega Host Short film
2011 L!fe Happens Henri
2012 Nobody Walks Billy
Goats Bennet
30 Beats Adam the Anthropologist
Vamps Vadim
2013 Mr. Morgan's Last Love Miles Morgan Also known as Last Love
Chronicles Simpkins Will Cut Your Ass Mr. Finkle Short film
2014 Sexual Secrets Aldo Speck
Justice League: War Hal Jordan / Green Lantern (voice)
2015 Walter Gregory Tomlinson
2016 Ghostbusters Phil Hudson Cut from the theatrical cut – only appears in the extended edition
2017 Molly's Game Jay
The Tribes of Palos Verdes Phil Mason
2018 Vice Scooter Libby
2019 Jack and Jo Don't Want to Die Jack Short film
2020 Hollywood Fringe Travis Sunstrom
2021 Hangry Leroy Short film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1995 New York News — Episode: "You Thought the Pope Was Something"
1998 The Pretender Horace Strickland Episode: "Hazards"
Nothing Sacred Jack Episode: "A Nun's Story"
1999–2001 Jack & Jill Bartholomew "Barto" Zane Main role
2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Eric Plummer Episode: "Wrath"
2003 Angels in America Prior Walter / Leatherman in Park Television miniseries
2005 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Patrick Bromley Episode: "Spark of Life"
Jack & Bobby John McCallister Episode: "Under the Influence"
2005–2012 Weeds Andy Botwin Main role
2005 Without a Trace Thomas Beale Episode: "Lost Time"
2006 Everwood James Carmody Episode: "Enjoy the Ride"
2009 Glenn Martin, DDS Rick (voice) Episode: "A Bromantic Getaway"
2010–2015 Modern Family Charlie Bingham 6 episodes
2012 Animal Practice Dr. George Coleman Main role
2013 Childrens Hospital Michael Episode: "Country Weekend"
The Blacklist Nathaniel Wolff Episode: "General Ludd"
2014 Tyrant John Tucker Main role (season 1)
2015 American Dad! Ax Jenkins (voice) Episode: "My Affair Lady"
Wayward Pines Peter McCall 2 episodes
Manhattan Joseph Bucher 2 episodes
You're the Worst Rob 2 episodes
2016 The Crossroads of History Leonardo da Vinci Episode: "Mona Lisa"
2017 APB Gideon Reeves Main role
2018–2020 Kidding Peter Zeckhauser Main role (season 2), recurring role (season 1)
2018 Overthinking with Kat & June David Main role
2019 Conversations in L.A. Michael Miller 2 episodes
2020 Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist Charlie Bennett Episode: "Zoey's Extraordinary Boss"
2020–2023 Perry Mason Hamilton Burger Main role (season 2), recurring role (season 1)
2021–2023 Succession Jeryd Mencken 5 episodes
2022 Roar Larry the Duck (voice) Episode: "The Woman Who Was Fed by a Duck"

Theatre

Year Production Role Venue Ref.
1993 Any Given Day Willis Longacre Theatre
1994–1995 Love! Valour! Compassion! Bobby Brahms New York City Center
1995 Walter Kerr Theatre
1996 Old Wicked Songs Stephen Hoffman Promenade Theatre
1997 Geffen Playhouse [10]
1998 June Moon Fred Stevens (replacement) Variety Arts Theatre [11]
2001 Ten Unknowns Judd Sturgess Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater
2002 The World Over Adam The Duke on 42nd Street
2009 The Understudy Harry Laura Pels Theatre
2012 Other Desert Cities Trip Wyeth (replacement) Booth Theatre
2014 The Invisible Hand Nick Bright New York Theatre Workshop
2015 These Paper Bullets! Ben Gil Cates Theatre [12]
2015–2016 Linda Gross Theatre

Podcasts

Year Title Role Notes
2011–2014 Thrilling Adventure Hour Ewing Klipsringer / Jason / Cupid 3 episodes
2021 Bronzeville Eli Samson 4 episodes
DUST Charlie Episode: "Beyond the Tattered Veil of the Stars"
2022 Marvel's Wastelanders: Black Widow Hank Hammond 10 episodes

Music videos

Year Song Artist Ref.
2009 "Whatever You Like" Anya Marina [13]
2011 "How Blue" Bleu [14]

Awards and nominations

Year Association Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1995 Obie Awards Best Performance Love! Valour! Compassion! Won [15]
1998 Garland Awards Outstanding Performance Old Wicked Songs Won [16]
2001 Lucille Lortel Awards Outstanding Featured Actor Ten Unknowns Won [17]
Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Nominated [18]
Outer Critics Circle Awards Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play Nominated [19]
2004 Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Angels in America Won [20]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in Television Movie or Miniseries Nominated [21]
Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie Nominated [22]
2007 Golden Globe Awards Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film Weeds Nominated [23]
Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated [24]
Golden Nymph Awards Outstanding Actor – Comedy Series Nominated [25]
Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television Nominated [26]
2008 Satellite Awards Best Actor in a Series, Comedy or Musical Won [27]
2009 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series Nominated [28]
2016 Critics' Choice Awards Best Guest Actor/Actress in a Drama Series Manhattan Nominated [29]

References

  1. ^ a b c Baker, Jeff (April 30, 2014). "17 actors you (maybe) didn't know were from Oregon". The Oregonian. Portland, Oregon. Retrieved February 16, 2016.
  2. ^ a b Jacobs, Alexandra (December 7, 2003). "TELEVISION; When It Comes to TV Angels, He's Batting .500". The New York Times. Retrieved February 8, 2017.
  3. ^ Barger, Jennifer (August 10, 2007). "Q&A: Justin Kirk of 'Weeds'". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  4. ^ Owen, Rob (September 23, 2012). "'Animal Practice': An interview with TV series star Justin Kirk". The Seattle Times. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  5. ^ "Dimestore Darlings, 9-9-09 Dimestore Darlings: Rock Band". dimestoredarlings.tumblr.com. September 10, 2009. Retrieved August 28, 2012.
  6. ^ Steele, Bruce C. (December 9, 2003). "Faces of Angels". The Advocate. No. 904. p. 40. ISSN 0001-8996. Retrieved May 15, 2023. Then I went to Circle in the Square's acting school for two years and stayed in New York.
  7. ^ Willis, John (May 1, 1997). Theatre World 1994-1995. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 213. ISBN 9781557832504. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  8. ^ Andreeva, Nellie (October 18, 2012). "NBC Cancels 'Animal Practice', To Be Replaced By 'Whitney'". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  9. ^ Smith, Mike (November 8, 2013). "Justin Kirk talks about new film "Last Love" and TV show "The Blacklist"". Media Mikes. Retrieved August 22, 2023.
  10. ^ "Old Wicked Songs". Geffen Playhouse. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  11. ^ Willis, John (2000). Theatre World 1997-1998. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 83. ISBN 9781557834096. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  12. ^ "These Paper Bullets! - Geffen Playhouse". Geffen Playhouse. 11 September 2015. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  13. ^ Wawerna, Beth (June 11, 2011). "FROM THE DESK OF BIRD OF YOUTH'S BETH WAWERNA: ANYA MARINA ON FOOD". Magnet. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  14. ^ "Bleu "How Blue" Video (feat. Justin Kirk)". Lojinx. February 22, 2011. Retrieved August 16, 2023.
  15. ^ "95". Obie Awards. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  16. ^ "Garland Awards Inaugurated in L.A." Playbill. January 21, 1998. Retrieved August 24, 2023.
  17. ^ "2001 Nominees : Lucille Lortel Awards". Lucille Lortel Awards. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  18. ^ "Nominees and Recipients – 2001 Awards". Drama Desk Awards. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  19. ^ "2000-2001". Outer Critics Circle Awards. Retrieved June 18, 2023.
  20. ^ "Nominees & Winners – Satellite™ Awards 2004 (8th Annual Satellite™ Awards)". Satellite Awards. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  21. ^ "The 10th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  22. ^ "Outstanding Supporting Actor In A Miniseries or A Movie Nominees / Winners". Emmy Awards. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  23. ^ "Winners & Nominees 2007". Golden Globe Awards. Retrieved October 12, 2023.
  24. ^ "The 13th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  25. ^ "2007 Golden Nymph Awards Winners" (PDF). Golden Nymph Awards. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  26. ^ "Nominees & Winners – Satellite™ Awards 2007 (12th Annual Satellite™ Awards)". Satellite Awards. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  27. ^ "Nominees & Winners – Satellite™ Awards 2008 (13th Annual Satellite™ Awards)". Satellite Awards. Archived from the original on February 2, 2008. Retrieved April 7, 2019.
  28. ^ "The 15th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards". Screen Actors Guild Awards. Retrieved April 11, 2023.
  29. ^ Hipes, Patrick (December 14, 2015). "Critics' Choice Awards Nominations: 'Mad Max' Leads Film; ABC, HBO, FX Networks & 'Fargo' Top TV". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 14, 2015.

External links

Awards for Justin Kirk
Authority control databases
Categories