1. Overview
Stephen Spinella is an acclaimed American actor known for his extensive work across stage, film, and television. Born in Italy and raised in Arizona, Spinella rose to prominence with his groundbreaking performances as Prior Walter in Tony Kushner's epic plays, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Angels in America: Perestroika, for which he earned consecutive Tony Awards. His career is marked by versatility and a commitment to roles that often explore complex human experiences, including his public identity as a gay man, which has informed his presence and contributions to representation in the arts. Spinella's critical recognition underscores his significant impact on contemporary American theater and screen.
2. Early life and education
Stephen Spinella's formative years were shaped by his international birthplace and his upbringing in the American Southwest, followed by rigorous academic training in the dramatic arts.
2.1. Birth and background
Stephen Spinella was born on October 11, 1956, in Naples, Italy. His father served as an American naval airplane mechanic, which led to his birth abroad. Spinella spent his childhood and formative years growing up in Glendale, Arizona.
2.2. Education
Spinella pursued higher education with a focus on drama. He graduated from the University of Arizona with a degree in drama. Furthering his theatrical training, he attended New York University's Tisch School of the Arts' Graduate Acting Program, completing his studies and graduating in 1982.
3. Acting career
Stephen Spinella has built a distinguished acting career spanning over three decades, demonstrating his remarkable range and depth across various mediums. His work is particularly celebrated for its impact on the stage, though his film and television appearances are also notable.
3.1. Stage
Spinella is most renowned for his transformative stage performances, particularly his portrayal of Prior Walter in Tony Kushner's seminal works, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches and Angels in America: Perestroika. For these roles, he received consecutive Tony Awards, winning Best Featured Actor in a Play in 1993 for Millennium Approaches and Best Actor in a Play in 1994 for Perestroika. His portrayal of Prior Walter, a gay man living with AIDS in the 1980s, was widely praised for its emotional depth and social relevance, cementing his status as a significant theatrical talent.
Beyond Angels in America, Spinella has a rich history of diverse stage roles. His early work includes a workshop production of A Bright Room Called Day as Baz in April 1985, also directed by Tony Kushner. He later appeared as Perry Sellars in Love! Valour! Compassion! from February to September 1995. In 1997, he took on the role of Alfieri in A View from the Bridge, running from December 1997 to August 1998. He played the Servant to Orestes in Electra from December 1998 to March 1999.
In 2000, Spinella was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as Freddy Malins in James Joyce's The Dead, which ran from January to April 2000. Other notable stage credits include Simon Stimson in Our Town (December 2002 - January 2003), and the Adult Men in the original Broadway production of Spring Awakening (December 2006 - 2007). He also appeared as Pill in The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures from May to June 2009.
Later stage roles include The Poet in An Iliad (October - November 2010), the titular role in Volpone (December 2012), and Chris in The Velocity of Autumn (April - May 2014). In 2018, he returned to Angels in America, this time portraying Roy M. Cohn in a production from April to July. Since March 2019, Spinella has been part of the cast of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, taking on multiple roles including Vernon Dursley, Severus Snape, and Lord Voldemort.
3.2. Film
Spinella has appeared in numerous films, often in supporting roles that showcase his distinctive presence. His filmography includes:
- 1995: Virtuosity as Dr. Darrel Lindenmeyer
- 1995: Tarantella as Frank
- 1996: Faithful as Young Man at Rolls
- 1997: The Jackal as Douglas
- 1997: David Searching as Hummus Guy
- 1997: Love! Valour! Compassion! as Perry Sellars
- 1998: The Unknown Cyclist as Doug Stein
- 1998: Great Expectations as Carter Macleish
- 1998: Out of the Past as Michael Wigglesworth (voice of)
- 1999: Cradle Will Rock as Donald O'Hara
- 1999: Ravenous as Knox
- 2001: Bubble Boy as Chicken Man
- 2004: House of D as Ticket Seller
- 2004: Connie and Carla as Robert/Peaches
- 2007: And Then Came Love as Stuart
- 2008: Stone & Ed as Concierge
- 2008: Milk as Rick Stokes
- 2010: Rubber as Lieutenant Chad
- 2012: Lincoln as Congressman Asa Vintner Litton
- 2012: House of Dust as Psychiatrist
- 2015: John Lennon Report
- 2018: Can You Ever Forgive Me? as Paul
- 2019: Windows on the World as Albert
- 2019: Bad Education as Thomas "Tom" Tuggiero
3.3. Television
Spinella has also maintained a prolific career in television, appearing in various series, miniseries, and made-for-television films. His television credits include:
- 1993: And the Band Played On as Brandy Alexander
- 1997: What the Deaf Man Heard as Percy
- 2000: Law & Order as Andy Polone
- 2001: The Education of Max Bickford as Rex Pinsker
- 2002: Alias as Mr. Kishell; Boyd Harkin
- 2002: Ed as Bob McCarthy
- 2003: Frasier as Randall Schoonover
- 2004: Huff as Mr. Heard
- 2005: Will & Grace as Bret
- 2005: Without a Trace as Joel Kemper
- 2006: Everwood as Father Patrick
- 2006: 24 as Miles Papazian (10 episodes)
- 2006: Heroes as Oliver Dennison
- 2006: Grey's Anatomy as Malar Pascowitz
- 2007: Nip/Tuck as Dr. Capler
- 2008: Desperate Housewives as Dr. Heller (4 episodes: "You're Gonna Love Tomorrow", "What More Do I Need?", "City on Fire", "Everybody Says Don't")
- 2008: The Mentalist as ADA Marc Odenthal (Season 2, Episode 19)
- 2009: Big Love as Eric (Season 3, Episode 4)
- 2013-2016: Royal Pains
- 2014: The Normal Heart as Sanford
- 2015: The Knick as A.D. Elkins
- 2018: Elementary as Professor Merrick Hausmann (Season 6, Episode 10)
- 2019: Tales of the City as Chris (episode: "The Price of Oil")
- 2019: The Blacklist as Jordan Loving (Season 6, Episode 9: "Minister D")
4. Personal life
Stephen Spinella is openly gay. His public identity has been a significant aspect of his career, particularly in his acclaimed role as Prior Walter in Angels in America, a character central to the narrative of the AIDS epidemic and gay identity in the 1980s. Spinella's willingness to openly embrace his identity has contributed to greater visibility and representation for LGBT individuals in the entertainment industry.
5. Awards and nominations
Stephen Spinella has received significant critical acclaim throughout his career, particularly for his work on stage.
| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Play | Angels in America: Millennium Approaches | Won |
| 1994 | Tony Award | Best Actor in a Play | Angels in America: Perestroika | Won |
| 2000 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | James Joyce's The Dead | Nominated |