Broadway Fun 4: Nathan Lane

Nathan Lane, on television, is a bit of a one note gay character. It is probably his voice, which is rubbery, and his demeanor which can easily venture into camp territory.

On Broadway, he is less locked into that "judgmental gay best friend" role. He can play funny gay, tragic gay, serious person and funny non-gay roles. His over the top acting is perfect on Broadway as he plays to the back of the house (the cheap seats so his over acting plays great.

TR: Roy Cohen in Angels in America. Roy Cohen is the consummate insider. He was a mentor to Donald Trump, so right there sums him up. He was hateful (so great) in the role.

TMU: He was in It's only a play. It was a farce that wasn't great but had an amazing cast. Those in this picture are Rupert Grint, Megan Mullally, Mathew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Stockard Channing.

TML: The Front Page, a painfully slow production (two intermissions!) with a great cast. Here Nathan is pictured with John Goodman.

BR; Nathan and Bebe Neuwirth as Gomez and Morticia in The Addams Family. 

BMU: Nathan and Matthew Broderick in The Producers. Now this was before my time, but I did see the movie starring them. Here he plays a producer of flops, Max Bialystock. And, a friend was in the cast, so I kind of have to include it.

BMB: His breakout movie role was opposite Robin Williams in The Birdcage.

BR: He starred (and won a Tony for Best Actor) in The Nance. It was funny and heartbreaking turn. He played a man who was always the "fairy" in Vaudeville and the early movies. You could overtly say the character was gay at that time, but it was implied in every mincing step, every overly effected joke and his looks. The show took place mainly off-stage as the wight of being the butt of the joke was exhausting.