Chip Zien

Jerome Herbert "Chip" Zien (born March 20, 1947) is an American actor. He is best known for originating the lead role of the Baker in the original Broadway production of the musical ''Into the Woods'' by Stephen Sondheim. He appeared in all of the "Marvin Trilogy" musicals by William Finn: as Marvin in '' In Trousers'', and as Dr. Mendel in '' March of the Falsettos'', '' Falsettoland'' and ''Falsettos''. In 2023, he returned to Broadway to critical acclaim in the lead role of Rabbi Josef Roman Cycowski in Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s ''Harmony''.

In 1989, he starred as Otto Kringelein in ''Grand Hotel'' and in 2007, he played Mssr. Thénardier in ''Les Misérables'', both on Broadway. He also created the role of Mr. Bungee in the original production of '' A New Brain''. On the screen, he portrayed Mark Rothenberg in the film '' United 93''. He is also known for providing the voice of the titular character in the film ''Howard the Duck''. In 2012, he returned to ''Into the Woods'' at the Delacorte Theater portraying the Mysterious Man, the father of the Baker, the role Zien originated.

Early life

Zien was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Whitefish Bay High School and later from the University of Pennsylvania. There, he was the chairman of the Mask and Wig Club, a historic collegiate musical comedy troupe.

Career

Young Zien started in local theatrical productions. One of his early roles was as a child in a production of '' South Pacific'' at the Melody Top summer outdoor theatre in Milwaukee.

Stage

Zien's first major role was in 1977 at the Manhattan Theater Club in the musical ''The Redemption Center'' (by Ron Cowen, Seth Glassman, and Sandy Naishtat), opposite Alice Playten as the young couple. Later, Chip received acclaim in the role of Marvin in William Finn's first musical, '' In Trousers'', which ran Off-Broadway in 1979. In its sequels, '' March of the Falsettos'' (1981) and '' Falsettoland'', this role was played by Michael Rupert, while Zien played Mendel, a role he reprised when these two one-act musicals were joined together and played Broadway as ''Falsettos'' in 1992. In 1998 Zien was featured in another Finn musical when he played a children's show host called Mr. Bungee, dressed as a frog, in '' A New Brain'' Off-Broadway at the Lincoln Center Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. He received a 1999 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for this role.

He appeared in the Off-Broadway play ''Isn't It Romantic'' by Wendy Wasserstein in a Playwrights Horizons production at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, opening in June 1984. He was nominated for the 1984 Drama Desk Award, Featured Actor in a Play. He originated the role of the Baker in ''Into the Woods'' in 1986 at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and on Broadway in 1987.

Zien starred on Broadway in ''Ride the Winds'' (as Inari) (1974), '' The Suicide'' (as Victor Victorovich) (1980), '' Grand Hotel'' (as Otto Kringelein) (1989) and ''The Boys from Syracuse'' (as Dromio of Ephesus) (2002)."Chip Zien"
playbill.com, accessed April 8, 2022 He appeared in the City Center Encores! staged concert production of '' Applause'' as Buzz Richards in 2008.

In 2005, Zien played the part of Goran in ''Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'' on Broadway.

In 2007, Zien was a replacement in the Broadway revival of ''Les Misérables'' in the role of Monsieur Thénardier.

From April 1 to June 19, 2011, Zien appeared in the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of '' The People in the Picture'', which played at Studio 54 on Broadway.

Zien appeared in a revival of ''Into the Woods'' at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park from August 9 to September 1, 2012. He played the Mysterious Man, the father of the character he had originated in the original production 26 years prior.

Zien appeared in the Broadway musical '' It Shoulda Been You'' at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre as Murray with music by Barbara Anselmi, book and lyrics by Brian Hargrove. The show, marking the directorial debut of David Hyde Pierce, starred Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, Sierra Boggess, and David Burtka, and opened in previews March 17, 2015, and officially on April 14.

Zien originated the role of Older Rabbi Josef Roman Cycowski of the famous Comedian Harmonists both Off-Broadway and on Broadway in the musical ''Harmony'' at both the Museum of Jewish Heritage at the National Theater Folksbiene (where he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award) and the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in 2022 and 2023, respectively.

Film and television

In 1973, Zien made his television debut on an episode of ''Love, American Style''. More guest roles in television followed, and in the early 1980s, he began a stream of regular TV roles. In 1981, he appeared on ''Ryan's Hope'' as Daniel Thorne, the producer of the fictional ''Proud and the Passionate'' soap opera on the series in which the character Barbara Wilde ( Judith Barcroft) was starring. Later that year, he began a two-year run in the freshman NBC sitcom '' Love, Sidney'' as Jason Stoller, the young, hot-shot ad agency director who was Sidney Shorr's ( Tony Randall) boss. Immediately after ''Love, Sidneys cancellation, Zien was cast in a similar role on the ABC sitcom '' Reggie'', an American adaptation of the British series ''The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin''. He played C.J. Wilcox, the overbearing young boss of Richard Mulligan's Reggie Potter. The series aired as a summer replacement during August and September 1983, but was not renewed by ABC after the tryout run. In 1986, he provided the voice of the title character in Marvel Comics' ''Howard the Duck''. Zien later starred on the short-lived CBS drama '' Shell Game'' in 1987.

In the 1990s, Zien was part of the ensemble cast of the CBS sitcom '' Almost Perfect'' (1995–96), playing neurotic screenwriter Gary Karp."Chip Zien Biography"
filmreference.com, accessed May 22, 2015 ''Almost Perfect'' was cancelled shortly into its second season, but the series sustained its loyal following via reruns on USA Network not long after. Zien would return to regular roles in daytime drama, first on ''Guiding Light'' in early 1999, and by that summer, as newspaper reporter Donald Steele on ''All My Children'', a role that would last until 2001.

From 1999 to 2000, Zien had a recurring guest role on the CBS primetime drama '' Now and Again'' as Gerald Misenbach. He has appeared repeatedly as Attorney Cromwell on ''Law & Order''.

During the 2002–03 season, Zien was the announcer on daytime's '' The Caroline Rhea Show'', which was based in New York (on the former '' Rosie O'Donnell Show'' set). In 2006, he appeared in the critically acclaimed film '' United 93'' as Mark Rothenberg." ''United 93'' Cast and Crew"
tcm.com, accessed May 22, 2015 He played Dr. Marsh in the vampire comedy film '' Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead''.

Personal life

Zien is married to former dancer and dancing instructor Susan Pilarre; the couple has two children.

Filmography

Film

Television

Theatre

Awards and nominations

References

External links

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archive

{{DEFAULTSORT:Zien, Chip
1947 births
Living people
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male stage actors
Male actors from Milwaukee
University of Pennsylvania alumni
Jewish American male actors
Jewish American film people
American male voice actors
Whitefish Bay High School alumni
20th-century American male actors
21st-century American male actors
21st-century American Jews