Patti LuPone - Details

Biography

Patti LuPone is a long-time collaborator with David Mamet, appearing in five of his plays: 'The Old Neighborhood,' 'Edmond,' 'The Woods,' 'All Men are Whores' and 'The Water Engine,' as well as in the television adaptation of 'The Water Engine.' LuPone was recently seen in featured roles in Spike Lee’s Summer of Sam and Nancy Savoca’s The 24 Hour Woman. Her previous film credits include Driving Miss Daisy, Witness and Family Prayers. In addition to State and Main, she will soon be seen in Jason Alexander’s Just Looking and Randy Bradshaw’s Bad Faith.

On television, LuPone was recently seen in an appearance with Yo Yo Ma and John Williams and the Boston Pops on PBS’s ‘Evening at the Pops’ and in a recurring role on the CBS series 'Falcone.' Familiar to TV audiences as Libby Thatcher on the ABC series 'Life Goes On,' she has been seen in guest starring roles on 'Frasier' (1998 Emmy nomination) and 'Law and Order' and on the Showtime movie 'Bonnano,' 'A Godfather’s Story' and 'The Song Spinner' (Daytime Emmy nomination), 'An Evening With Patti LuPone (PBS), and the NBC movie 'Her Last Chance.'

Winner of the Tony and Drama Desk Awards for her performance as Eva Peron in the Broadway musical 'Evita,' LuPone’s stage work encompasses both musical and dramatic theatre. After graduating from the first class of the Drama Division of the Juilliard School, she began her career in the theatre as a founding member of John Houseman’s The Acting Company. Her stage credits include: Maria Callas in Terrence MacNally’s 'Master Class,' Vera Simpson in 'Pal Joey,' Reno Sweeney in 'Anything Goes' (Tony Award nomination and Drama Desk Award), Nancy in 'Oliver!,' 'The Cradle Will Rock,' 'Working' and 'The Robber Bridegroom' (Tony and Drama Desk Award nominations). In London, in addition to reprising her performances in the London productions of 'Master Class' and 'The Cradle Will Rock,' LuPone created the roles of Norma Desmond in the world premiere production of 'Sunset Boulevard' and Fantine in the RSC production of 'Les Miserables.' She won London’s Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performances in 'Les Miserables' and 'The Cradle Will Rock,' becoming the first American actor to win the coveted award.

A recording artist as well, her most recent recording 'Matters of the Heart,' based on her new concert, was named one of the Best Recordings of 1999 by The Times of London and Time Out New York. She has performed the evening to critical acclaim at the Sydney Festival in Australia, in the West End at London’s Donmar Warehouse Theatre and nationally throughout the United States.

She most recently starred as Mrs. Lovett to George Hearn’s Sweeney Todd in a concert version of the Stephen Sondheim musical for the New York Philharmonic. A live performance CD of that concert is currently available on the Philharmonic’s Special Editions label.

Events

  • 21st April 1949 - Birth