Biography
One of America's first few openly gay major celebrities, actor and playwright Harvey Fierstein (pronounced Fire-steen) didn't need to "come out" after he became famous and was never "outed" against his will. In many ways a typical product of the post-Stonewall off-Broadway and live performance art scene of New York in the 1970s, Fierstein combined a semi-experimental, in-your-face approach with the campy nostalgia, the heart-tugging …
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Career Milestones
| Began performing a drag act in local gay bars; appeared under the stage name Virginia Hamm | ||
1971 | Made his stage acting debut at La MaMa E.T.C. in Andy Warhol's only play, "Pork's" | |
1972 | First play produced at La MaMa E.T.C., "The International Stud"; later incorporated into "Torch Song Trilogy" | |
1976 | Made first film appearance, as himself, in Rosa von Praunheim's documentary, "Underground and Emigrants" | |
1982 | Broadway acting debut, "Torch Song Trilogy" (also wrote play) | |
1983 | Supplied the voice of the Devil for the TV-movie, "The Demon Murder Case" | |
1983 | Wrote first book for a Broadway musical, "La Cage aux Folles" | |
1984 | Made feature acting debut in "Garbo Talks" | |
1984 | Narrated the Oscar-winning feature documentary, "The Times of Harvey Milk" | |
1988 | Adapted one of the short-plays ("On Tidy Endings") from his stage play "Safe Sex" for the HBO TV-movie, "Tidy Endings"; also played one of the leading roles | |
1988 | First leading role in a film, the adaptation of his stage play "Torch Song Trilogy"; film also marked his producing debut | |
1988 | Wrote book for the Broadway musical, "Legs Diamond" | |
1990 | Featured as the voice of Karl, Homer's assistant, in the "Simpson and Delilah" episode of "The Simpsons" (Fox) | |
1992 | Earned an Emmy nomination for his portrayal of Rebecca's first love on "Cheers" (NBC) | |
1993 | Played Robin Williams' makeup artist brother in "Mrs. Doubtfire" | |
1994 | Co-starred in Woody Allen's "Bullets Over Broadway" | |
1996 | Had featured role in the blockbuster hit, "Independence Day" | |
1998 | Voiced the role of Yao in Walt Disney's "Mulan" | |
1999 | Voiced Elmer in the HBO special based on his children's book, "The Sissy Duckling" | |
2000 | Undertook the role created by Divine in the workshop of the musical version of "Hairspray"; starred in the show when it opened on Broadway in 2002 | |
2000 | Wrote the "Andy & Amos" segment of Showtime's "Common Ground," a drama special examining gay and lesbian life | |
2002 | Had supporting role as the corrupt head of a charitable organization in "Death to Smoochy" | |
2005 | Cast as Tevye the milkman in the Broadway revival of the musical, "Fiddler on the Roof" | |
2008 | Wrote the book to the Broadway musical, "A Catered Affair" | |
2011 | Cast as drag diva Albin/Zaza, a role he created 25 years ago, for the Broadway revival of "La Cage aux Folles" | |
Awards
1983 | Tony Award for Actor (Play) |
1983 | Tony Award for Play |
1984 | Tony Award for Book (Musical) |
1989 | Independent Spirit Award for Best Male Lead in Torch Song Trilogy |
1992 | Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series in Cheers |
2003 | Tony Award for Actor (Musical) |