Michael Patrick Thornton | |
|---|---|
| Occupations | Actor, theater director |
Michael Patrick Thornton is an American actor and theater director. He played the character of Dr. Gabriel Fife in theABC drama seriesPrivate Practice. He is also known for his performances onBroadway including as Lennox in theSam Gold revival ofMacbeth (2022), and Dr. Rank in theJamie Lloyd revival ofA Doll's House (2023).[1]
Thornton is fromJefferson Park, a neighborhood onChicago's northwest side.[2] He is a graduate of The School atSteppenwolf,[3]The Second City Conservatory, and The Second City Directing Program.[citation needed] At 24, Thornton had two spinal strokes which paralysed him.[1] Since then he has used a wheelchair.[1]
Thornton is artistic director and co-founder of The Gift Theatre.[2][3][4] He acted in productions includingRichard III at Steppenwolf,[4] where he became the first actor to act onstage while wearing arobotic exoskeleton.[5] He has also portrayedIago inOthello at The Gift Theatre and inActors Theatre of Louisville’s 50th anniversary production ofOur Town.[4] Thornton received a Jeff Nomination for his performance in The Gift's premiere of ensemble member Andrew Hinderaker'sSuicide, Incorporated.[4] In 2005, he won the Jeff Award for Best Actor in a Solo Performance for his role inThe Good Thief at The Gift Theatre.[3]
Thornton also directs at The Gift, including the world premiere of David Rabe'sGood For Otto,War of the Worlds, the Chicago Premiere of Will Eno'sOh, The Humanity (and other exclamations).[4] As a writer, his plays have been workshopped in New York through Young Playwrights, Inc. and in Chicago through Second City.[4]
In 2025 and 2026, Thornton appeared as Lucky inWaiting for Godot, aJamie Lloyd production starringKeanu Reeves andAlex Winter on Broadway.
Thornton has appeared in episodes ofElementary (CBS),The Exorcist (FOX),Private Practice,The Chicago Code, Ron Howard'sThe Dilemma, and the independent feature filmThe View From Tall.[4]
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Shut-Eye | Mac | |
| 2007 | Counting Backwards | Joe's Father | Voice |
| 2011 | The Dilemma | B & V Worker | |
| 2016 | The View from Tall | Douglas | |
| TBA | Being Heumann | Ed Roberts | Filming[6] |
| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2009–2011 | Private Practice | Dr. Gabriel Fife | 14 episodes (season 3–4) |
| 2011 | The Chicago Code | Kent Eschelman (CPD Union Rep) | "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" |
| 2016 | The Jamz | Stanton | 4 episodes |
| 2016 | The Exorcist | Dr. John Rexroth | "Chapter Six: Star of the Morning" |
| 2017 | Elementary | Eli Kotite | "Wrong Side of the Road" |
| 2019 | Counterpart | Brody | "Shadow Puppets" |
| 2019 | The Red Line | Jim Evans | Main role |
| 2019 | Magnum P.I. | Charlie Owens | "Payback for Beginners" |
| 2019 | Madam Secretary | Captain Evan Moore | 4 episodes |
| 2020 | All Rise | Paul Gordon | "Prelude to a Fish" |
| 2020 | Away | Dr. Putney | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 2021 | A Million Little Things | Russ | Recurring role (season 4) |
| 2022 | 61st Street | Judge Fitzpatrick | 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Let the Right One In | Father Sean | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Chicago Party Aunt | Stewart | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2022–2023 | The Good Doctor | Dr. Clay Porter | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 2023 | NCIS | Jeremy Brighton | "Old Wounds" |
| 2025 | Black Rabbit | Trevor Turkel | "Skin Contact" |
| Year | Title | Role | Playwright | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016 | Richard III | Richard III | William Shakespeare | Steppenwolf Garage Space, Chicago |
| 2022 | Macbeth | Lennox | William Shakespeare | Longacre Theatre,Broadway |
| 2023 | A Doll's House | Dr. Rank | Henrik Ibsen | Hudson Theatre, Broadway |
| 2025 | Waiting for Godot | Lucky | Samuel Beckett | Hudson Theatre, Broadway |