Judd Hirsch | |
|---|---|
 Hirsch in 1967 | |
| Born | Judd Seymore Hirsch[1] (1935-03-15)March 15, 1935 (age 90) New York City, U.S. |
| Education | City College of New York (BS) American Academy of Dramatic Arts |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1959–present |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 3 |
Judd Seymore Hirsch (born March 15, 1935) is an American actor. He is known for playing Alex Rieger on the television comedy seriesTaxi (1978–1983), John Lacey on theNBC seriesDear John (1988–1992), andAlan Eppes on theCBS seriesNumb3rs (2005–2010). He is also well known for his career in theatre and for his roles in films such asWithout a Trace (1983),Teachers (1984),A Beautiful Mind (2001),Tower Heist (2011),Altered Minds (2013),The Meyerowitz Stories (2017), andHollywood Stargirl (2022).
Hirsch has twice won thePrimetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series, has twice won theTony Award for Best Actor in a Play, has won theGolden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy, and was nominated twice for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performances inOrdinary People (1980) andThe Fabelmans (2022).[2]
Hirsch was born inthe Bronx, New York, to Sally (née Kitzis) (1903–1999) and Joseph Sidney Hirsch (1904–1989), an electrician.[3] Joseph was born in New York, to aGerman Jewish father, Benjamin Hirsch, and an English-born mother, Rosa Hirsch Benjamin, whose family wereDutch Jews.[4][5][6] Sally Hirsch was born in Russia, also to a Jewish family.[7] Judd Hirsch has a brother named Roland.[8]
He grew up in both Brooklyn and the Bronx[5] and graduated fromDeWitt Clinton High School[9] (in the Bronx) in 1952. He earned a degree in physics fromCity College of New York.[1]
After graduating from college, Hirsch served in theUnited States Army Reserve in 1958 atFort Leonard Wood for six months as a surveyor.[5][10] Next Hirsch worked as an engineer forWestinghouse before he found work in the theater.[11] He studied acting atHB Studio[12] in New York City. He graduated in 1962 from theAmerican Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City.[13]
TheLos Angeles Times noted that Hirsch is "one of the very few actors who slips effortlessly from TV series to Broadway to feature films and back again, racking up awards and favorable reviews wherever he performs."[11]
Hirsch received a nomination for theAcademy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role inOrdinary People (1980), which won theAcademy Award for Best Picture that year. His other film performances from the decade include leading roles in the 1983 dramaWithout a Trace, the 1984 dramedies,Teachers andThe Goodbye People, and the 1988 dramaRunning on Empty, directed bySidney Lumet and co-starringRiver Phoenix. In 1996, Hirsch portrayed the father ofJeff Goldblum's character in the blockbusterIndependence Day, a role that he later reprised in its 2016sequel. In 2001, he played aPrinceton University professor in the Academy Award–winning filmA Beautiful Mind. Hirsch has more recently had supporting roles in acclaimed films such asThe Meyerowitz Stories (2017) andUncut Gems (2019).[14]
In 2023, at the age of 87, Hirsch became the second-oldest acting nominee for anAcademy Award after being nominated for his role inSteven Spielberg's filmThe Fabelmans (2022). He also broke the record for the longest gap between Oscar nominations.[2]
After appearing frequently on television in the 1970s, including one season (1976–1977) in the seriesDelvecchio,[15] Hirsch gained stardom for his lead role of Alex Rieger in the popular sitcomTaxi, which ran from 1978 to 1983. For his performance in the series, Hirsch won theEmmy Award for Lead Actor In a Comedy Series in 1981 and 1983.[16] In 1999, he reprised his role fromTaxi for a brief moment inMan on the Moon, thebiopic of his co-star fromTaxi,Andy Kaufman (portrayed byJim Carrey).[17]
AfterTaxi, Hirsch played the title character on the modestly successful sitcomDear John and in 1989 won aGolden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series in a Comedy or Musical for this role.[18] He later teamed up withBob Newhart in the short-lived comedyGeorge and Leo.[19]
Hirsch co-starred on theCBS Television dramaNumb3rs (2005–2010) asAlan Eppes, father of FBI agentDon Eppes (Rob Morrow) and ProfessorCharlie Eppes (David Krumholtz).[20]
Hirsch has guest-starred on episodes ofWarehouse 13,Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip,Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,God Friended Me, andThe Whole Truth (he reunited withNumb3rs co-star Rob Morrow), among others and lent his voice to the animated programsTom Goes to the Mayor andAmerican Dad! Hirsch has also appeared several times on the television showMaron as comedianMarc Maron's father; he has had a recurring role onThe Goldbergs, playing the father ofJeff Garlin's character. In 2016, Hirsch appeared on theCBS comedy seriesThe Big Bang Theory portraying Alfred Hofstadter, the father ofJohnny Galecki's character,Leonard.[14]
From 2014 to 2015, Hirsch appeared as a series regular on theABC television seriesForever. From 2017 to 2018, Hirsch starred in the short-lived CBS comedySuperior Donuts which lasted two seasons.[15]
In early 2020, Hirsch appeared in a scene as the historicSimon Wiesenthal, in season 1, episode 8, of theAmazon Prime Video showHunters, which starsAl Pacino.[21]
In 2025, he appeared alongsideLinda Lavin inMid-Century Modern, her final onscreen role before her death.[22]
Hirsch won theTony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play for his work inConversations with My Father,[23] aHerb Gardner play.[24] Other noteworthy stage performances includeThe Hot l Baltimore,Talley's Folly, and his starring role inI'm Not Rappaport, for which Hirsch also won a Tony Award in 1986.[15]
Hirsch was married to his first wife, Elisa Sadaune, from 1963 to 1967. Their son, Alex Hirsch, was born in 1966.[25] Hirsch married Bonni Sue Chalkin, a fashion designer, in aJewish ceremony on December 24, 1992.[26] They subsequently divorced in 2005.[27] From this second marriage, Hirsch has a daughter, Montana, and a son, London.[28] Hirsch is currently married to his third wife, actress, Kathryn Danielle Hirsch.[29]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | The Law | Murray Stone | Television movie |
| 1975 | The Law | Murray Stone | 3 episodes |
| 1975 | Fear on Trial | Saul | Television movie |
| 1975 | Medical Story | Dr. Joe Dempsey | Episode: "Waste Land" |
| 1975 | The Legend of Valentino | Jack Auerbach | Television movie |
| 1976 | The Keegans | Lieutenant Marco Ciardi | Television movie |
| 1976 | Visions | Joe Morris | Episode: "Two Brothers" |
| 1977 | Rhoda | Mike | 2 episodes: "Rhoda Likes Mike"; "The Weekend" Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor for a Single Appearance in a Drama or Comedy Series |
| 1976–1977 | Delvecchio | Sergeant Dominick Delvecchio | 21 episodes |
| 1978–1983 | Taxi | Alex Reiger | 114 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series(1981, 1983) Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy(1978–1982) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series(1979–1980, 1982) |
| 1979 | Sooner or Later | Bob Walters | Television movie |
| 1979 | The Halloween That Almost Wasn't | Count Dracula | Television movie |
| 1980 | Marriage Is Alive and Well | Herb Rollie | Television movie |
| 1980 | The Last Resort | Dr. Zegelman | Episode: "Zegelmania" |
| 1981 | The Robert Klein Show | Unknown | Television movie |
| 1983 | Lights: The Miracle of Chanukah | Unknown | Television movie |
| 1985 | Detective in the House | Press Wyman | 6 episodes |
| 1985 | First Steps | Dr. Jerrold Petrofsky | Television movie |
| 1985 | Brotherly Love | Ben Ryder/Harry Brand | Television movie |
| 1988–1992 | Dear John | John Lacey | 90 episodes Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy(1988) Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Musical or Comedy(1989) |
| 1988 | The Great Escape II: The Untold Story | Capt. David Matthews | Television movie |
| 1989 | PBS NOVA | Himself (Host/Narrator) | Episode: "The Hidden City" |
| 1990 | She Said No | Martin Knapek | Television movie |
| 1994 | Betrayal of Trust | Dr. Jules Masserman | Television movie |
| 1996 | Caroline in the City | Ben Karinsky | Episode: "Caroline and the Comic" |
| 1997 | Color of Justice | Sam Lind | Television movie |
| 1997–1998 | George and Leo | Leo Wagonman | 22 episodes |
| 1999 | Rocky Marciano | Al Weill | Television movie |
| 2000 | Welcome to New York | Dr. Bob | Episode: "Dr. Bob" |
| 2001 | Family Law | Daniel Bonner | Episode: "Security" |
| 2002 | Philly | Rabbi Nathan Wexler | Episode: "The Curse of the Klopman Diamonds" |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Dr. Judah Platner | Episode: "Mercy" |
| 2003 | Regular Joe | Baxter Binder | 5 episodes; Also Producer |
| 2003 | Street Time | Shimi Goldman | Episode: "High Holly Roller" |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Ben Elkins | Episode: "Pravda" |
| 2003 | Who Killed the Federal Theatre | Narrator | Television movie |
| 2005 | Family Guy | Himself (voice) | Episode: "Blind Ambition" |
| 2006 | Tom Goes to the Mayor | Prisoner (voice) | Episode: "Spray a Carpet or Rug" |
| 2006 | Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip | Wes Mendell | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2009 | American Dad! | Rabbi (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2005–2010 | Numb3rs | Alan Eppes | 114 episodes |
| 2010 | Warehouse 13 | Isadore Weisfelt | Episode: "Secret Santa" |
| The Whole Truth | Judge Wright | Episode: "Judicial Discretion" | |
| 2011–2012 | Damages | Bill Herndon | 14 episodes |
| 2012 | The Good Wife | Judge Harrison Creary | Episode: "Here Comes the Judge" |
| 2013–2015 | Maron | Larry Maron | 4 episodes |
| 2014 | Sharknado 2: The Second One | Ben | Television movie |
| 2014–2015 | Forever | Abraham "Abe" Morgan | 22 episodes |
| 2014 | Small Miracles | Mort | 4 episodes |
| 2015–2023 | The Goldbergs | Ben "Pop-Pop" Goldberg | 22 episodes |
| 2016 | The Big Bang Theory | Dr. Alfred Hofstadter | 2 episodes |
| 2016 | Family Guy | Himself (voice) | Episode: "Take a Letter" |
| 2017–2018 | Superior Donuts | Arthur Przybyszewski | 34 episodes Also: Producer |
| 2018 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Joseph Edelman | Episode: "Alta Kockers" |
| 2018 | Welcome to the Wayne | Himself (voice) | Episode: "Gimble in the Wabe" |
| 2019–2021 | Big Mouth | Lewis Glouberman (voice) | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Modern Love | Cop, Vendor, Taxi Driver | Episode: "Take Me as I Am, Whoever I Am" |
| 2020 | God Friended Me | Abe | Episode: "A New Hope" |
| 2020–2023 | Hunters | Simon Wiesenthal | 3 episodes |
| 2020 | Cosmos: Possible Worlds | J. Robert Oppenheimer (voice) | Episode: "A Tale of Two Atoms"[31] |
| 2023 | Extrapolations | David Goldblatt | Episode: "2047: The Fifth Question" |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | Barefoot in the Park | Telephone Man | |
| 1972–1973 | The Hot l Baltimore | Bill Lewis | Obie Award for Best Performance |
| 1976 | Knock Knock | Multiple roles | Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play |
| 1977–1978 | Chapter Two | George Schneider | Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play |
| 1980 | Talley's Folly | Matt Friedman | Nominated—Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play |
| 1985–1988 | I'm Not Rappaport | Nat | Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play |
| 1992–1993 | Conversations with My Father | Eddie | Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play |
| 1996 | A Thousand Clowns | Murray Burns | |
| 1998–1999 | Art | Marc | |
| 2002 | I'm Not Rappaport | Nat | |
| 2004 | Sixteen Wounded | Hans |
Born Judd Seymore Hirsch in the Bronx
Benjamin Hirsh, Borough of Manhattan, Election District 12 New York City Ward 26, New York County, New York, United States; citing sheet 11A, family 189, NARA microfilm publication T623, FHL microfilm 1241112.
Isaac N Kitzis, Manhattan Ward 13, New York, New York, United States; citing enumeration district (ED) 766, sheet 16A, family 282, NARA microfilm publication T624, FHL microfilm 1375042.
