American actor (born 1955)
Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955) is an American actor. He is best known for playingToby Ziegler onThe West Wing Emmy Award . Schiff made his television directorial debut withThe West Wing , directing an episode titled "Talking Points ". He is on the National Advisory Board of theCouncil for a Livable World .[ 1] Ballers ABC 's medical dramaThe Good Doctor [ 2] Odin inSanta Monica Studio 'sGod of War: Ragnarök
Schiff was born on May 27, 1955, inBethesda, Maryland , and was raised in New York City. He is the second of three sons of Charlotte, a television and publishing executive, and Edward Schiff, areal estate lawyer .[citation needed His brothers are producerPaul Schiff and talent manager David Schiff.[ 3] Clarence B. Jones ,Martin Luther King Jr. 's lawyer.[ 4] [ 5] Teamster in theInternational Brotherhood of Electrical Workers ".[ 6] Jewish . His grandfather was alleged to have connections to New York’sJewish Mafia , a background that inspired a plot line onThe West Wing .[ 7] [ 8] [ 9] Bronx High School of Science for a time but did not graduate, instead taking night classes atWashington Irving High School while working.[ 6] [ 10] City College of New York after initially dropping out and moving to Colorado.[ 11] [ 12] [ 13] [ 14] [ 15] William Esper Studio .[ 16] Paul Schiff was college roommates with his futureWest Wing cast mateBradley Whitford .[ 17]
Schiff initially studied directing. He directed severaloff-Broadway plays, includingAntigone Angela Bassett . In the mid-1980s Schiff decided to try his hand at acting and landed several TV roles. He was seen bySteven Spielberg in an episode of the TV dramaHigh Incident and was cast inThe Lost World: Jurassic Park Toby Ziegler in the television seriesThe West Wing [ 18]
In the early 1990s, Schiff landed numerous small roles in a variety of films, including a Train Driver inSpeed .Se7en ER NYPD Blue City Hall Al Pacino andJohn Cusack . Schiff portrayed a doctor alongsideEddie Murphy in the 1998Dr. Dolittle HBO TV movieThe Pentagon Wars Deep Impact Becker What's the Worst That Could Happen? Martin Lawrence andDanny DeVito . He played the part of the tough lawyer Mr. Turner inI Am Sam Sean Penn andMichelle Pfeiffer and co-starred inPeople I Know
Schiff appeared inRay Jerry Wexler , shaving his beard for the role. After working onThe West Wing [ 19] Peter Krause inCivic Duty
Schiff in May 2009 Schiff had a cameo appearance as himself in the second-season finale of the seriesEntourage Entourage Underneath the Lintel Glen Berger , at theGeorge Street Playhouse inNew Brunswick, New Jersey . In February 2007, he appeared in theWest End production ofUnderneath the Lintel in theDuchess Theatre [ 5] BBC Radio 5 Live and talked at length toSimon Mayo about his experiences acting inThe West Wing Burn Notice Underneath the Lintel , performed by Schiff, was broadcast by BBC Radio 4 on January 5, 2008. Schiff starred in Lanford Wilson'sTalley's Folly at the McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton, New Jersey in fall 2008 as accountant Matt Friedman, opposite Margot White as Sally Talley. Later that year Schiff co-starred inLast Chance Harvey Dustin Hoffman andEmma Thompson andAnother Harvest Moon Ernest Borgnine and appeared in the season finale ofEli Stone
Schiff portrayed Charles Fischer inTerminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles Skynet and a traitor to the resistance. He was sent back in time to the present as a reward for his service to Skynet. He played anOrthodox rabbi on an episode ofIn Plain Sight West Wing co-starMary McCormack . In 2009, he co-starred in the moviesImagine That Dr. Dolittle co-starEddie Murphy , andSolitary Man Michael Douglas andSusan Sarandon . Later in 2009, he returned to London to shoot two other movies:The Infidel [ 20] Omid Djalili , andMade in Dagenham Sally Hawkins andBob Hoskins . Schiff also appeared as a hypnotist in one episode ofMonk ' s seventh season.
Schiff starred inPast Life Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior The Cape [ 21] Any Human Heart Jim Broadbent playing the role of a psychiatrist and onWhite Collar ' s second-season episode 15. He also played the role of an ex-CIA agent in a terrorist organization inJohnny English Reborn Smash! [ 22] Rob Lowe in the dramaKnife Fight Josh Duhamel ,Rosario Dawson andBruce Willis inFire with Fire NCIS seasons 9 and10 , asHarper Dearing , the replacement forOsama bin Laden on the Most Wanted Wall for attacks against the United States Navy.
Schiff was cast to star in theShowtime seriesHouse of Lies Kristen Bell andDon Cheadle . He also starred in the TV movieInnocent Bill Pullman . He had a recurring guest role in the TV seriesOnce Upon A Time Helen Hunt and formerWest Wing starBradley Whitford in the movieDecoding Annie Parker Chasing The Hill .
In late 2012 and early 2013, he portrayed George Aaronow in a Broadway revival ofGlengarry Glen Ross Eugene O'Neill play,Hughie Dr. Emil Hamilton inZack Snyder 's 2013Superman film,Man of Steel Speed-the-Plow David Mamet , co-starringLindsay Lohan . In 2015, Schiff appeared asDwayne Johnson 's character's boss on HBO'sBallers Kill the Messenger The Automatic Hate , andTake Me to the River West Wing co-starAllison Janney .
Schiff had a regular role on theTNT 's crime dramaMurder in the First Taye Diggs ,Kathleen Robertson , andTom Felton .
Schiff in 2024 He played Aaron Glassman onThe Good Doctor from 2017 to 2024.[ 23]
He provided theperformance capture forOdin inSanta Monica Studio 's 2022 video gameGod of War Ragnarök [ 24]
He appeared in the short filmSwipe NYC released in 2023, and was the Ambassador of the Arts Recipient honoree at the 2024 North Fork TV Festival on Long Island.[ 25] [ 23] [ 26]
In 2024 he was an executive producer of the documentary filmPublic Defender [ 27] [ 28]
In spring 2025, he was set to appear on stage off-Broadway in aNew York Theatre Workshop production ofBecoming Eve based on the memoir byAbby Stein .[ 29] [ 30] [ 31]
Schiff's first marriage toSheryl Noethe ended in divorce.[ 32] [ 33] [ 34] Sheila Kelley married in 1996.[ 35] The Good Doctor . They have a son, Gus, born in 1994, and a daughter, Ruby, born in August 2000.[ 35] [ 36] The Good Doctor .
Schiff has supportedDemocratic candidates, but has said he is not a registered member of the party.[ 37] Barack Obama in the2008 U.S. presidential election . Previously, he had endorsed then-SenatorJoe Biden , before Biden dropped out. In 2016, Schiff supported SenatorBernie Sanders during the Democratic primaries.[ 38] Cynthia Nixon 's bid forGovernor of New York in the2018 election .[ 39] [ 40] American Civil Liberties Union in support ofJimmy Kimmel following ABC'ssuspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! .[ 41]
On November 10, 2020, Schiff announced that he and his wife had tested positive forCOVID-19 on Election Day and were quarantining at their home in Vancouver.[ 42] [ 43] [ 44]
Year Title Role Venue Ref. 2001 Nightfall performer New York Stage and Film , New York[ 45] 2006 Underneath the Lintel The Librarian George Street Playhouse , New Jersey[ 46] 2007 Duchess Theatre , West End[ 47] 2008 Talley's Folly Matt Friedman McCarter Theatre , New Jersey[ 48] 2011 Smash! Bebe Menier Chocolate Factory , Off-West End[ 49] [ 50] 2012 Glengarry Glen Ross George Aaronow Gerald Schoenfeld Theater , Broadway[ 51] [ 52] 2013 Hughie Erie Smith Shakespeare Theatre Company , D.C.[ 53] 2013 The Chosen Reb Saunders Barrington Stage Company , Massachusetts[ 54] 2013 Parfumerie Mr. Hammerschmidt Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts , Los Angeles[ 55] 2014 Speed-the-Plow Bobby Gould Playhouse Theatre , West End[ 56] 2025 Becoming Eve Tati Abrons Arts Center , Off-Broadway[ 9]
^ "Board" .Council for a Livable World .^ Denise Petski (March 13, 2017)." .Deadline Hollywood . RetrievedSeptember 20, 2017 . ^ Citron, Alan (January 14, 1994)."Paul Schiff Builds Producing Portfolio" .The Los Angeles Times . RetrievedApril 4, 2023 . ^ Hastings, Sheena (23 July 2012)."The Big Interview: Richard Schiff" .The Yorkshire Post . Retrieved2022-06-16 .His parents divorced and his mother later married Clarence Jones, who happened to be Martin Luther King's lawyer. ^a b Caesar, Ed (8 February 2007)."Richard Schiff: Life after 'The West Wing' .The Independent . London. Retrieved16 April 2011 . ^a b Cutler, Jacqueline (January 14, 2019)."7 Questions With Richard Schiff of ABC's 'The Good Doctor' .Channel Guide Magazine .Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. RetrievedNovember 11, 2020 . ^ "Infidel actor Richard discovered drama in his family's history" .The Jewish Telegraph . jewishtelegraph.com Published 2010. Accessed February 12, 2016.^ "JUF : Tweens : Celebrities : Richard Schiff" . 2016-08-17. Archived fromthe original on 17 August 2016. Retrieved2025-04-14 .^a b Hall, Margaret (20 March 2025)."New York Theatre Workshop's Becoming Eve Begins Off-Broadway March 20" .Playbill . Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ "Promenade: Winter 2012-2013" .Issuu . 2012-12-01. Retrieved2025-04-20 .^ "First Lady continues a CCNY tradition" .The City College of New York . Retrieved2025-04-20 .^ "Honorary Degree Recipients" .The City College of New York . Retrieved2025-04-20 .^ Fauci, Jennifer (2019-01-23)."Richard Schiff: The Doctor Is In" .www.longislandpress.com . Retrieved2025-04-20 . ^ "HONOR ROLL" .New York Daily News . 2000-10-31. Retrieved2025-04-20 .^ Braun, Kelly (2019-03-09)."Richard Schiff Reveals He 'Found Purpose' In Acting (Exclusive)" .Closer Weekly | News About The Stars You Love . Retrieved2025-04-20 . ^ "Calista Flockhart, David Morse Pay Tribute to Acting Teacher William Esper" .The Hollywood Reporter . 2019-05-18. Retrieved2021-02-16 .^ "Typecasting, meme formats and working with Aaron Sorkin: Q&A with Bradley Whitford" .Typecasting, meme formats and working with Aaron Sorkin: Q&A with Bradley Whitford - The Miami Student . Retrieved2025-04-20 .^ Schiff, Richard."Richard Schiff bio" . Retrieved7 July 2016 . ^ "Tuned In: Group reshaping indecency debate" . 2005-09-13. Archived fromthe original on 13 September 2005. Retrieved2025-03-09 .^ "The film that changed my life: Richard Schiff" .The Guardian . London. 25 April 2010. Retrieved16 April 2011 .^ What's Behind the Cape? Parallel Universe on MSN: Features. Last accessed 28th November 2013^ "Richard Schiff stars in the new West End play Smash!" .BBC Website . BBC News: Entertainment and the Arts. April 13, 2011. Retrieved16 April 2011 .^a b Fishman, Scott (2024-08-20)."Richard Schiff on 'The Good Doctor' Farewell, 'West Wing' & North Fork TV Festival" .TV Insider . Retrieved2025-03-09 . ^ Ehrlich, David (2022-11-18)."Allfather Knows Best: How Veteran Character Richard Schiff Became the Year's Best Villain — in a Video Game" .IndieWire . Retrieved2024-01-26 . ^ "2024 North Fork TV Festival Announces Richard Schiff As Ambassador For the Arts Recipient" .Awardsdaily . Retrieved2025-03-09 .^ Swipe NYC (2023) | MUBI . Retrieved2025-03-09 – via mubi.com.^ Public Defender (2024-11-22).Scripps News Interview with Executive Producer Richard Schiff . Retrieved2025-03-09 – via YouTube. ^ "About" .Public Defender . Retrieved2025-03-09 .^ "NYTW / Becoming Eve" .NYTW . Retrieved2025-03-09 .^ "Richard Schiff, Judy Kuhn, Brandon Uranowitz Join Tommy Dorfman in NYTW's Becoming Eve - TheaterMania.com" . 2025-01-21. Retrieved2025-03-09 .^ "Interview: Richard Schiff on Becoming Eve, His Welcome Return to His New York Theater Roots - TheaterMania.com" . 2025-03-20. Retrieved2025-04-14 .^ "Richard Schiff - Wings It!" .NYCastings - DirectSubmit . 2011-02-15. Retrieved2025-04-20 .^ KRISTIN TILLOTSON, Star Tribune (2008-09-02)."Politique: Maybe it was because I forgot to wear my American hat" .www.startribune.com . Retrieved2025-04-20 . ^ "Richard Schiff" .prod.tcm.com . Retrieved2025-04-20 .^a b Lynch, Jason (April 23, 2001)."First, Family" .People Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. RetrievedSeptember 18, 2014 . ^ "Closer Weekly: HEART TO HEART" . 2019-03-18. Retrieved2025-04-18 – via PressReader.^ "Richard Schiff discusses potential presidential candidates | Larry King Now | Ora.TV" – via www.youtube.com.^ " .The Hollywood Reporter . November 7, 2016. RetrievedJuly 27, 2018 .^ "Richard Schiff on Twitter" . Twitter. August 12, 2018.^ Johnson, Ted (2020-10-21)."How Joe Biden's Campaign Has Mobilized Hollywood With Weekly Zoom Sessions" .Deadline . Retrieved2022-07-24 . ^ "Join the ACLU and Over 400 Artists to Defend Free Speech" .American Civil Liberties Union . Retrieved2025-09-28 .^ Ausiello, Michael (November 10, 2020)."Good Doctor's Richard Schiff Reveals COVID-19 Diagnosis: 'This Is Tough' .TVLine . RetrievedNovember 16, 2020 . ^ Ausiello, Michael (November 16, 2020)."Ailing Good Doctor Star Richard Schiff Shares COVID-19 Update From Hospital" .TVLine . RetrievedNovember 16, 2020 . ^ Andreeva, Nellie (November 19, 2020)." .Deadline Hollywood . RetrievedNovember 19, 2020 . ^ Ehren, Christine (24 June 2001)."Emmy Winners Schiff and Wettig Bring Nightfall to Vassar's Powerhouse June 27-July 7" .Playbill . Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ Allen, Kerry (22 January 2006)."THEATER REVIEW; A Book Overdue, A Man Interrupted" .New York Times . Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ Gardner, Lyn (13 February 2007)."Underneath the Lintel" .The Guardian . Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ Siegel, Naomi (24 October 2008)."A Sentimental Story of a Couple With Some Unburdening to Do" .New York Times . Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ Billington, Michael (1 April 2011)."Smash! – review" .The Guardian . Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ Benedict, David (4 April 2011)."Smash" .Variety . Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ Brantley, Ben (8 December 2012)."Fugue for Wrung-Out Tinhorns" .New York Times . Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ "Glengarry Glen Ross – Broadway Play – 2012 Revival" .Internet Broadway Database . The Broadway League. Retrieved23 March 2025 .^ Gilbert, Sophie (13 February 2013)."Theater Review: "Hughie" at Shakespeare Theatre Company" .Washingtonian . Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ Donahue, Joe (22 July 2013)."Richard Schiff in "The Chosen" at Barrington Stage" . WAMC Northeast Public Radio. Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ Meisel, Myron (7 December 2013)."Parfumerie: Theater Review" .The Hollywood Reporter . Retrieved23 March 2025 . ^ Wolf, Matt (7 October 2014)."Mamet With the Mute Button On" .New York Times . Retrieved23 March 2025 .
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