Lenny Wolpe

Last updated
Lenny Wolpe
Born (1951-03-25) March 25, 1951 (age 73)
Newburgh, New York, U.S.
Education George Washington University (BA)
OccupationActor

Lenny Wolpe (born March 25, 1951) is an American musical theatre actor who has appeared in Broadway musicals including Wicked and The Drowsy Chaperone .

Contents

Early life

Wolpe was born in Newburgh, New York. Wolpe majored in American history at George Washington University and was active in the university's theater department. Upon graduation, Wolpe attended graduate school at the University of Minnesota to teach theater.

Career

Wolpe made his Broadway debut in Onward Victoria , which closed on opening night. [1] Other Broadway appearances include Copperfield (Mr. Dick), Into the Light (Peter Vonn), and The Sound of Music (replacement for Max Dettweiler). While in a national tour of Little Shop of Horrors , Wolpe was asked to audition for The Drowsy Chaperone by producer Roy Miller, with whom he had worked at the Paper Mill Playhouse in New Jersey. Wolpe was cast as Feltzeig, a producer. [1] Wolpe created the role of the Wizard in Wicked's original workshops in Los Angeles. Beginning July 10, 2007, he played the Wizard on Broadway. [2] Wolpe played his final performance as the Wizard in the Broadway company on July 27, 2008, and was replaced by P.J. Benjamin. [3] Wolpe recently reprised the role as The Wizard in the first U.S. National Tour of Wicked, where he replaced Lee Wilkof. His run started on September 6, 2008 and ended exactly a year later. Wolpe was succeeded by Richard Kline. [4] In addition to Little Shop, Wolpe has appeared in National tours of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and South Pacific . Off-Broadway, Wolpe has appeared in Mayor (Mayor Koch), Brownstone, Company , and The Wonder Years. His regional theatre credits include The Baker's Wife (Baker), Gypsy (Herbie opposite Betty Buckley), The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (Paper Mill Playhouse), A Class Act , Radio Gals (Pasadena Playhouse), Fiddler on the Roof (Tevye in six productions), Fiorello! , and She Loves Me (Reprise! L.A.). [5]

On television, he was a series regular on Baby Talk and You're the One . Wolpe has guest starred on more than 80 television programs including L.A. Law (on which he played a victim of Tourette syndrome), ER , Six Feet Under , The Golden Girls , The King of Queens , Ally McBeal , and Chappelle's Show . [5]

In May 2012, Wolpe premiered in the role of Morty in a new off-Broadway show based on the eponymous Old Jews Telling Jokes podcast.[ citation needed ]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Murder Between Friends Janet’s Lawyer [6]
1994 S.F.W. Phil Connors
2000What's Eating You?Dr. Bader

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980Broadway on ShowtimeTimothy D. McGeeEpisode: "Little Johnny Jones"
1990 Major Dad Commander Abe RosenEpisode: "Lemon"
1990 L.A. Law Noah Cowen2 episodes
1991 Baby Talk Howard11 episodes
1991 The Torkelsons Mr. WheelerEpisode: "An American Almost in Paris"
1991 Locked Up: A Mother's Rage Marty DeLucaTelevision film
1991 The Golden Girls ArnieEpisode: "Dateline: Miami"
1991 Sisters Dr. Reinholdt2 episodes
1991 Who's the Boss? Garry HavlockEpisode: "The Sold House"
1992 Billy EdEpisode: "Pilot"
1992 Matlock Doug PinterEpisode: "The Abduction"
1992 Secrets Harry PizerTelevision film
1992 Civil Wars Arthur HancockEpisode: "Grin and Bare It"
1992 Blossom Jim ThompsonEpisode: "The Making of the President"
1993 Murphy Brown BobEpisode: "Back to the Ball"
1993 Roseanne Frank DenversEpisode: "Wait till Your Father Gets Home"
1993 And the Band Played On Dr. Joseph BoveTelevision film
1993 Married... with Children FatherEpisode: "Change for a Buck"
1994 Mad About You MontyEpisode: "Paul Is Dead"
1994 Diagnosis: Murder Insurance Agt. Nathan KeysEpisode: "The Last Laugh: Part 2"
1994 Boy Meets World Car DealerEpisode: "The Beard"
1995 Coach Dr. MatthewsEpisode: "Did Someone Call Me Snorer?"
1995 Bless This House Pete SeifertEpisode: "A Fight a Day Keeps the Doctor Away"
1995 Step by Step Yum Yum ExecutiveEpisode: "Baby Come Back"
1995 The John Larroquette Show Mr. LewisEpisode: "An Odd Cup of Tea"
1996Project: ALFDr. NewmanTelevision film
1996 Murder One Ezra NagelEpisode: "Chapter Twenty-Three"
1996 Party of Five StrauseEpisode: "Not So Fast"
1996 Something So Right Mr. Sandzimier2 episodes
1997 Martin Loafer
1997 Pacific Palisades Mitch Berlatski3 episodes
1998 House Rules Randy HicksEpisode: "Riley's New Job"
1998 You're the One Sy Weitz3 episodes
1998 Working Lawyer #1Episode: "Due Process"
1999 Ally McBeal James RussellEpisode: "Saving Santa"
2000 The Norm Show Mr. JacobsEpisode: "Norm vs. the Oldest Profession"
2000 ER Dr. George HudsonEpisode: "Be Still My Heart"
2000 The Jamie Foxx Show EdwinEpisode: "Hot Coco on a Cold Night"
2000 Beverly Hills, 90210 RabbiEpisode: "Ode to Joy"
2001 Nikki Mr. HealyEpisode: "Superhero Blues"
2001 The King of Queens Dr. BergerEpisode: "Lyin' Hearted"
2003 Six Feet Under Gregory FasteauEpisode: "Everyone Leaves"
2004 Crossing Jordan Ronald CosgroveEpisode: "Til Death Do Us Part"
2004 Chappelle's Show Prosecutor #1Episode: "Oprah's Baby Daddy & Jury Duty"
2010 Law & Order: SVU Dr. GreenEpisode: "Gray"
2018 The Good Fight Judge John EvansEpisode: "Day 492"
2018–2022After ForeverCarl10 episodes

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References

  1. 1 2 Fitzgerald, TJ (September 11, 2006). "A 'Drowsy' Chat with Lenny Wolpe". BroadwayWorld.
  2. ↑ Kuchwara, Michael (November 5, 2019). "Lenny Wolpe Is Broadway's New Wizard". Backstage.
  3. ↑ "P.J. Benjamin Will Be Broadway's Wizard in Wicked". Broadway.com. July 28, 2008. Retrieved March 28, 2022.
  4. ↑ Lipton, Brian Scott (September 11, 2009). "Richard Kline, Randy Danson Join Chandra Lee Schwartz and Donna Vivino on Wicked Tour". TheaterMania.
  5. 1 2 "Lenny Wolpe - Who's Who Bio". Playbill. Archived from the original on 2011-06-05.
  6. ↑ Alvin H. Marill, Movies Made for Television, 1964-2004: 1990-1999 (2005), p. 350
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