Matt Letscher

Last updated
Matt Letscher
Matt Letscher.jpg
Alma mater University of Michigan
Occupations
  • Actor
  • playwright
  • director
Years active1992–present
SpouseJennifer Letscher
Children2

Matt Letscher is an American actor, director and playwright, known for his roles as Captain Harrison Love in the 1998 American swashbuckler film The Mask of Zorro and as Colonel Adelbert Ames in the 2003 American film Gods and Generals . He co-starred in the 2016 Michael Bay film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi , playing Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. He has also portrayed Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash in The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow .

Contents

Education

Letscher attended college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and a drama major. [1]

Career

Acting

Letscher got his first professional acting job with a role in The Tropic Pickle, during the second season of Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan. Letscher impressed Daniels enough that the veteran arranged a meeting for Letscher with Ron Maxwell, the director of Gettysburg . After appearing in a small role, Letscher took advice from Daniels and moved to Los Angeles. He quickly found work in guest roles on television. [2]

In 1995, Letscher was cast as the naive television writer in the Nancy Travis sitcom Almost Perfect , which lasted for a season and a half. He went on to appear as series regular in Living in Captivity in 1998. The same year, he appeared in the film The Mask of Zorro as the villain Captain Harrison Love. He appeared in the miniseries Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot and in the television films King of Texas , The Beach Boys: An American Family , When Billie Beat Bobby , and Stolen Innocence. He also reunited with Daniels in Gods and Generals (the prequel of Gettysburg) and Daniels' directorial effort Super Sucker . Letscher also returned to The Purple Rose Theatre in the world premiere of Landford Wilson's play Rain Dance .

In 2002, the comedy pilot Good Morning, Miami was picked up by NBC as part of Must See TV Thursday comedy block, but Burke Moses was replaced by Letscher and a second pilot had to be filmed. The romantic comedy sitcom featured Letscher as a smarmy former network anchor who was the primary romantic rival to main character Jake Silver (Mark Feuerstein) for the affection of Dylan (Ashley Williams). [3] Despite the series receiving negative reviews, Letscher and Constance Zimmer were standouts in the series and eventually paired up as a combative couple. But the show was canceled midway though its second season due to low ratings.

His performance in Good Morning, Miami led to him being cast in the lead in the film Straight-Jacket , opposite Carrie Preston, about a gay Hollywood actor forced to marry a beard in the 1950s. [4] His flair for classical farce also led to him being cast in the leading role of Capt. Jack Absolute in the Lincoln Center theater production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The Rivals. Letscher was praised for his spirited performance and his costar Robert Easton referred to Letscher as "a perfect classical actor." [2]

Letscher was in the cast of Joey , and had a recurring role on The New Adventures of Old Christine and numerous guest starring roles. After appearing as a kind neighbor in Alan Ball's Towelhead , Letscher was cast in Eli Stone , as Nathan Stone, the prophet's kind-hearted older brother. Despite low ratings, the dramedy series had loyal fans and critical acclaim, earning it a second season which included a larger role for Letscher. His work on Greg Berlanti's Eli Stone lead to his arc on Berlanti's Brothers & Sisters as a love interest for the married Kitty Walker.

In 2012, Letscher starred in the series Bent and Scandal , and was cast in the series The Carrie Diaries as Tom Bradshaw, Carrie Bradshaw's widowed father. [5] [6] The show ran for two seasons from 2013 until 2014. [7] He appeared in the 2013 films, Atom Egoyan's Devil's Knot (about The West Memphis Three) and Spike Jonze's comedy Her , opposite Amy Adams. [8] Letscher portrayed Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash, initially in a recurring role on The Flash and later as a regular in season two of Legends of Tomorrow , [9] and reprised the role in two episodes of its seventh season. [10]

Writing

In June 2007, Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan, staged the world premiere of Letscher's original play Sea of Fools, a farce set in Joseph McCarthy-era Hollywood. Film director Elia Kazan is a character in the play. Daniels initially planned to direct the play but pulled out, allowing Letscher to also direct the play.

In 2009, his play Gaps in the Fossil Record was staged at the Pacific Resident Theater, then had its world premiere production at the Purple Rose Theatre in 2016. [11]

In 2010, he co-wrote (with Nipper Knapp and Andrew Newberg) and starred in the comedy pilot Gentrification, which won best writing at the Comedy Central New York Television Festival.

Personal life

Letscher has a wife, Jennifer, [12] with two children. [2]

Filmography

Film roles
YearFilmRoleNotes
1993 Gettysburg Young 2nd Maine man
1995 Not This Part of the World Tom
Prehysteria! 3 NeedlemeyerDirect-to-video
1996 Power 98 EddieVoice
1997 Lovelife Danny
1998 The Mask of Zorro Captain Harrison Love Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Villain
2000 John John in the Sky John Clairborne
2002 Super Sucker Howard Butterworth
2003 Gods and Generals Colonel Adelbert Ames
Identity Greg
2004 Straight-Jacket Guy Stone
2005 Madison Owen
Heart of the Beholder Mike Howard
2007 Towelhead Gil Hines
2010 Radio Free Albemuth Mr. Brady
2013 Devil's Knot Paul Ford
Her Charles
2014 Teacher of the Year Mitch Carter
2015 Day Out of Days Jason
2016 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Ambassador Chris Stevens
2019 Countdown Charlie Harris
Television roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
1993 Saved by the Bell: The College Years RickEpisode: "Rush Week"
1994 Silk Stalkings Harley EastlakeEpisode: "Head 'N' Tail"
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Tom JenningsEpisode: "Life and Death"
The Larry Sanders Show Daniel PalmerEpisode: "The Fourteenth Floor"
Ellen Steve MorganEpisode: "The Toast"
Long ShadowsNathanTelevision film
1995 Vanishing Son N/AEpisode: "Holy Ghosts"
The Watcher Episode: "Heartburned"
Silk StalkingsJeff ChadwickEpisode: "I Know What Scares You"
Stolen InnocenceEddieTelevision film
1995–1997 Almost Perfect Rob PaleyMain role; 34 episodes
1998 Living in Captivity Will MarekMain role; 7 episodes
1999 NYPD Blue WitnessEpisode: "What's Up, Chuck?"
Love, American Style NedEpisode: "Love in the Old South"
2000 The Beach Boys: An American Family Mike Love Television film
2001 Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot Ted Kennedy Miniseries; 2 episodes
When Billie Beat Bobby Larry KingTelevision film
2002 Providence Kevin Norris3 episodes
King of Texas Emmett WestoverTelevision film
2002–2003 Good Morning, Miami Gavin StoneMain role; 31 episodes
2004–2005 Joey Eric Garrett5 episodes
2005 Criminal Minds Vincent ShyerEpisode: "Broken Mirror"
2006–2007 The New Adventures of Old Christine Burton Schaefer5 episodes
2006 The West Wing Peter BlakeEpisode: "Welcome to Wherever You Are"
Saved Robbie ColeEpisode: "Family"
Justice Will BechtelEpisode: "Shark Week"
2007 Boston Legal ADA Adam MerselEpisode: "Angel of Death"
CSI: Miami Dr. Mike LaskerEpisode: "Broken Home"
2008–2009 Eli Stone Nathan StoneMain role; 21 episodes
2009–2010 Brothers & Sisters Alec Tyler5 episodes
2009 Entourage Dan Coakley3 episodes
2009 Medium Dr. Erik WestphalEpisode: "You Give Me Fever"
2010 Drop Dead Diva A.J. FowlerEpisode: "Good Grief"
Amish Grace Gideon GraberTelevision film
2011 The Good Wife Adam BorasEpisode: "Two Courts"
2011 Pound Puppies Hunky man, ticket seller, RefVoice; episode: "Quintuplets"
2012 Bent Ben5 episodes
2012–2013 Scandal Billy Chambers8 episodes
2013–2014 The Carrie Diaries Tom BradshawMain role; 26 episodes
2014 Boardwalk Empire Joseph P. Kennedy 4 episodes
2014–2015 Castle Henry Jenkins3 episodes
2014 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Major Bernard MillsEpisode: "Angle of Attack"
2015 The Exes Charles Hayward2 episodes
2015–2016, 2022–2023 The Flash Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash Recurring role; 8 episodes
2016–2017, 2022 Legends of Tomorrow Main role (season 2), guest (season 7); 14 episodes
2017 Hell's Kitchen HimselfGuest diner; Episode: "Tequila Shots?"
2018 Will & Grace James Wise3 episodes
2018–2021 Narcos: Mexico Jaime Kuykendall20 episodes
2020 Angel of Darkness William Randolph Hearst 8 episodes
2021 The Rookie Cooper SanfordEpisode: "Hit and Run"
Web series roles
YearTitleRoleNotes
2009The HustlerDadEpisode: "Piñata Hustler"
2014–2016One & DoneMatthewMain role; 7 episodes
Also co-creator, writer, director, and producer
Video game roles
YearTitleRoleNote
2010 BioShock 2 Additional voices Minerva's Den DLC

Theater

As an actor
YearPlayRoleTheater/Company
1992The Tropical PickleBirmingham Purple Rose Theatre (regional)
1993The SeagullFountain Theater (regional)
1995The SistersDavid TurzinFountain Theater (regional)
1997–1998 Proposals Ray Broadhurst Theater (Broadway)
1999AbsolutionDavidLos Angeles Court Theater (regional)
2000 Love's Labour's Lost Berowne Old Globe Theater (regional)
2000 Tonight at 8.30 Toby Cartwright Pacific Resident Theater (regional)
2001Rain DanceHank Purple Rose Theatre (regional)
2002 On Approval George Pacific Resident Theater (regional)
2004–2005 The Rivals Captain Jack Absolute Lincoln Center (Broadway)
2006Double DoubleDuncanWilliamson Theater Festival (regional)
2006Ridiculous FraudKap South Coast Repertory (regional)
2007AnatolAnatol Pacific Resident Theater (regional), Los Angeles Drama Desk Award-Lead Performance
2008What We HaveJonas South Coast Repertory (regional)
2010In a GardenHacket South Coast Repertory (regional)
2010The Language ArchiveGeorge Roundabout Theater Company (Off-Broadway)
As a playwright
YearPlayTheater/Company
2007Sea of Fools Purple Rose Theatre (regional)
2009Gaps in the Fossil RecordPacific Resident Theatre (regional)
2016Gaps in the Fossil Record Purple Rose Theatre (regional)

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References

  1. ↑ "UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance - Department of Theatre & Drama - Alumni". Music.umich.edu. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  2. 1 2 3 Hoffner, Josh (January 2, 2005). "Matt Letscher makes transition from Must See TV to theater". The Post and Courier . p. 2E. Retrieved February 19, 2014.[ dead link ]
  3. ↑ Karger, Dave (September 13, 2002). "Fall TV Preview". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  4. ↑ Director's Comedy, DVD Straight-Jacket
  5. ↑ Briganti, Vicki (February 11, 2013). "'The Carrie Diaries' Matt Letscher Remembers the '80". The CW Pittsburgh. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  6. ↑ Michael Ausiello (2012-05-11). "The Carrie Diaries, Arrow and Beauty and the Beast TV Shows Picked Up By The CW". TVLine. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  7. ↑ Harp, Justin (May 8, 2014). "Carrie Diaries cancelled by The CW". Digital Spy. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  8. ↑ "The Carrie Diaries cast bio". Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  9. ↑ Abrams, Natalie (December 23, 2015). "'The Flash': Matt Letscher returning as Reverse-Flash". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  10. ↑ Mitovich, Matt Webb (January 13, 2022). "Legends of Tomorrow: Matt Letscher Returning as Thawne — Here's Why". TVLine. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  11. ↑ Kiley, Anne (Mar 8, 2016). "Tickets on sale now for Purple Rose's "Gaps in the Fossil Record"". Encore Michigan. Retrieved Sep 25, 2019.
  12. ↑ "A Perfectly Scripted Opening Night for The Language Archive". Broadway.com. October 18, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
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