Mandy Patinkin's Main TV Roles Show Character(s) Criminal Minds Jason Gideon Homeland Saul Berenson Dead Like Me Rube Sofer Chicago Hope Dr. Jeffrey… The Jewish Americans Mandy Patin…

Main Movie Roles

BIOGRAPHY:

Mandy Patinkin (born Mandel Bruce Patinkin; November 30, 1952) to Lester, a scrap metal dealer and Doris "Doralee". His first name was a tribute to his grandfather. Growing up he began singing in synagogue choirs at the age of 13-14 and still continues to use his fantastic voice in musicals and in recordings.

Attending Juilliard he became good friends with actor 'Kelsey Grammer' and upon hearing that Cheers was auditioning for the role of Dr. Frasier Crane he immediately put Grammer's name forward for the role.

Rumours persist about Patinkin's sudden departure from Criminal Minds. He simply failed to show up one day for a table read. He has contacted the entire cast to explain what is referred to as "personal reasons" for leaving. It seems that although Patinkin was prepared for the show to include violence the actual level of violence portrayed was unacceptable to the actor. He left to do more light hearted work.

Patinkin supports many charities including: PAX, Doctors Without Borders, Americans for Peace Now, The September 11th Fund, Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America and Gilda's Club.


TRIVIA:

• Before he and 'Adam Arkin' (qv) starred as doctors on the television show, _"Chicago Hope" (1994)_ (qv), they both played doctors in the movie, _The Doctor (1991)_ (qv).
• Did an interview for a 1987 _The Princess Bride (1987)_ (qv) featurette pretending to have worse English than the character he was playing (a Spaniard). In reality, he's American, born and bred.
• Occasional appearances on _"Late Show with David Letterman" (1993)_ (qv) on CBS-TV. His most memorable performances were with 'Tony Randall (I)' (qv), who accompanied him pretending to have had a taxi breakdown and therefore needing an emergency rehearsal hall. Mandy then brings down the house with 'Al Jolson' (qv) standards "Swanee", "Mammy", etc.
• Acted in very first commercial for Kellogg's Frosted Mini-Wheats; commercial filmed in Chicago's Loop.
• Attended the University of Kansas for two years before being "discovered."
• Mandy's mother is Doralee Patinkin Rubin, a cookbook author, who is to have her own cooking show on the Food Network.
• Briefly studied acting at New York's Juilliard School of Drama, but dropped out to pursue work.
• Won Broadway's 1980 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Musical) for playing 'Ernesto 'Che' Guevara' (qv) in Broadway's "Evita." He was also nominated twice as Best Actor (Musical): in 1984 for Broadway's "Sunday in the Park with George," a role he recreated on TV (_Sunday in the Park with George (1986) (TV)_ (qv), and in 2000 for Broadway's "The Wild Party".