Editing Bill Irwin (section)

==Career==

===Creator and writer===
Irwin has created several highly regarded stage shows that incorporate elements of clowning, often in collaboration with composer [[Doug Skinner]]. These works included ''The Regard of Flight'' (1982), which ran on [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in April 1987 for 17 performances,<ref>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Show/Detail/11254/The-Regard-of-Flight " ''The Regard of Flight'' on Broadway"], playbillvault.com, accessed May 12, 2015.</ref> ''Largely New York'' (1989), ''[[Fool Moon (play)|Fool Moon]]'' (1993),<ref>{{cite news|author-link1=Robert Simonson |last1=Simonson |first1=Robert |last2=Jones |first2=Kenneth |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/irwin-and-shiners-fool-moon-rises-on-bways-atkinson-nov-17-com-78190 |title=Irwin and Shiner's 'Fool Moon' Rises on Bway's Atkinson, Nov. 17 |work=[[Playbill]] |date=November 2, 1998}}</ref> ''The Harlequin Studies'' (2003),<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/bill-irwins-harlequin-studies-dissecting-theatres-clown-premieres-sept-3-off-bway-com-114703 |title=Bill Irwin's 'Harlequin Studies', Dissecting Theatre's Clown, Premieres Sept. 3 Off-Bway |work=[[Playbill]] |date=August 7, 2003}}</ref> and ''Mr. Fox: A Rumination'' (2004).<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/be-a-clown-bill-irwins-mr-fox-a-rumination-conjures-forgotten-american-actor-com-119019 |title=Be a Clown: Bill Irwin's 'Mr. Fox: A Rumination' Conjures Forgotten American Actor |work=[[Playbill]] |date=April 13, 2004}}</ref> ''Mr. Fox'' is a production that Irwin has worked on for years, a biography of 19th century clown [[George L. Fox (clown)|George Washington Lafayette Fox]] that also has autobiographical elements. In 2013, he teamed with his occasional partner [[David Shiner (clown)|David Shiner]] to create and perform in the [[Off-Broadway]] "clowning revue-with-music" ''[[Old Hats]]'' along with actress and musician [[Nellie McKay]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Aging Clowns and Brand-New Gags|author-link=Charles Isherwood|last=Isherwood |first=Charles|date=March 4, 2013|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/theater/reviews/old-hats-with-bill-irwin-and-david-shiner.html?_r=0|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |last1=Gans |first1=Andrew |last2=Jones |first2=Kenneth |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/off-broadway-run-of-acclaimed-old-hats-by-bill-irwin-and-david-shiner-extended-again-com-203993 |title=Off-Broadway Run of Acclaimed 'Old Hats', By Bill Irwin and David Shiner, Extended Again |work=Playbill |date=April 2, 2013}}</ref> ''Old Hats'' won the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue.<ref>{{cite news |last1=Hetrick |first1=Adam |last2=Gans |first2=Andrew |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/billy-porter-andrea-martin-pippin-matilda-vanya-and-sonia-win-drama-desk-awards-com-205593 |title=Billy Porter, Andrea Martin, 'Pippin', 'Matilda', 'Vanya and Sonia' Win Drama Desk Awards |work=Playbill |date=May 10, 2013}}</ref> ''Old Hats'' was revived in New York City in 2016, with Shiner and Irwin returning and a new third performer, musician [[Shaina Taub]], performing with her band between the sketches. <ref>{{cite news|title=Review: 'Old Hats,' Mime and Mayhem From Irwin and Shiner|author=Genzlinger, Neil|date=February 18, 2016|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/19/theater/review-old-hats-mime-and-mayhem-from-irwin-and-shiner.html|work=[[The New York Times]]}}</ref>

He adapted [[Molière]]'s play ''[[Les Fourberies de Scapin]]'' as a comedy called ''Scapin'', and has played the title role in several productions. He appeared in the play at the [[off-Broadway]] [[Roundabout Theatre Company]] [[Laura Pels Theatre]] in January through March 1997, after performing in the play at the [[Seattle Rep]].<ref>{{cite news |last=Viagas |first=Robert |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/bill-irwin-scapin-opens-jan-9-off-broadway-com-329077 |title=Bill Irwin Scapin Opens Jan. 9 Off-Broadway |work=[[Playbill]] |date=January 10, 1997}}</ref> His adaptation allowed him to incorporate his signature clowning routines into the course of the action.

Irwin performed with [[The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps]] at the [[1996 Summer Olympics]], in a "band on the run" sequence where he played Dr. Hubert Peterson of the fictitious Federation of United Marching Associations of America.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2853774795331584631&q=dci|title=DCI Cadets 1996 Olympics Performance<!-- Bot generated title -->}}</ref>

===Actor===
[[File:Bill Irwin - Cropped.jpg|right|thumb|Irwin in 2013]]
Although Irwin is best known for his theatrical clown work, he has also been featured in a number of dramatic plays. Irwin appeared with [[Steve Martin]] and [[Robin Williams]] in the [[Lincoln Center]] Off-Broadway production of ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'', in 1988, in the role of [[Lucky (Waiting for Godot)|Lucky]].<ref>Isenberg, Barbara. [https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1988-11-22-ca-508-story.html 'Godot' Leaves Them Waiting for Tickets"] ''Los Angeles Times'', November 22, 1988</ref> Lucky's only lines consist of a famous 500-word-long monolog, an ironic element for Irwin since much of his clown-based stage work was silent.

He directed the 1998 [[Roundabout Theatre Company]] production of ''[[A Flea in Her Ear]]''. He appeared in 2002 with [[Sally Field]] in the replacement cast of ''[[The Goat or Who is Sylvia?]]''<ref>{{cite news |last=Ehren |first=Christine |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/sally-field-and-bill-irwin-prepare-a-new-goat-for-broadway-com-108140 |title=Sally Field and Bill Irwin Prepare a New 'Goat' for Broadway |work=[[Playbill]] |date=September 9, 2002 |access-date=January 19, 2017}}</ref> In 2005, he starred as George alongside [[Kathleen Turner]] in a revival of [[Edward Albee]]'s ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'', for which he won a Tony Award.<ref>{{cite news |last=Simonson |first=Robert |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/virginia-woolf-howls-its-last-on-broadway-sept-4-com-127755 |title='Virginia Woolf' Howls Its Last on Broadway Sept. 4 |work=[[Playbill]] |date=September 4, 2005}}</ref> He played Vladimir (Didi) in the 2009 Broadway revival of ''[[Waiting for Godot]]'',<ref>{{cite news |last=Jones |first=Kenneth |url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/128752-Irwin-and-Lane-Are-Waiting-for-Godot-Opening-April-30 |title=Irwin and Lane Are Waiting for Godot, Opening April 30 |work=[[Playbill]] |date=April 30, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214234235/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/irwin-and-lane-are-waiting-for-godot-opening-april-30-160424 |archive-date=February 14, 2015}}</ref> and Mr. McAfee in the Broadway revival of ''[[Bye Bye Birdie (musical)|Bye Bye Birdie]]''. In 2011, he appeared in ''[[King Lear]]'' at the [[Public Theatre]].<ref>{{cite web |last=Hetrick |first=Adam |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/king-lear-with-sam-waterston-kelli-ohara-bill-irwin-and-frank-wood-begins-at-the-public-oct-18-com-183644 |title='King Lear', With Sam Waterston, Kelli O'Hara, Bill Irwin and Frank Wood, Begins at the Public Oct. 18 |work=[[Playbill]] |date=October 18, 2011}}</ref> In 2023, he played Clov in the [[Irish Repertory Theatre]]'s Off-Broadway production of ''[[Endgame (play)|Endgame]]''.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://irishrep.org/show/2022-2023-season/endgame-2/ |title=''Endgame by Samuel Beckett'' |website= www.irishrep.org |access-date= February 3, 2023}}</ref>

===Film and television===
Irwin's first featured film role was in 1980, appearing as [[Harold Hamgravy]] in Robert Altman's ''[[Popeye (film)|Popeye]]'' starring [[Robin Williams]]. He has appeared in over 20 films, mainly in supporting roles. Irwin's principal film roles include playing [[Eddie Collins]] in ''[[Eight Men Out]]'', which tells the story of the "[[Black Sox Scandal|Black Sox]]" gambling scandal of 1919, and ''[[My Blue Heaven (1990 American film)|My Blue Heaven]]'', a 1990 comedy with [[Steve Martin]] and [[Rick Moranis]]. Irwin tap-danced in a leading role in 1991's ''[[Stepping Out (1991 film)|Stepping Out]]'' with [[Liza Minnelli]], appeared as a mime in the [[Paul Mazursky]] film ''[[Scenes from a Mall]]'' alongside [[Woody Allen]] and [[Bette Midler]], and played [[Charlie Sheen]]'s father in ''[[Hot Shots!]]'' (1991).  His authentic vaudevillian skills landed him a role in the [[Sam Shepard]] film ''[[Silent Tongue]]'' in 1994, and he appeared in film adaptations of ''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 film)|How the Grinch Stole Christmas]]'', ''[[The Laramie Project (film)|The Laramie Project]]'' and ''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''. He played an ex-brain surgeon and house salesman in the Nickelodeon series ''[[The Adventures of Pete & Pete]]''. In 2006, Irwin played the solitary Mr. Leeds in [[M. Night Shyamalan]]'s ''[[Lady in the Water]]'' and had a small role as Uncle Teddy in 2007's ''[[Across the Universe (film)|Across the Universe]]''. He received critical acclaim for his role as Paul, father to [[Anne Hathaway]]'s character Kym, in the 2008 drama ''[[Rachel Getting Married]]''.<ref name=tcmbio/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://movies.nytimes.com/person/34579/Bill-Irwin/filmography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080531154601/http://movies.nytimes.com/person/34579/Bill-Irwin/filmography |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 31, 2008 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=[[The New York Times]] |date=2008 |title=Filmography |access-date=August 17, 2013}}</ref>

Irwin's most notable television roles have been Enrico Ballati, "The Flying Man", on the television series ''[[Northern Exposure]]'', [[Mr. Noodle]] in the ''[[Elmo's World]]'' segment of the PBS children's show ''[[Sesame Street]]'', and the "Dick & Jane" serial killer [[List of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation characters#Nate Haskell|Nate Haskell]] on ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]''. He was featured in the 1988 music video of "[[Don't Worry, Be Happy]]" by [[Bobby McFerrin]] (along with McFerrin and Robin Williams) and the 1996 music video of "[[Let Me into Your Heart]]" by [[Mary Chapin Carpenter]]. Irwin was also featured in HBO's 1997 production ''[[Subway Stories]]''. He has also appeared on ''[[The Cosby Show]]'', ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', ''[[3rd Rock from the Sun]]'', ''[[Law & Order]]'', and ''[[Lights Out (2011 TV series)|Lights Out]]''.

In 2011, Irwin guest starred in the pilot episode of the CBS television drama ''[[A Gifted Man]]''.<ref>{{cite web|last=Wallemberg|first=Christopher|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/stage-to-screens-a-2011-12-tv-season-packed-with-stage-stars-com-182744|title=STAGE TO SCREENS: A 2011-12 TV Season Packed With Stage Stars|work=Playbill|date=September 17, 2011}}</ref> He starred in the 2013 [[medical drama]] TNT television series, ''[[Monday Mornings]]'' as Buck Tierney.<ref>Ross, Robyn. [http://www.tvguide.com/News/TNT-Monday-Mornings-1047164.aspx "TNT Orders David E. Kelley's Medical Drama 'Monday Mornings'"] May 2012</ref> In 2014, he guest starred in the episode "The One Percent Solution" of CBS' ''[[Elementary (TV series)|Elementary]]''.

Irwin voices the robot TARS in the film ''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]'' and puppeteers the robot in most scenes (those which are not computer-generated). He is featured in the [[PBS]] series ''[[Great Performances]]'', in the episode titled "Bill Irwin, Clown Prince", initially broadcast in December 2004.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20041217091019/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/gperf/shows/billirwin/ "Great Performances. 'Bill Irwin, Clown Prince' "]. Public Broadcasting Service, 2004, accessed August 19, 2013</ref>

He regularly appears on the [[NBC]] crime series ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' as therapist Dr. Peter Lindstrom. Lindstrom normally appears on the show while counseling main character Captain [[Olivia Benson]].<ref name="thebillirwin" /> Irwin also appeared on the television series ''[[Sleepy Hollow (TV series)|Sleepy Hollow]]'', playing the character of Atticus Nevins. Between 2017 and 2019, he appeared in the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] television series ''[[Legion (TV series)|Legion]]''.

In 2020, he appeared as Su'Kal in ''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]''. In 2022, Irwin guest starred on ''[[The Gilded Age (TV series)|The Gilded Age]]'' on [[HBO]].