Editing Bill Irwin

{{Use American English|date=November 2024}}
{{short description|American actor, choreographer, clown and comedian (born 1950)}}
{{About|the actor and clown|other people|Bill Irwin (disambiguation)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=November 2024}}
{{Infobox person
| name               = Bill Irwin
| image              = Bill Irwin by Gage Skidmore.jpg
| caption            = Irwin at the 2018 San Diego Comic Con
| birth_name         = William Mills Irwin
| birth_date         = {{birth date and age|1950|4|11}}
| birth_place        = [[Santa Monica, California]], U.S.
| death_date         = 
| death_place        = 
| death_cause        = 
| resting_place      = 
| body_discovered    = 
| occupation         = {{hlist|Actor|choreographer|clown|comedian}}
| years_active       = 1974–present
| spouse             = {{ubl|{{marriage|Kimi Okada|1977|1982|end=divorced}}|{{marriage|Martha Roth|1990}}}}
| children           = 1
| signature          = 
}}

'''William Mills Irwin''' (born April 11, 1950)<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/bio/Bill-Irwin/| title=Bill Irwin Biography| work=Broadway World| access-date = September 9, 2020}}</ref> is an American actor, choreographer, [[clown]],<ref>{{cite news|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2013/03/05/theater/reviews/old-hats-with-bill-irwin-and-david-shiner.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 |title=Aging Clowns and Brand-New Gags: 'Old Hats,' With Bill Irwin and David Shiner |work= [[The New York Times]]|date=March 4, 2013|first=Charles|last=Isherwood |author-link=Charles Isherwood|access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2011/11/09/theater/reviews/king-lear-at-the-public-theater-review.html |title=A Fool, His King and the Madness That Engulfs Them |work= [[The New York Times]]|date=November 8, 2011|first=Ben|last=Brantley |author-link=Ben Brantley |access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref> and comedian. He began as a [[vaudeville]]-style stage performer and has been noted for his contribution to the renaissance of American circus during the 1970s. He has made a number of appearances on film and television, and he won a [[Tony Award]] for his role in ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]'' He also worked as a choreographer on Broadway and was nominated for the [[Tony Award for Best Choreography]] in 1989 for ''Largely New York''. He is also known as [[Mr. Noodle]] on the ''[[Sesame Street]]'' segment ''[[Elmo's World]]'', and he appeared in the ''Sesame Street'' film short ''Does Air Move Things?''<ref>{{cite news |first=Mel |last=Gussow |author-link=Mel Gussow |date=May 11, 2008 |url=http://theater.nytimes.com/2008/05/11/theater/11mcel.html |title=How to Deal with Midlife: Keep Dancing |work=[[The New York Times]] |access-date=April 8, 2013}}</ref> He has regularly appeared as Dr. Peter Lindstrom on ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'', and had a recurring role as "The Dick & Jane Killer" on ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]''.<ref name="thebillirwin">{{cite web |publisher=thebillirwin.com |title=Television |url=http://thebillirwin.com/television-svu.html |access-date=January 21, 2016 |archive-date=March 24, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170324153640/http://thebillirwin.com/television-svu.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> From 2017 to 2019, he appeared as Cary Loudermilk on the [[FX (TV channel)|FX]] television series ''[[Legion (TV series)|Legion]]''.

==Early life==
Irwin was born in [[Santa Monica, California]], to Elizabeth (née Mills), a teacher, and Horace G. Irwin, an [[aerospace]] engineer.<ref>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/28/Bill-Irwin.html Bill Irwin Biography (1950-)<!-- Bot generated title -->] filmreference.com</ref> He graduated from [[Oberlin College]] in 1974 and attended [[Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College]] the following year. In 1975, he helped found the [[Pickle Family Circus]] in San Francisco, California.<ref name=tcmbio>[https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/92451%7C0/Bill-Irwin/ "Irwin Biography"] tcm.com, accessed August 18, 2013</ref> He credits his experience with the circus, and performing in schools under the [[CETA Employment of Artists (1974-1981)|Comprehensive Employment and Training Act]], as having made him a working artist.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flfXYBDWQvM The National Campaign to Hire Artists to Work in Schools], accessed November 27, 2020</ref> In 1979, Irwin left the company to pursue stage work.

==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]].

==Personal life==
He is married to Martha Roth, an "actress-turned-nurse midwife", whom he met while seeking treatment for a stiff neck.<ref name="bio">[http://www.bill-irwin.com/bio.html "Bill Irwin's Biography"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160426032555/http://www.bill-irwin.com/bio.html |date=April 26, 2016 }} bill-irwin.com, accessed July 25, 2014</ref> They have an adopted son, Santos Patrick Morales Irwin, who was born on December 9, 1991.<ref name="bio" />

==Awards and honors==
Irwin was awarded the [[National Endowment for the Arts]] Choreographer's Fellowship in 1981 and 1983. In 1984, he was named a [[Guggenheim Fellow]] and was the first performance artist to be awarded a five-year [[MacArthur Fellowship]]. For ''Largely New York'', he won a [[New York Drama Critics Circle]] Special Citation in 1988, and an [[Outer Critics Circle Award]] and [[Drama Desk Award]] in 1989. This show also received five nominations for Tony Awards.<ref>[http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=4545 ''Largely New York'' Listing for Tony Awards and Drama Desk"], Internet Broadway Database. Accessed August 18, 2013.</ref>

In 1992, he won an [[Obie Award]] for his performance in ''Texts for Nothing''. Together with [[David Shiner (clown)|David Shiner]], he won a special [[Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event|Tony Award for Live Theatrical Presentation]] in 1999 for their show, ''Fool Moon''.<ref>{{cite news|last=Lefkowitz|first=David|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/1999-tony-winner-special-award-fool-moon-com-82380 |title=1999 Tony Winner: Special Award - 'Fool Moon'|work=[[Playbill]]|date=June 6, 1999}}</ref> In 1993, this show had already won a Drama Desk Award for "Unique Theatrical Experience" and an Outer Critics Circle "Special Achievement" Award.{{cn|date=May 2023}}

In 2000, the Jazz Tap Ensemble in Los Angeles received a $10,000 grant from the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) "for a commission of a new work by Bill Irwin."<ref>[http://arts.gov/grants/recent/00grants/C-P.html "2000 Grant Awards: Creation & Presentation"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120925163801/http://www.arts.gov/grants/recent/00grants/C-P.html |date=September 25, 2012 }} arts.gov, accessed August 18, 2013.</ref> 

In 2004, the Signature Theatre Company (New York), received a $40,000 NEA grant for "the world premiere production of 'Mr. Fox: A Rumination' by Bill Irwin."<ref>[http://www.arts.gov/grants/recent/04grants/creativity.html "2004 Grant Awards: Creativity"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130220194649/http://www.arts.gov/grants/recent/04grants/Creativity.html |date=February 20, 2013 }} arts.gov, accessed August 18, 2013.</ref>

In 2005, he won the [[Tony Award]] for Best Actor in a Play for his appearance as George in the revival of [[Edward Albee]]'s ''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]''<ref>{{cite news|last=Jones|first=Kenneth|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/doubt-is-best-play-spamalot-best-musical-butz-irwin-clark-jones-nichols-win-2005-tonys-com-126320|title='Doubt' Is Best Play, 'Spamalot' Best Musical; Butz, Irwin, Clark, Jones, Nichols Win 2005 Tonys|work=[[Playbill]]|date=June 5, 2005}}</ref>

Irwin received a 2008 [[CFCA Award]] nomination for "Best Supporting Actor" for his role in ''[[Rachel Getting Married]]''. In 2010, [[New Victory Theater|The New Victory Theater]] presented Irwin with the first-ever New Victory Arts Award.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.newvictory.org/About/Philosophy.aspx |title=Philosophy |publisher=[[New Victory Theater]] |access-date=August 19, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130731054543/http://www.newvictory.org/About/Philosophy.aspx |archive-date=July 31, 2013 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He was honored for "bringing the arts to kids and kids to the arts." [[Nathan Lane]] and [[Jonathan Demme]] spoke at the ceremony. Irwin is also on the board of [[New 42nd Street|The New 42nd Street, Inc]].

==Filmography and stage work==
===Film===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|+ Film roles
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1980
|''[[Popeye (film)|Popeye]]''
|[[Harold Hamgravy|Ham Gravy]], the Old Boyfriend
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1988
|''[[A New Life (film)|A New Life]]''
|Eric
|
|-
|''[[Eight Men Out]]''
|[[Eddie Collins]]
|
|-
|1990
|''[[My Blue Heaven (1990 American film)|My Blue Heaven]]''
|Kirby
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |1991
|''[[Scenes from a Mall]]''
|Mime
|
|-
|''[[Hot Shots!]]''
|Buzz Harley
|
|-
|''[[Stepping Out (1991 film)|Stepping Out]]''
|Geoffrey
|
|-
| rowspan="3" |1993
|''[[Silent Tongue]]''
|Comic
|
|-
|''[[Manhattan by Numbers]]''
|Floyd
|
|-
|''[[Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit]]''
|Unnamed Brother #1
|Uncredited
|-
|1994
|''Water Ride''
|The Man in the Gray Hat
|Short film
|-
|1998
|''[[Illuminata (film)|Illuminata]]''
|Marco
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |1999
|''[[Just the Ticket]]''
|Ray Charles
|
|-
|''[[A Midsummer Night's Dream (1999 film)|A Midsummer Night's Dream]]''
|[[Tom Snout]]
|
|-
|2000
|''[[How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000 film)|How the Grinch Stole Christmas]]''
|Lou Lou Who
|
|-
|2001
|''[[Elmo's World|Elmo's World: The Wild Wild West]]''
|Mr. Noodle
|Direct-to-video
|-
|2002
|''[[Igby Goes Down]]''
|Lt. Smith
|
|-
| rowspan="2" |2004
|''The Truth About Miranda''
|Emile
|
|-
|''[[The Manchurian Candidate (2004 film)|The Manchurian Candidate]]''
|Scoutmaster
|
|-
|2005
|''[[Sesame Street|Elmo Visits the Doctor]]''
|Mr. Noodle
|Direct-to-video
|-
| rowspan="3" |2006
|''[[Elmo's World|Elmo's World: Reach for the Sky]]''
|Mr. Noodle
|Direct-to-video
|-
|''[[Lady in the Water]]''
|Mr. Leeds
|
|-
|''[[Elmo's World|Elmo's World: Pets!]]''
|Mr. Noodle
|Direct-to-video
|-
| rowspan="3" |2007
|''[[Dark Matter (film)|Dark Matter]]''
|Hal Silver
|
|-
|''[[Elmo's World|Elmo's World: What Makes You Happy?]]''
|Mr. Noodle
|Direct-to-video
|-
|''[[Across the Universe (film)|Across the Universe]]''
|Uncle Teddy
|
|-
|2008
|''[[Rachel Getting Married]]''
|Paul Buchman
|
|-
|2010
|''Goldstar, Ohio''
|Chief Jeff 'Goob' Garver
|Short film
|-
| rowspan="3" |2011
|''[[Higher Ground (film)|Higher Ground]]''
|Pastor Bud
|
|-
|''[[Elmo's World|Elmo's World: Penguins and Friends]]''
|Additional voices
|Direct-to-video
|-
|''[[Elmo's World|Elmo's World: People in Your Neighborhood]]''
|Additional voices
|Direct-to-video
|-
|2012
|''[[Elmo's World|Elmo's World - Favorite Things]]''
|Additional voices
|Direct-to-video
|-
| rowspan="2" |2014
|''[[Interstellar (film)|Interstellar]]''
|TARS (voice)
|Provides puppetry for TARS and CASE
|-
|''Frozen on Broadway: First Look''
|Director
|Short film
|-
| rowspan="2" |2015
|''Identity Theft''
|Mark
|Short film
|-
|''[[Ricki and the Flash]]''
|Single Dad
|
|-
|2016
|''[[Old Hats]]''
|Himself
|
|-
|2018
|''[[Ballet Now]]''
|Himself
|Documentary
|-
|2020
|''[[Irresistible (2020 film)|Irresistible]]''
|Elton Chambers
|
|-
|2022
|''[[Spoiler Alert (film)|Spoiler Alert]]''
|Bob 
|
|-
|2023
|''[[Rustin (film)|Rustin]]''
|[[A. J. Muste]]
|
|-
|2024
|''[[High Tide (2024 film)|High Tide]]''
|Scott
|
|-
|2026
|''[[The Odyssey (2026 film)|The Odyssey]]''
|
|Filming
|}

===Television===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|+ Television roles
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1979
|''[[Struck by Lightning (TV series)|Struck by Lightning]]''
|
|Episode: "Frank Meets the Press"
|-
|1982
|''[[Saturday Night Live]]''
|The Dancing Man
|Segment: "The Dancing Man"
|-
|1983
|''The Regard of Flight''
|Performer
|TV movie
|-
|1987
|''[[The Cosby Show]]''
|Eddie Bartholomew
|Episode: "The Show Must Go On"
|-
|1990
|''The Circus''
|Pierrot The Clown / Miranda's Father
|TV movie
|-
|1991–1992
|''[[Northern Exposure]]''
|Enrico Bellati
|2 episodes
|-
|1992
|''[[The Last Mile (1992 film)|The Last Mile]]''
|The Maestro
|TV short
|-
|1992–2010;<br>2017–present
|''[[Sesame Street]]''
|Mr. Noodle, Air Mime, Professor Television
|Recurring; 25 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |1993
|''[[Great Performances]]''
|Master of Ceremony
|Episode: "Sondheim: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall"
|-
|''[[TriBeCa (TV series)|TriBeCa]]''
|[[Gene Kelly]] Clone
|Episode: "The Loft"
|-
|1994
|''Monte Video''
|Clown
|Episode: "Erntedankfest"
|-
|1996
|''[[The Adventures of Pete & Pete]]''
|The Broker
|Episode: "35 Hours"
|-
|1997
|''[[Subway Stories]]''
|Himself
|TV movie; segment: "Subway Car from Hell"
|-
|1998
|''[[3rd Rock from the Sun]]''
|Pickles
|Episode: "Pickles and Ice Cream"
|-
|2002
|''[[The Laramie Project (film)|The Laramie Project]]''
|Harry Woods
|TV movie
|-
|2006
|''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]''
|Nate Royce
|Episode: "Masquerade"
|-
| rowspan="2" |2008
|''[[Law & Order]]''
|Ellison Conway
|Episode: "Bogeyman"
|-
|''[[Life on Mars (American TV series)|Life on Mars]]''
|Dr. Schwahn
|Episode: "Tuesday's Dead"
|-
|2008–2011
|''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]''
|[[List of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation characters#Nate Haskell|Nate Haskell]]
|Recurring
|-
| rowspan="3" |2011
|''[[The Good Wife]]''
|Fred Medkiff
|Episode: "Ham Sandwich"
|-
|''[[Lights Out (2011 TV series)|Lights Out]]''
|Hal Brennan
|Recurring
|-
|''[[A Gifted Man]]''
|Ron Vinetz
|Episode: "Pilot"
|-
|2013
|''[[Monday Mornings]]''
|Dr. Buck Tierney
|Main cast
|-
|2013–2022<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thefutoncritic.com/listings/20210503nbc12/ |title = Listings - LAW & ORDER: SPECIAL VICTIMS UNIT on NBC {{!}} TheFutonCritic.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nbc.com/law-and-order-special-victims-unit/video/a-final-call-at-forlinis-bar/9000172721 |title=Watch Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Episode: A Final Call at Forlini's Bar |publisher=NBC.com |date= |accessdate=September 1, 2022}}</ref>
|''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]''
|Dr. Peter Lindstrom
|Recurring; 17 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2014
|''[[Elementary (TV series)|Elementary]]''
|Richard Balsille
|Episode: "The One Percent Solution"
|-
|''[[Blue Bloods (TV series)|Blue Bloods]]''
|Cardinal Brennan
|2 episodes
|-
|2015
|''[[South of Hell (TV series)|South of Hell]]''
|Enos Abascal
|Main cast
|-
|2015–2016
|''[[Sleepy Hollow (TV series)|Sleepy Hollow]]''
|Atticus Nevins
|4 episodes
|-
| rowspan="2" |2016
|''[[Confirmation (film)|Confirmation]]''
|[[John Danforth|Jack Danforth]]
|TV movie
|-
|''[[Quarry (TV series)|Quarry]]''
|Harlowe
|Episode: "Seldom Realized"
|-
| rowspan="2" |2017
|''[[Julie's Greenroom]]''
|Himself
|2 episodes
|-
|''[[Doubt (American TV series)|Doubt]]''
|Judge
|2 episodes
|-
|2017–2019
|''[[Legion (TV series)|Legion]]''
|Cary Loudermilk
|Main cast
|-
|2018, 2022
|''[[This Is Us]]''
|Dr. Spencer
|2 episodes
|-
|2020–2021
|''[[Star Trek: Discovery]]''
|Su'Kal
|3 episodes
|-
|2021
|''[[New Amsterdam (2018 TV series)|New Amsterdam]]''
|Grandpa Calvin
|3 episodes
|-
| rowspan="3" |2022
|''[[The Gilded Age (TV series)|The Gilded Age]]''
|Cornelius Eckhard
|Episode: "Face the Music"
|-
|''[[The Dropout]]''
|[[Channing Robertson]]
|4 episodes
|-
|''[[The Andy Warhol Diaries (TV series)|The Andy Warhol Diaries]]''
|[[Andy Warhol]] (voice)
|6 episodes
|-
|TBA
|''[[The Beast in Me (TV series)|The Beast in Me]]''
|James Ingram
|Upcoming series
|}

===Music videos===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|+ Music videos
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1988
|"[[Don't Worry, Be Happy]]"
|Himself
|Music video; [[Bobby McFerrin]]
|-
|1996
|"[[Let Me into Your Heart]]"
|Himself
|Music video; [[Mary Chapin Carpenter]]
|}

===Stage===
{| class = "wikitable sortable"
|+ Stage work
|-
!Year
!Title
!Role
!Notes
|-
|1984
|''[[Accidental Death of an Anarchist]]''
|The Sergeant
|Broadway
|-
|1987
|''The Regard of Flight''
|Writer and performer
|Broadway
|-
|1988
|''[[Waiting for Godot]]''
|[[Lucky (Waiting for Godot)|Lucky]]
|Off-Broadway<br>Drama Desk Award nomination
|-
|1989
|''Largely New York''
|The Post-Modern Hoofer<br>Director, choreographer, and writer
|Broadway<br>Drama Desk Award for Unique Theatrical Experience<br>Tony Award nominations for Best Actor in a Play, Best Choreography, Best Direction of a Play, and Best Play
|-
|1993
|''Fool Moon''
|Creator and performer
|Broadway
|-
|1995
|''Fool Moon''
|Creator and performer
|Broadway
|-
|1998
|''Fool Moon''
|Creator and performer
|Broadway
|-
|2002
|''[[The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?]]''
|Martin
|Broadway
|-
|2005
|''[[Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?]]''
|George
|Broadway<br>Tony Award<br>Drama Desk Award nomination
|-
|2007
|''Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?''
|George
|National tour
|-
| rowspan="2" |2009
|''Waiting for Godot''
|[[Vladimir (Waiting for Godot)|Vladimir]]
|Broadway<br>Drama Desk Award nomination
|-
|''[[Bye Bye Birdie]]''
|Harry MacAfee
|Broadway
|-
|2011
|''[[King Lear]]''
|The Fool
|Off-Broadway<br>Drama Desk Award nomination
|-
|2018
|''[[The Iceman Cometh]]''
|Ed Mosher
|Broadway
|-
|2019
|''[[Gary: A Sequel to Titus Andronicus]]''
|Movement choreographer
|Broadway
|-
|2023
|''[[Endgame (play)|Endgame]]''<ref>{{cite web | url=https://irishrep.org/show/2022-2023-season/endgame-2 | title=Endgame }}</ref>
|Clov
|Off-Broadway
|-
| rowspan="2" |2024
|''On Beckett''
|Himself
|Guthrie Theater
|-
|''[[Eureka Day]]''<ref>{{cite web |last1=Cullwell-Block |first1=Logan |title=Jonathan Spector's Eureka Day Opens on Broadway December 16 |url=https://playbill.com/article/jonathan-spectors-eureka-day-opens-broadway-debut-december-16 |website=[[Playbill]] |access-date=2024-12-17 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241217060445/https://playbill.com/article/jonathan-spectors-eureka-day-opens-broadway-debut-december-16 |archive-date=2024-12-17 |date=2024-12-16}}</ref>
|Don
|Broadway
|}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category|Bill Irwin}}
*[https://thebillirwin.com Bill Irwin - Official Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915191404/http://thebillirwin.com/ |date=September 15, 2018 }}
*[http://www.bill-irwin.com/ Bill Irwin - Archival Site] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160421061435/http://www.bill-irwin.com/ |date=April 21, 2016 }}
* {{IMDb name|410347|Bill Irwin}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{iobdb name|3540}}
* [http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?res=9501E4D81238F935A15757C0A962948260 The Regard of Flight] from ''[[The New York Times]]'' (Registration required) (1984)
* [http://www.curtainup.com/harlequinstudies.html The Harlequin Studies] (2003)
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20120406070606/http://danceinteractive.jacobspillow.org/dance/bill-irwin?ref=artist&refcar=%2Fartist%2Fi-j Archive film of Bill Irwin performing Post-Modern Studies in 1983 at Jacob's Pillow]
* [https://www.nytimes.com/2003/09/18/arts/theater/18IRWI.html "A Clown Changes Costume and, Presto: Playwright" - ''The New York Times'']

{{Navboxes
|title = Awards for Bill Irwin
|list =
{{AARP Movies for Grownups Award for Best Supporting Actor}}
{{DramaDesk UniqueTheatricalExperience 1976–2000}}
{{TonyAward PlayLeadActor 2001-2025}}
{{TonyAward TheatricalEvent}}
}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Irwin, Bill}}
[[Category:1950 births]]
[[Category:20th-century American dramatists and playwrights]]
[[Category:20th-century American male actors]]
[[Category:21st-century American male actors]]
[[Category:American clowns]]
[[Category:American male comedians]]
[[Category:American male film actors]]
[[Category:American male stage actors]]
[[Category:American male television actors]]
[[Category:American mimes]]
[[Category:American theatre directors]]
[[Category:Bessie Award winners]]
[[Category:Comedians from California]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:MacArthur Fellows]]
[[Category:Male actors from Santa Monica, California]]
[[Category:Musical theatre choreographers]]
[[Category:Oberlin College alumni]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]