Richard Schiff

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Multi award winning actor and director, Richard Schiff is also an accomplished after dinner speaker speaking on acting, politics and 'Inside the West Wing'.

A Passion for Film and Theater

Actor/Director Richard Schiff has enjoyed a lengthy and acclaimed career in film, television and theater.  Born in Bethesda, Maryland and raised in New York City, Richard developed a passion for film and theater at a very early age.  He discovered that watching films or a stage production inspired his imagination and put him into a dream-like, blissful state that would continue for hours after the curtains closed.  He was absolutely transfixed when he saw his first Broadway play, On the Way to the Forum, and when he watched The Graduate for the first time.  It was only natural that Richard pursued a career in the arts.

Star of Stage and Screen

Richard began his career in New York, where he founded and served as the Artistic Director of the Manhattan Repertory Theater, and directed off-Broadway productions, including Antigone, starring Angela Bassett.  During this time, Richard also completed his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Theater at City College of New York (CCNY).  Soon afterward, he earned a role his first feature independent film, Medium Straight, and went to Los Angeles to attend its initial screening.  He started to receive offers of work from casting directors who saw the film and, before long, permanently moved to Los Angeles.  He performed several plays with Tim Robbins’ Actors’ Gang, while landing roles in City Hall with Al Pacino and David Fincher's Seven with Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman.  He soon gained prominence in the acting industry and began to build an acclaimed career as a film and television actor.

Richard’s extensive film credits now number more than 40, including the Oscar-nominated biopic Ray, as well as a wide-range of roles in films such as I Am Sam, Malcolm X, Lost World: Jurassic Park, People I Know, Forces of Nature, Lucky Numbers, Crazy in Alabama, Deep Impact, Hoffa, Living Out Loud, Doctor Doolittle, Trigger Effect, My Life, Heaven and The Hudsucker Proxy, among numerous others.  His roles also include parts in independent films such as Civic Duty, one of the films that opened the esteemed Tribeca Film Festival, The Martian Child, Heaven, Grace of my Heart, and The Trigger Effect. 

His distinguished television career received recognition with the memorable role of dysfunctional father Barry Roth on Relativity, as well as many guest star roles on popular series including NYPD Blue, Ally McBeal, Murphy Brown, L.A. Law, The Practice, Chicago Hope, ER and Roswell. 

Toby Ziegler, The West Wing and the Emmys

Richard’s television roles include his much-celebrated portrayal of White House Communications Director Toby Ziegler on The West Wing, for which he received the “Best Supporting Actor” Emmy Award and garnered three Emmy nominations. 

Richard also has a longstanding career in theater, with many off-Broadway productions under his belt, most recently Underneath the Lintel at the George Street Playhouse, which marked his return to the stage after five years.  Other noteworthy stage performances include Blood, Love and Madness, The Lower Depths, Talking Minks, Plain Brown Wrapper, Dark Age and Blues for Mister Charlie.   Richard won a Dramalogue award for his starring role as Goose in David Rabe's Goose and Tom Tom, and an Ovation Award for his role in Urban Folktales.

The Townsend Harris Medal

In 2000, Richard received the prestigious Townsend Harris medal from CCNY for outstanding post-graduate achievement.  Past recipients include author Upton Sinclair, actor Edward G. Robinson, and Dr. Jonas Salk.  In 2004, CCNY granted him the honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree, along with President Clinton and novelist Walter Moseley.

Most recently, Richard revisited his passion for directing, having helmed several episodes of The West Wing, and is beginning work on the direction of a documentary project.  Richard is married to film and television actress Sheila Kelley. They have two children together, Ruby Christine and Gus.

For further information or to book Richard Schiff, call us on +44 (0)20 8365 3200 or email afterdinner@speakerscorner.co.uk