Career

Craig Bierko has been acting since the fourth grade, when  he auditioned in front of his parents, who ran a community theater company called the Harrison Players, in Rye, New York, for a role as a singing newsboy, in a production of "Gypsy."  

"If I wanted to audition for a part, fine. But I had to earn my place." 

Craig Bierko on getting parts in shows with his parents community theater, from the article "In Step with Craig Bierko," by James Brady, in Parade Magazine, June 24, 2001.

"The very first play that they took me to, I think it was 1972 or so, it was for my brother's birthday, and we went to see the original cast of "Pippin." I didn't know what to expect, and we were eating dinner at the Howard Johnson's on Broadway right before hand and I just tugged my mother's sleeve, I said, `If this is really boring, can I just wait in the car?' And she said, `Oh, I don't think you're going to find this boring.' And it was Fosse, you know, with women, no clothes. I was, you know, eight or nine.  and there were churnings and things I'd never felt before. And also just I'd never seen a live production of anything before. My brother as Harold Hill, in Mrs. Goldberts'  fifth grade night of music, that's what I had seen. And it was an incredibly overwhelming experience. And, yes, there was truly a sense of, `This is what I want to do with the rest of my life.' And that's never gone away.   That was at the Imperial Theatre. And right now, I was  walking down the street the other day with a friend of mine and I looked over at the Imperial Theatre and there's this giant banner that says, "The Music Man," with my name and Rebecca's name on it, and it was just one of those great moments, you know?

Craig Bierko on seeing his first show, from an On Air "Fresh Air" interview with Terry Gross, 7/25/200.

 

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"My parents were very active in community theatre. By day they were a dentist and a housewife, but by night they were every character imaginable."   "I made my acting debut playing a newsboy in a production of the musical Gypsy. Mom was playing one of the strippers.  "As an eight-year-old, you don't want to see your mother bumping and grinding, so I used to sneak out the back door of the theatre each night during those scenes." 

Craig Bierko on having his first surreal experience at eight,  from the article, "Lucky 13," by Louis B. Hobson, Calgary Sun, Saturday May 22, 1999  

 

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In school, Craig was the class comedian, "The class clown runs across the football field naked.  The class comedian is the guy who gets him to do it."

Craig Bierko from the article "In Step with Craig Bierko," by James Brady, in Parade Magazine, June 24, 2001.

 

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Dominic Missimi, director of Northwestern’s Certificate Program in Musical Theatre on Craig's acting skills from the article,   "The Actor’s New Clothes, Craig Bierko tries Broadway on for Size," by Timothy Malcolm, The Daily Free Press, The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University, October 29, 2003.   

Click Here to read the article

 

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 After graduating Craig moved to LA. 

"I didn't want to come to New York and do the starving actor thing.  It's easier to do in Los Angeles. You can live well out there for a lot less money." 

Craig Bierko  from "Prime Time TV"

Click Here to read the article.

"As soon as I arrived there was a writer's strike.  I had to come back to New York to live with Mom. I waited tables in Rockefeller Center. I was the world's worst waiter."

Craig Bierko from the article "In Step with Craig Bierko," by James Brady, in Parade Magazine, June 24, 2001.

 "All day I'd hear, '$15 for a club sandwich!' and then I'd have to explain. And I didn't know. So I'd say, 'Welcome to New York'."   Later, he got an audition for The Guiding Light soap. "I was supposed to play Burke Steel or whatever. And I was a lousy paramedic on Search For Tomorrow," he remembers. "I had flop sweat on camera."

Craig Bierko on his early career, from the article "Bierko Still Punching Buttons," by Bob Thompson of the Toronto Sun, June 3, 1999.

 

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The '80's

Craig's  early TV work in the 80's included a role in "The Day My Kid Went Punk", a 1987 "ABC After school Special,"  the tear jerker, "Love Notes,"    and a theater production of  "Leave It To Jane."

Craig guest starring roles on:

"Amen"

"Our House" in episde #124, "The Children's Crusade" airing May 3, 1987.    Our House starred Deidre Hall and Shannon Doherty.

"Eisenhower & Lutz" (1988) playing  a "Waiter" in episode 18 "Don't Change a Hair for Me" airing May 9, 1988.  Eisenhower & Lutz starred Scott Bakula

"Paradise" playing "Johnny Ryan" " in Episode #22, "Home Again" airing  September 16, 1989   in episode  "The Return of Johnny Ryan" airing December  2, 1989.

"Newhart" as "Dirk" in episode 85,  "Ramblin' Michael Harris"  airing October 23, 1989.  Newhart starred Bob Newhart.

The Boys From Syracuse  (1989)

He  was cast in the '89 production of  "The Boys From Syracuse" produced by a troupe backed by Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett and Carol Channing. 

1989

Craig  was visiting his father, Rex when he (Rex) learned of an audition at a Fort Worth Theatre.  "He loved being around theater and getting up on stage, but my feeling was he was a little scared, and I could relate," Craig Bierko said of his father. "I felt like it was a clutch moment, so I said I would audition, too."  Both were cast, although the younger actor declined the part because of other commitments. But Rex Bierko has since acted in or directed more than three dozen community plays.

From the article, "Director enjoying Act II of Career," By Kathy A. Goolsby, of The Dallas Morning News, February 21, 2004

Click Here to Read Article

 

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Drop Dead

  He co-starred in the LA debut of "Drop Dead,"  a campy cult comedy starring Adrienne Barbeau, Rose Marie, Barney Martin and Don Most.

Sydney (1990)

Craig won a lead  role as Matt Keating, in Valerie Bertinelli's short-lived sitcom, "Sydney," co-starring a  pre-Friend's Mathew Perry.

For More Info On Sydney

Murphy Brown (1990)

Craig guest starred  as Alex,  one of three eco-terrorist who kidnapped Murphy on  CBS TV show,  "Murphy Brown," episode #38, airing Novermber 19, 1990.  Murphy Brown starred Candice Bergen and Faith Ford.

For More Info on Murphy Brown

Wings  (1991)

Craig guest starred  as Matt, on TV show "Wings" episode #21, "The Puppet Master," airing September 28, 1990.  Wings starred Timothy Daly, Steven Weber and Crystal Bernard.

Victimless Crimes (1991)

Craig landed his first screen role in "Victimless Crimes," but the movie went the direct-to-video route.

Baby Talk (1991)

Craig guest starred  on TV show "Baby Talk."

Golden Girls (1991)

Craig guest starred  on TV show "Golden Girls."

Empty Nest (1991)

Craig guest starred  on TV show "Empty Nest" as Fred in Episode 61, "The Man Who Got Away,"  aired January 26, 1991.  The show starred Richard Mulligan, Diana Manoff and Kristy McNichol.

Bodies of Evidence  (1992)

Craig guest starred  on TV show "Bodies of Evidence" as Thomas Wilkes in episode #23,  "Trial by Fire, aired April 9, 1993.  The show starred Lee Horsley and George Clooney.

The Powers That Be  (1992)

Craig landed a recurring role as Joe Bowman in "The Powers That Be," starring John Forsythe.

Red Dwarf (USA) (1992)

Craig landed the role of  Dave Lister  for the U.S. version of  Red Dwarf  which was never aired.

For More Info on Red Dwarf

Danielle Steele's Star (1993)

After landing a three-year deal with NBC, Craig co-starred in the the romantic NBC TV movie  "Star" by Danielle Steele.

Madman of the People (1994-1995)

In his longest running sitcom to date (16 episodes,)  "Madman of the People," Craig played B.J. Cooper from 1994-1995, on NBC, starring Dabney Coleman  as Jack "Madman" Buckner.

Pride and Joy (1995)

In 1995, he starred as stay-at-home dad, Greg Sherman, in the short-lived, "Pride and Joy," co-starring Caroline Rhea. 

The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)

Craig co-starred with Geena Davis and  Samuel L. Jackson, as the villainous hit man, Timothy, in "The Long Kiss Goodnight."  

"I was looking for someone incredibly handsome who could be charming and  disarming and then turn out to be really wicked," explains Harlin.   Harlin also wanted the villain to be American.  "Craig proved he could be just as menacing and remain American." 

Director, Renny Harlin on Craig's performance in The Long Kiss Goodnight,  from the article, "Wickedness looks Good on Bierko," by LOUIS B. HOBSON of the Calgary Sun, October 11, 1996.

Til There Was You (1997)

Craig was cast as  neurotic politician, co-starring with Jeanne Tripplehorn in the romantic comedy 'Til There Was You."

Johns (1997)

Craig was cast as the voice of a preacher for "Johns."

Sour Grapes (1998)

In 1998, his roles in feature films improved when he was cast in a co-starring role as Steven Weber's cousin battling over winning money playing the slot machines in Atlantic City, in Larry David's, "Sour Grapes"

"There was no one else who even came close to understanding who Richie was.  We read Craig on the first day of auditions and he nailed it. Still, we kept on auditioning, figuring there will be someone better since this was the first day.  Well, months later, no one came remotely close."

Laurie Lennard, Producer of Sour Grapes, on Craig Bierko's audition, from the Sour Grapes Press Kit.

Craig Bierko, on the making of Larry David's Sour Grapes, from Sour Grapes Press Kit.

Mad About You (1998)

He landed the guest starring, role of  eccentric Hollywood agent, Gardner Malloy, on "Mad About You" in 1998 with friend, Helen Hunt.  "To see one of my best friends in the world get his dream, and to see him shine in the lead of a Broadway musical, just gives me chills," says Hunt, well known for her fierce loyalty. "It just goes to show that if you're talented and work hard and have the patience, things will happen at the right time." 

Helen Hunt on Craig's Broadway debut in the Music Man, from  "In Style" Magazine; 11/1/2000;  "Mad About Manhattan," by Hutchings, David

Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)

"I played just a varying--I did a movie with Terry Gilliam, called "Fear and Loathing In Las Vegas," which was my favorite book growing up. And I played Lacerda, who is the photographer assigned to Hunter Thompson. And that was, you know, just a completely different character from anything that I had ever played.

I don't think I play a certain type. Actually, you know, coming up through television, in the early part of the '90s I was signed up to NBC and I basically found myself getting very frustrated because they did cast me close to what I guess people think I look like, which is sort of boyish, boy next door, nice guy type person. And it was very frustrating, because I found that material would always become very pale and uninteresting, and thankfully it wasn't picked up. And when I started taking movies a little bit more seriously and just decided that that was what I wanted to aim for, I was hungry to play characters that had a little bit more variation. And I wasn't hungry so much for what's going to be the right career move, but, you know, what's going to be interesting.

The Thirteenth Floor (1999)

Craig won the lead in the Sci-fi,  murder thriller, "The Thirteenth Floor."

The encounter took place in a Los Angeles cyber cafe, where the technology skittish actor had toiled for nearly 90 minutes trying to locate the film's Web page. Befuddled, he enlisted the expertise of a nearby 14-year-old, who whizzed to the site. Bierko then watched in utter incredulity as his photo downloaded, complete with a description of the character he plays: computer genius.   "It was humiliating," said Bierko. "It was embarrassing. It was a very surreal moment for this kid."

The Suburbans  (1999)

Craig appeared as Mitch, in the movie about the one-hit-wonders, "The Suburban's," co-starring with Will Farrell, Jennifer Love Hewitt and Ben Stiller.

Ally McBeal  (1999)

Craig won the part of  Dennis, the handsome doctor with the obnoxious laugh on  "Ally McBeal's"   Valentine show.

The Cherry Picker (1999)

He made the movie short, "The Cherry Picker," with then girlfriend, Janeane Garofalo prior to his debut in The Music Man.

The Music Man   (2000)

Craig Bierko, an unknown to Broadway,  beat out high-profile actors like Steve Martin, Alec Baldwin and Patrick Swayze for the coveted role of Professor Harold Hill  in Susan Strohman's  Revival of  The Music Man, which opened at  the Neil Simon Theater, April 27, 2000.

"What he had that the others didn't is a real command of the language. And he's an elegant comedian. He did 'Trouble' like it was a Shakespearean piece."

Susan Strohman, from  a Newsday interview. 

 

Click here to real full article.

"..with "The Music Man" -- is such a wonderful opportunity, such a rare opportunity, that I think there are some things that come along that you can't question. It's almost none of your business; you got to just go with your gut. I know how lucky I am. I feel like I won the lottery."  

Craig Bierko to CNN Showbiz Today Correspondent, Lori Blackman. 

 

Click Here to read the full article.

 

"I had a passion for this play.  I auditioned and won the lottery. I'm not looking back.  People who grew up on Robert Preston's performance (which he reprised for the 1962 movie version) aren't looking to have it replaced in their hearts. I don't expect to, nor do I care to replace the meaningfulness of that performance.  On the other hand, it's exciting to think that I'll be able to usher in this wonderful character to people who haven't seen it before. I'm really looking forward to my niece, Scott's daughter, seeing this.  That is intimidating to me. I feel a responsibility to her. I made peace with the other stuff when I was offered the part."

Craig from the article, "The Music Men, Craig Bierko, Paul Benedict and Max Casella," in Show Music, Summer 2000.

 

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Sardi's

Craig was honored with a caricature, by artist Richard Baratz, at Sardi's on August 4, 2000.

"Right now, my cup runneth over."

 

Craig from an interview in "Star Q&A" with  Broadway.com

The Democratic National Convention

(LA, August 2000) The Broadway cast of "The Music Man" performed "76 Trombones" on the convention's opening night.   Democratic writers rewrote Meredith Willson's original lyrics, "You'll feel something stirring in your Democratic hearts! Joy at the thought of leaders like F.D.R., and Harry Truman, L.B.J. and Jimmy Carter, William Clinton and soon, Al Gore! Men who made our great nation what it is today!"   Although Craig rehearsed the new lyrics, Meredith Willson's wife  wouldn't permit the rewrite. She is a Republican.

Macy's Parade  (2000)

Nominations & Awards (2000)

Craig was nominated for  a Tony Award in the  Best Actor in a Musical category.  He was also nominated for the Drama Desk Award, the Outer Critics Circle Award, and won the esteemed 2000 Theatre World Award.   

"Really, honestly, that night was about the fact that I was sitting next to my mother and I was seeing it through her eyes. She was on cloud nine and that made it worth it because she always stood by me. I honestly felt almost like what I think a parent feels for a child - sometimes they just want them to have this moment and I was proud for her in a way. I know a lot of people who are successful whose parents are not around to see them have success and it's always going to be something that will never quite register for them because their folks didn't see it or whatever. So that's important to me, that I got to be sitting there with her and experience that with her, which was sort of like the best part of it."

Craig Bierko to John Garcia

Click here to read full article

 

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Broadway on Broadway 2000

Sexiest Broadway Star People Magazine (2000)

During November 2000, Craig was given title "Sexiest Broadway Star" from People Magazine.  

"I don't know, that kind of stuff is awfully fun — it's a great compliment. But I just don't take it very seriously. It feels kind of silly to even talk about it." 

Craig Bierko on being named Broadway's Sexiest Star by "People" magazine.

Sex and the City (2001)

Toward the end of his Music Man run  Craig appeared in two episodes of  "Sex and the City" as  Carrie's new Jazz man, Ray King,

"I have the same particular mental deficiency as he does," revels in his role. "Every single woman I'm interested in is a fan of the show," he says. "Any clue I can grab I'm grateful for." 

Craig Bierko on his Sex and the City character, Ray King, from People Weekly; 6/1/2001.

"Men are basically the guys on 'Star Trek' in the 

red shirts coming out to  check out the planet and they're

not going to last very long."  

Craig, During a Conan O'Brien interview, about being one 

of the "Sex and the City" guys.

Boston Pops Salutes Meredith Willson  (2001)

On July 12, 2001, Craig performed with Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops Orchestra and Rebecca Luker, in a salute to Meredith Willson, the composer of the Music Man.  

Broadway on Broadway

September  2001

Thou Shalt Not  (2001)

Craig's second trip to Broadway was once again with Susan Strohman as Laurent LeClaire, for Thou Shalt Not, a new musical based on Emile Zola's Therese Raquin.  Words and music by Harry Connick, Jr.   The previews were scheduled to begin a week after the world seemed to change on September 11th, 2001.

"I flew in on Sept 11. I landed at 6:00 that morning ... came in from Los Angeles and went right to bed because we were in the middle of rehearsals.  We just moved into the theater, and the phone rang around 9:30 a.m.. It was our stage manager and he said, 'um, rehearsal's canceled.' I asked why, and he said, 'oh', and he told me. I went downstairs and looked out my window and I saw one of the towers standing with a huge plume of smoke next to it. I couldn't believe what I was looking at. I turn on the television and I see videotape of the tower falling ... only it wasn't videotape, it was a live shot, and I turn around and I watch that second  tower come down from my own window.   (Craig takes a few seconds of silence before going on.)   My reason for being here, doing this play, just suddenly seemed obviously silly in comparison. I didn't know where to be, you know? The fact that we might have rehearsal the next day just seemed ludicrous to me and we all felt that way. We came in here [the Plymouth Theater] and Stroman got up in front of everybody, immediately started crying ... and she said, 'I know how a lot of you feel, I feel the same way. We're telling a story here and we're in the midst of this atrocity. But these people don't want our buildings, and they don't even want our lives, they want our spirit. And you can't take someone's spirit, they have to give it to you. We're here today because our President said we have to go to work and do what we do. We're here today in this theater to reclaim our spirit. This is what we do, and if we installed bathroom lighting, that's what we'd be doing today. But we're not, we work in the theater, so we're reclaiming our country's spirit here today.'   And it was beautiful. From that moment on it felt correct, and that's the kind of person she is. She's just this giant heart. There are also moments in this play that came out of things that she wasn't able to express in The Music Man and in The Producers. To me it feels like a bold brush stroke of experiment across the canvas. It's an artist opening up their wingspan a little bit wider to try and find a new method of expressing themselves, and I'm proud to be a part of that."

Craig on September 11th,  from an "Interview with Craig Bierko" with John Garcia

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Macy's Parade   2001 NYC

Kate & Leopold  (2001)

 (unaccredited) Actor in Movie at the beginning.

I'm with Lucy  (2002)

Peter

How would Craig Bierko characterize his personal style? "Most of the time, you'll find me in a T-shirt, jeans and a leather jacket," he confesses. "I've got the fashion sense of a teenager who's trying to look like a jock, even though he's really heading to choir practice."

"There's nothing more demanding for an actor than eight shows a week in front of an audience," he says. "But there's also nothing more rewarding."

From Town & Country; 3/1/2002

 

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Sudden Fear (2002)

Lester Blaine

The Court (2002)

Harlan Brandt

"I was reading a lot of great stuff, but I wasn't reading stuff that I thought was appropriate for me," Bierko says. "(This) character was appropriate because he's a guy who's an outsider. And he has a sense of humor. I like that," says Bierko. "He's complicated. He has a yearning to get to the truth and yet he's extremely ambitious."

Bierko says he sees the character of Harlan Brant as an anti-hero who is at constant odds with himself. It's a complex character, he says, and should be a lot of fun to play. That's really all that Bierko was looking for _ the next challenge.

Moving right along with `The Court's' Craig Bierko.(Zap2it.com) Knight Ridder/Tribune News Service; 4/30/2002; Rodgers, Andrew

To Read Full Article

“You do something to give you recognition, to have latitude to make creative decisions. You do stuff you can live with. I don’t want to do [Vin Diesel film] XXX each time out of the box,” Bierko said in an interview last week. “I’d be happy just to work, but to have the freedom to do something indulgent means more.”  The key for budding actors, according to Bierko, is to believe that they can be as successful as they want.  “There’s no part of me that says, This is never going to happen.”

Craig from the article "The Actor’s New Clothes Craig Bierko Tries Broadway on for Size," by Timothy Malcolm, The Daily Free Press, The Independent Student Newspaper at Boston University, October 29, 2003.   

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Do you remember that show `The Rifleman'?" asks Bierko. "In the opening credits there was this shot of Chuck Connors and he just had this gun _ this Winchester _ and while the credits are rolling he's just firing. He's just walking forward and firing. I don't know why (but) that's always been the image I've had ever since I got out here ... You know, you just keep firing. You just keep walking forward. I try not to make any specific plans, because they can only lead to disappointment."

100 Most Creative People in Entertainment

Entertainment Weekly's "It List" (2003)

Craig made Entertainment Weekly's 100 Most Creative People in Entertainment "It" List for creating an invite-only message board called "Mourning Sunshine." (June 2003)

Capitol Fourth (2003)

Craig performed 76 Trombones & God Bless America, in "Capitol Fourth,"  which aired live on PBS from the West Lawn of the U.S. Capitol on Friday, July 4, 2003 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET

Hench at Home (2003)

Craig  landed the title role in Michael J. Fox's ABC comedy "Hench at Home."  He will play Terry Hench, a father of three and pro hockey player who's forced to retire. Fox, who created and wrote the pilot, based the character on himself.  (Pilot Unaired)

"I've been a Bierko fan for a long time, and Terry Hench gives Craig a chance to be warm, appealing and very funny," Fox said. "Personally, I have a lot invested in this character, and I couldn't feel better about the actor portraying him."

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit  (2003)

U.S. Marshal Andy Eckerson - Escape

Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star (2003)

Craig played the shallow husband and father, George Finney, in this sentimental comedy written by David Spade.  The movie co-starred Mary McCormick, Allysa Milano, Rob Reiner and many of our favorite child stars of the 60's.
 

Theater Workshops (2003)

Leading Ladies Workshop  Cleveland

Little Mary Sunshine Workshop  NYC

Roulette Workshop Poughkeepsie

Intrigue with Faye (2003)

Frank  NYC

The "Great Joy!" Actors Fund Concert 

Craig did a  reading of

David Henry Hwang's

'Holidays for the Unbeliever'  

(December 2003) in NYC.

"The most touching was David Henry Hwang's 'Holidays for the Unbeliever' read by Craig Bierko who introduced himself as Kristin Chenoweth! "Well, Inside I am...We all should feel like her at Christmas!"

Quote from BroadwayWorld.com

Fired!   (2004)  NYC

Craig and other performers share their tales of being fired in Show Business at a limited engagement at the Second Stage Theatre, NYC.  

Then Craig Bierko of Sex and the City and The Music Man came on to tell us, at cool length, how he turned down a leading role in the original pilot of Friends. He fired himself! He chose another TV series instead that was actually called Best Friends. "Listen," Mr. Bierko confided amusingly. "I'm no dummy. If there had been a show called Super Mega Friends, I would have chosen that one."

From the article "Public Therapy for Actors, Bit of Catharsis for Me," by John Heilpern, of the New York Observer, February 2, 2004

 

Click Here to Read Full Article

 

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Craig Bierko, for instance, chose a role in the sitcom Best Friends over Friends. "A show," he says of the latter, "that has replaced Christianity."

From the article, "I'm fired? That's great! " by Carol Rocamora of the Guardian, January 14, 2004 

Click Here to Read the Full Article

 

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"A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson's" - A Benefit Evening for the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research - Arrivals
November 22, 2003 - The Waldorf Astoria
New York City, New York United States

"Funny Thing..." Raises $5.5 Million
MJFF raised $5.5 million at its third annual event, “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Cure Parkinson’s.” Over 1,200 guests, including Katie Couric, James Gandolfini, Heidi Klum, Eva Mendez, Jane Pauley, Craig Bierko and Heather Locklear joined Michael J. Fox and Tracy Pollan with co-chairs Stacy and Donny Deustch, Ellen Barkin and Ronald O. Perelman at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City to raise money for Parkinson’s research.

High Hair  (2004)

(in production) (voice)  Sarge

Cinderella Man  (2004)

Max Baer

Scary Movie 4

Meet Bill

For Your Consideration

Nip/Tuck

Unhitched

Guys and Dolls

Skye Masterson

The Good Wife

Damages (2010)

Terry Brooke

More Career Info Below