N is for Nathan Lane. Broadway’s Go-To Comic Actor…but not just.

In the nearly four decades since he made his Broadway debut, Nathan Lane has starred in some two dozen shows on the Great White Way, and over a dozen more Off-Broadway. He is widely regarded as the comic New York stage actor of his generation. But if two of his Tony Awards were for performances in musical comedies, the third was for a tragedy. His has been a varied career.

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Guys and Dolls, 1992

Lane’s first Tony nomination

As Nathan Detroit, he sings “The Oldest Established” with ensemble

Sue Me, with Faith Prince

Love Valour Compassion, 1995

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way To The Forum, 1996

Lane’s first Tony Award

Comedy Tonight, opening number, with ensemble

Everybody Oughta Have A Maid

The Producers, 1991

Lane’s second Tony Award.

Matthew Broderick & Nathan Lane perform We Can Do It, on the Today Show. Starts at around 1:40

Here Lane sings “Betrayed” in the 2005 movie version of the musical

Angels in America, 2018 revival

Lane won his third Tony Award in the role of infamous lawyer Roy Cohn who gets AIDS, Best Performance By An Actor In A Featured Role In A Play, in the revival of Tony Kushner’s epic play.

His scene as Roy Cohn working the telephones begins at around 4:50

His scene learning of his AIDS diagnosis, with a surprising reaction, begins at around 56:40

Author: New York Theater

Jonathan Mandell is a 3rd generation NYC journalist, who sees shows, reads plays, writes reviews and sometimes talks with people.

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