Biography for
Stephen Lang (I) More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

11 July 1952, New York City, New York, USA

Height

5' 10½" (1.79 m)

Mini Biography

A stage actor of great recognition, Stephen Lang has shaped a formidable career on and off the various stages of the United States and abroad. Though he is arguably most well-known for his acclaimed performance in James Cameron's Avatar (2009), Lang began his career in theater. Broadway roles include his Tony-nominated performance as Lou in "The Speed of Darkness", Happy in the Dustin Hoffman revival of "Death of a Salesman", Colonel Jessep in "A Few Good Men", and Mike Tallman alongside Quentin Tarantino and Marisa Tomei in "Wait Until Dark".

Off-Broadway credits include John Patrick Shanley's "Defiance", Anne Nelson's "The Guys", Arthur Miller's "Finishing the Picture" and his own play, "Beyond Glory", for which he received numerous accolades. The play premiered in Washington, D.C. and has played the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, the Roundabout in New York City and a USO tour to various military bases and battleships around the world. In the fall of 2010, Lang received the Patriot Award from the Medal of Honor Society in honor of his theatrical and charitable works for the United States military.

Television and film credits include celebrated performances as Babe Ruthin Babe Ruth (1991) (TV), Stonewall Jackson in Gods and Generals (2003) as well as acclaimed performances in Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989), Tombstone (1993), Gettysburg (1993), Public Enemies (2009), The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009), Michael Mann's hit TV show "Crime Story" (1986) , the NBC revival of "The Fugitive" (2000), featuring Tim Daly, and Fox's sci-fi epic "Terra Nova" (2011).

He has been nominated for and won numerous awards including the Grace Prize, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Helen Hayes, and Tony awards as well as acting prizes at 2010's VisionFest and the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Innovative Artists

Spouse

Kristina Watson

(1 June 1980 - present) 4 children

Trivia

Graduated from Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania.

Has four children: Noah, Grace, Dan, Lucy.

Has narrated numerous audiobooks and was recently awarded the Audiofile Earphone award.

Shared a house with Billy Campbell in Santa Monica, California before purchasing his own house.

Was nominated for Broadway's 1991 Tony Award as best actor in a featured role - play for "The Speed of Darkness.".

Is one of four "Crime Story" (1986) stars to appear in the Hannibal Lecter trilogy. He starred with Dennis Farina and Bill Smitrovich in Manhunter (1986), and Ted Levine played "Buffalo Bill" in The Silence of the Lambs (1991).

Runs the famed Actors Studio in New York along with Lee Grant, Al Pacino and others.

Played Colonel Jessep in the hit Broadway show "A Few Good Men." Jack Nicholson enacted the stern, officious "You can't handle the truth!" role when it moved to film starring Tom Cruise and Demi Moore.

Played Happy, one of Dustin Hoffman's sons, in the acclaimed 1984 Broadway revival of "Death of a Salesman." John Malkovich played the other son, Biff.

Gave special performances of his one-man show "Beyond Glory," which deals with America's greatest war heroes who were awarded the Medal of Honor, for both the U.S. Senate in Washington and the U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf. The show was backed by The National Endowment for the Arts.

He and Julianne Moore have both appeared in separate films from the Hannibal Lecter series: Manhunter (1986) and Hannibal (2001). Julianne Moore also had a small part in the film The Fugitive (1993). Lang appeared in the remake of the television series "The Fugitive" (2000), as the one-armed man.

Has appeared in two films about serial killers: Manhunter (1986) and The Hard Way (1991). Manhunter was based on the novel Red Dragon.

While many Gettysburg (1993) cast members reprised their roles in the prequel Gods and Generals (2003), Lang was one of several actors (and the most prominent one) to play two different characters. He played George Pickett in "Gettysburg" and General Stonewall Jackson in "Gods and Generals". Even more, he appeared as the keynote speaker at the 2011 ceremonial rededication of Gettsyburg National Cemetery.

Has appeared in two films about historical figures that featured real-life descendants of those characters. In 1993, he appeared in Tombstone (1993), which featured Wyatt Earp a distant cousin of the famous lawman. He later appeared in Gods and Generals (2003), in which Confederate General Robert E. Lee is played by his real-life descendant, Robert Duvall.

He was awarded the 1989 Joseph Jefferson Award for actor in a supporting role in a play for "The Speed of Darkness", at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

He was nominated for a 2006 Joseph Jefferson Award for actor in a solo performance for "Beyond Glory", at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, Illinois.

Was considered for the role of Rex Van De Camp on "Desperate Housewives" (2004).

Lives in Kinderhook, New York.

He received an honorary degree from Swarthmore College in 2010.

His father Eugene Lang is a prominent New York City philanthropist who made millions in technology development. He has given away much of it through his acclaimed 'I Have a Dream' foundation. Eugene Lang College at The New School for Liberal Arts in Manhattan is named after him.

His parents have been large contributors to Swarthmore College. Their name appears on several buildings, including the Lang Center For Civic and Social Responsibility, the Lang Music Building, and The Eugene and Theresa Lang Performing Arts Center.

Personal Quotes

It's not about flag waving to me, it's about showing a real American hero" - about his role as Stonewall Jackson.

[on reasons for his role in White Irish Drinkers (2010)]: One, I really liked the title, that's how shallow I am. But the main reason was, I was afraid of it. You kind of heave a sigh and go, 'Oh God, I'm going to have to go there?'

Acting can be a very reactive profession. Acting is a fantastic thing, and it's my life, but writing is also part of me too, so I did it and in so doing took responsibility for my own life. And it was very directly and specifically because of 'Beyond Glory' that Jim Cameron cast me in Avatar (2009). And 'Avatar' is responsible for the good fortune I've had over the last few years."

Where Are They Now

(August 2002) Performing at the Flea Theatre "The Guys" based on a true story of a fire chief who lost many of his men in the attacks of September 11th

(July 2004) Touring his one-man show, "Beyond Glory", about Medal of Honor winners. Also in rehearsal for the new Arthur Miller play to debut in Chicago with actors such as Stacy Keach, Linda Lavin and Matthew Modine.

(November 2004) Will be performing in Arthur Miller's latest play, "Finishing the Picture", which is in rehearsals. The play will premier at the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, afterwards a run will be performed on Broadway. The play also stars Frances Fisher, Stacy Keach, Matthew Modine, Harris Yulin, Scott Glenn and Linda Lavin.

(February 2006) Performing in John Patrick Shanley's latest play "Defiance" at the Manhattan Theatre Club. Shanley's play, "Doubt", won the Pulitzer prize and three Tonys last year after moving from the MTC to Broadway.

(September 2006) Currently filming a dramatic miniseries for ESPN, entitled "The Bronx Is Burning" (2007). Jeremiah S. Chechik is directing, with Oliver Platt playing one of the leads alongside Lang. The miniseries is set to air in July of 2007 on ESPN.

(October 2006) Filming independent feature From Mexico with Love (2009), featuring Bruce McGill. Production is underway in Texas.

(January 2007) Currently in rehearsals for "The Farnsworth Invention", the newest play from Aaron Sorkin (A Few Good Men (1992), "Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip" (2006)). The play is set to premiere in February at the La Jolla Playhouse in California.