Community hub
0 subscribers7 pages, 0 posts
Recent from talks
All channels
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Be the first to start a discussion here.
Contribute something
Welcome to the community hub built to collect knowledge and have discussions related to Jack Gilpin.
Nothing was collected or created yet.
Jack Gilpin
View on Wikipediafrom Wikipedia
John Mitchell Gilpin (born May 31, 1951) is an American actor.
Key Information
Early life
[edit]Gilpin was born on May 31, 1951, in Boyce, Virginia, the son of Lucy Trumbull (Mitchell) and Kenneth Newcomer Gilpin, a businessman.[2] His paternal great-grandfather was politician and general Lawrence Tyson.[3] His maternal grandfather was World War I hero and aviation pioneer Gen. William "Billy" Mitchell. His first cousin is Drew Gilpin Faust, who served as president of Harvard University from 2007 to 2018, .[4]
Gilpin attended Phillips Exeter Academy, graduating in 1969, and then obtained his undergraduate degree from Harvard University in 1973. He studied acting at the Neighborhood Playhouse School of the theatre in New York City.[5]
Career
[edit]He had a recurring role on the TV series Kate & Allie, and is a frequent Law & Order guest star, having appeared in all of the first three series: Law & Order, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent. Gilpin appeared in the films Heartburn, Something Wild, She-Devil, Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise, Quiz Show, Reversal of Fortune, Barcelona, and The Notorious Bettie Page. He had also acted on stage, including in the Broadway production of Getting And Spending.
In 2008, Gilpin appeared in the film 21, playing the role of Bob Phillips who is interviewing student candidates for the fictional "Robinson Scholarship" to attend Harvard Medical School.[6] Gilpin's character appears in the first scene of the film and his words set the stage for the movie's plot; he appears again in the final scene to bring closure to the film.
Personal life
[edit]Gilpin is married to actress Ann McDonough.[7] He has three children, including actress Betty Gilpin.[8]
Gilpin was ordained as priest of the Episcopal Church on December 15, 2012. He is currently in charge of St. John's Episcopal Church in New Milford, Connecticut, where he had arrived as a deacon two months prior to his ordination.[9] He had previously been a licensed lay preacher at Christ Church in his hometown of Roxbury, Connecticut.[10]
Filmography
[edit]Film
[edit]| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Compromising Positions | Patrol Car Cop |
| 1986 | Heartburn | Ellis |
| Something Wild | Larry Dillman | |
| 1987 | Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise | Mr. Comstock |
| Hiding Out | Dr. Gusick | |
| 1988 | Funny Farm | Bud Culbertson |
| The Dream Team | Dr. Talmer | |
| Little Sweetheart | Mr. Harrison | |
| She-Devil | Larry | |
| 1990 | Quick Change | Yuppie Hostage |
| Reversal of Fortune | Peter MacIntosh | |
| 1994 | Barcelona | The Consul |
| Quiz Show | Jack | |
| 1995 | Reckless | Weatherman |
| 1996 | The Juror | Accountant, Juror |
| 1997 | Commandments | Gordon Bloom |
| Last Breath | Dr. Stevens | |
| 1998 | Mulan | Bai, Big Twin Hun #1 |
| 1999 | Random Hearts | David Dotson |
| Cherry | The Preacher | |
| 2000 | 101 Ways (The Things a Girl Will Do to Keep Her Volvo) | George |
| 2001 | The Boys of Sunset Ridge | Simon Longfellow |
| 2005 | The Notorious Bettie Page | Roy Page |
| 2007 | The Life Before Her Eyes | Mr. McCleod |
| 2008 | 21 | Bob Phillips |
| 2009 | Adventureland | Mr. Brennan |
| 2011 | Higher Ground | Dr. Adams |
| 2012 | Trouble with the Curve | Schwartz |
| 2013 | Syrup | Mister Jamieson |
| 2023 | A Little White Lie | Narrator |
Television
[edit]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | As the World Turns | Librarian | |
| 1984–1987 | Kate & Allie | Roger | |
| 1985 | The Equalizer | Harvey | Episode: "Desperately" |
| 1986 | The Equalizer | Harvey | Episode: "Tip on a Sure Thing" |
| 1992 | Unnatural Pursuits | Art Novak | |
| 1993 | Lifestories: Families in Crisis | Jim Remy | |
| 1994–1996 | New York Undercover | Headmaster Scowcroft | |
| 1995 | Law & Order | Dr. Simon Reed | |
| New York News | |||
| 1996 | Aliens in the Family | Mr. Bellamy | |
| 1997–2001 | Law & Order | Mr. Axtell | |
| 1998 | From the Earth to the Moon | Ted Sorenson | |
| 1999 | Cosby | Mr. Harris | |
| 2001 | Big Apple | Laurent Holbein | |
| 100 Centre Street | Richard Quince | ||
| 2002 | One Life to Live | Joel Miranda | |
| 2003 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Dr. Michael Roland | |
| Ed | Herzog | ||
| Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Ron Wolcott | ||
| 2006 | 3 lbs. | Dr. Wardell | |
| 2007 | Damages | Headmaster Lalas | |
| 2012 | 30 Rock | Douglas | |
| The Good Wife | Frank Anderson | ||
| My America | |||
| 2013 | Alpha House | Senate Chaplain Teeter | |
| 2014 | Forever | Conrad Carlyle | |
| 2015 | Madam Secretary | Frank Anderson | |
| 2016 | The Night Of | Doctor | |
| 2016–2021 | Billions | Sean Ayles | |
| 2018 | Succession | Mr. Wambsgans | |
| 2019 | The Last O.G. | Curlan Guillory | |
| 2020 | The Blacklist | Mr. Fenberg | |
| Power Book II: Ghost | Martin Saxe | ||
| 2022–present | The Gilded Age | Church |
Awards and nominations
[edit]| Year | Association | Category | Project | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | The Gilded Age | Nominated | [11] |
References
[edit]- ^ Morton, Richard Lee (April 29, 1964). "Virginia Lives: The Old Dominion Who's Who". Hopkinsville, KY: Historical Record Association. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ O'Donnell, Monica M. (April 29, 1984). Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. Gale. ISBN 978-0-8103-2064-2. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ "Army and Navy Journal". Army and Navy Journal. April 29, 1948. Archived from the original on July 8, 2023. Retrieved April 29, 2021.
- ^ Bradley, Richard (May 18, 2009). "Drew Gilpin Faust and the Incredible Shrinking Harvard". Boston Magazine. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ "Jack Gilpin". Phillips Exeter Academy. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ IMDB Database entry for character Bob Phillips, https://www.imdb.com/character/ch0110218/?ref_=tt_cl_t12 Archived November 1, 2017, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ BWW News Desk (January 14, 2015). "Jack Gilpin, Ann McDonough & Betty Gilpin to Lead Westport Country Playhouse's PAINTING CHURCHES Reading". BroadwayWorld. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ Fretts, Bruce (August 8, 2019). "How 'GLOW' Helped Betty Gilpin Embrace Her Inner Weirdo". The New York Times. Archived from the original on November 30, 2019. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ Tuccio-Koonz, Linda (July 26, 2015). "Jack Gilpin: A beloved priest in New Milford, but also a devoted actor". The News-Times. Archived from the original on February 20, 2020. Retrieved February 20, 2020.
- ^ Tuz, Susan (December 8, 2012). "Rev. Gilpin follows his 'calling' to St. John's". The Greater New Milford (Conn.) Spectrum. Archived from the original on July 13, 2017. Retrieved April 26, 2017.
- ^ "Nominations Announced for the 30th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards®" (Press release). Screen Actors Guild. January 10, 2024. Retrieved January 10, 2024.
External links
[edit]- Jack Gilpin at IMDb
- Jack Gilpin at the Internet Broadway Database
- Jack Gilpin at the Internet Off-Broadway Database (archived)
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
Jack Gilpin
View on Grokipediafrom Grokipedia
Early life and education
John Mitchell Gilpin was born on May 31, 1951, in Boyce, Virginia, where he grew up in northern Virginia.[10][11][2] As a child, Gilpin developed an early interest in the performing arts, recalling his role as the Easter Bunny in a church pageant at age five: “I remember at the curtain call munching on a jelly bean and looking at the audience and thinking, ‘This is very cool.’”[3] Gilpin attended Phillips Exeter Academy, a boarding school, graduating in 1969. There, he became involved in theater, acting in productions such as The Crucible (as Reverend Parris) and Hamlet, and directing The Caretaker by Harold Pinter, under the mentorship of teacher Rod Marriott.[3] He then attended Harvard University, earning his undergraduate degree in 1973.[2][12]Career
Theater career
Jack Gilpin's theater career began in the late 1970s with early off-Broadway appearances in New York City, marking the start of a four-decade span in stage performances. His initial notable role came in A.R. Gurney's "The Middle Ages" at the WPA Theatre in 1982, where he played a supporting character in the comedy exploring suburban family dynamics.[13] This production highlighted his emerging talent for portraying nuanced, everyday characters in contemporary American plays. Gilpin made his Broadway debut in 1981 as Bob in Christopher Durang's "Beyond Therapy" at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, a satirical comedy about dysfunctional relationships that ran for 156 performances.[14] He continued with key off-Broadway work, including a leading role in "A Cheever Evening" at Playwrights Horizons in 1994, A.R. Gurney's adaptation of John Cheever stories that earned praise for its ensemble, including Gilpin's contribution to the ensemble's portrayal of upper-class angst.[15] His Broadway return included Charles Humboldt in the 1998 premiere of "Getting and Spending" at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater, a drama about economic and personal decline.[16] Later in his career, Gilpin appeared in the 2002 revival of "The Elephant Man" on Broadway at the Royale Theatre, playing dual roles as Ross and Bishop Walsham How in the Bernard Pomerance play, contributing to the production's exploration of humanity and spectacle during its seven-week run.[17] He has also performed in regional theater, such as Long Wharf Theatre's production of Anton Chekhov's "The Seagull," where his role supported the ensemble's depiction of artistic ambition and disillusionment.[18] Throughout his stage work, Gilpin has been recognized for his versatility in character roles, particularly in comedies by playwrights like Gurney and adaptations of Chekhov, often collaborating with institutions like the Roundabout Theatre Company in various productions.Film career
Jack Gilpin made his film debut in a minor role as the patrol car cop in the 1985 comedy-mystery Compromising Positions, directed by Frank Perry.[19] That same year, he appeared as Larry Dillman, the straitlaced high school classmate of the protagonist, in Jonathan Demme's Something Wild, a genre-blending road film that showcased his ability to play uptight, comedic foils.[20] Gilpin's 1980s momentum built with supporting roles like Bud Culbertson, the quirky neighbor in George Roy Hill's rural comedy Funny Farm (1988) opposite Chevy Chase, and Larry, the accountant in Susan Seidelman's She-Devil (1989), a satirical take on gender roles featuring Roseanne Barr and Meryl Streep.[21] He continued with Dr. Talmer, the psychiatrist in the ensemble comedy The Dream Team (1989), and Peter MacIntosh in Barbet Schroeder's Reversal of Fortune (1990), a true-crime drama that earned Jeremy Irons an Academy Award for Best Actor.[22] Later in the decade, Gilpin portrayed Gordon Bloom in Daniel Taplitz's Commandments (1997), a dramedy exploring faith and family. In the 2000s and 2010s, Gilpin took on character parts such as the M.I.T. professor Bob Phillips in Robert Luketic's 21 (2008), a heist film inspired by real events; Mr. Brennan, the uptight father in Greg Mottola's coming-of-age comedy Adventureland (2009); and scout Schwartz in Robert Lorenz's baseball drama Trouble with the Curve (2012), starring Clint Eastwood. His recent film work includes a cameo as Mr. McCleod in Vadim Perelman's The Life Before Her Eyes (2007) and the narrator in Michael Maren's A Little White Lie (2023), a satirical comedy led by Michael Shannon and Kate Hudson.[23][24] Gilpin has built a career as a reliable character actor across more than 30 feature films, frequently portraying everyman types or authoritative figures in blends of indie and mainstream comedies and dramas.[3]Television career
Jack Gilpin began his television career with recurring roles in the 1980s and 1990s, often portraying authority figures in procedural dramas and sitcoms. He appeared as the neighbor Roger in a recurring capacity during the first two seasons of the CBS sitcom Kate & Allie (1984–1989).[25] In the 1990s, Gilpin gained prominence through a recurring role as defense attorney Mr. Axtell on NBC's Law & Order, featuring in episodes such as "Terminal" (1997), "Flight" (1998), "Turnstile Justice" (2000), and "For Love or Money" (2001).[11] He also had a recurring role as Headmaster Scowcroft on the Fox series New York Undercover from 1994 to 1996. Throughout the 2000s, Gilpin continued to take on guest roles in high-profile series, frequently in legal and crime procedurals. He portrayed Michael Roland in the 2001 episode "The Extra Man" of Law & Order: Criminal Intent.[26] Other appearances included Conrad Carlyle in the ABC supernatural drama Forever (2014).[27] In the 2010s, Gilpin's television work shifted toward supporting roles in ensemble casts. He played Frank Anderson, a colleague of Diane Lockhart, in the 2012 episode "After the Fall" of CBS's The Good Wife.[28] This period marked a transition from one-off procedural guest spots to more integrated character work in serialized dramas. Gilpin achieved a breakthrough with his recurring role as Church, the stoic butler to the Russell family in Gilded Age New York, on HBO's The Gilded Age (2022–present). As of 2025, he has appeared in 25 episodes across three seasons, portraying the head of the household staff with a focus on loyalty and restraint amid social upheaval.[29] The ensemble cast, including Gilpin, received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2024.[30] Recent guest appearances include Mr. Wambsgans, father of Tom Wambsgans, in two episodes of HBO's Succession (2018).[31] Gilpin's television trajectory reflects a progression from episodic procedural roles to sustained ensemble contributions in prestige dramas, with The Gilded Age providing significant visibility in the post-2020 era.[2]Ministry
In the late 1980s, Jack Gilpin experienced a gradual calling to ordained ministry within the Episcopal Church while sustaining his established career in acting. He began auditing classes at Union Theological Seminary in New York, culminating in a Master of Divinity degree earned in 1997. Following this, Gilpin served as a licensed lay preacher at Christ Episcopal Church in Greenwich, Connecticut, where he deepened his involvement in church leadership.[32][2] Gilpin was ordained as a priest on December 15, 2012, by the Episcopal Diocese of Connecticut, with the ordination service held at St. John's Episcopal Church in New Milford. He was immediately appointed priest-in-charge of the parish and soon transitioned to the role of rector, serving a congregation of approximately 60 families. During his tenure from 2012 to 2020, Gilpin prioritized community outreach and pastoral care, fostering connections in the rural New Milford area through inclusive church programming.[8] Embracing a bivocational model, Gilpin balanced his priestly responsibilities with ongoing acting work, viewing the two vocations as complementary. He frequently incorporated his theater expertise into his ministry, likening weekly sermons to "a one-man show" and using narrative techniques from the stage to engage parishioners on spiritual themes. This approach extended to enhancing liturgical elements and youth involvement, drawing on dramatic storytelling to make faith accessible and dynamic.[2][3] Gilpin retired as rector in September 2020, delivering his final sermon to shift focus toward his acting commitments, though he has remained engaged in the Episcopal community. Post-retirement, he contributed to the Diocese of Connecticut's Bishop Transition Committee, aiding in the election of new leadership. In a January 2024 interview with the Episcopal News Service, Gilpin reflected on the synergies between acting and ministry, emphasizing shared themes of service, empathy, and human narrative: "Both are about telling stories that help people see themselves and others in new ways."[8][2]Personal life
Gilpin has been married to actress Ann McDonough since December 14, 1985.[10] They have three children: Samuel, Henry, and Betty Gilpin, who is also an actress.[33] He is a first cousin of historian Drew Gilpin Faust, who served as president of Harvard University from 2007 to 2018.Filmography
Film
Jack Gilpin began his film career in the mid-1980s with supporting roles in several comedies and dramas.- 1986: Heartburn, directed by Mike Nichols, as Ellis.[34]
- 1986: Something Wild, directed by Jonathan Demme, as Larry Dillman.[35]
- 1987: Revenge of the Nerds II: Nerds in Paradise, as Mr. Plimpton.[36]
- 1988: Funny Farm, directed by George Roy Hill, as Bud Culbertson.[37]
- 1988: The Dream Team, as Dr. Talmer.[38]
- 1989: She-Devil, directed by Susan Seidelman, as Larry.[39]
- 1990: Reversal of Fortune, directed by Barbet Schroeder, as Peter MacIntosh.[40]
- 1990: Quick Change, as Yuppie Hostage.[41]
- 1994: Quiz Show, directed by Robert Redford, as Jack.[42]
- 1994: Barcelona, as The Consul.[43]
- 1996: The Juror, as Accountant.[44]
- 1997: Commandments, directed by Daniel Taplitz, as Gordon Bloom.[45]
- 1998: Mulan (voice), as Hun Twin #1.[46]
- 2008: 21, directed by Robert Luketic, as Bob Phillips (M.I.T. professor).[47]
- 2009: Adventureland, directed by Greg Mottola, as Mr. Brennan.[48]
- 2012: Trouble with the Curve, directed by Robert Lorenz, as Schwartz (Cleveland scout).[49]
- 2023: A Little White Lie, directed by Michael Maren, as Narrator (voice).[50]
Television
Jack Gilpin has appeared in numerous television series, miniseries, and guest roles throughout his career. His credits span from guest spots in the 1980s to recurring and main roles in prestigious dramas in recent years.| Year(s) | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984–1986 | Kate & Allie | Roger | Recurring role (seasons 1-2)[9] |
| 1994–1996 | New York Undercover | Headmaster Scowcroft | Recurring role, 3 episodes[9] |
| 1995–2001 | Law & Order | Various (e.g., Dr. Simon Reed, Mr. Axtell) | Multiple appearances, including 4 episodes as defense attorney Mr. Axtell (1997–2001)[9] |
| 1998 | From the Earth to the Moon | Ted Sorenson | Miniseries, 1 episode[51] |
| 2001 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Guest | Guest appearance[9] |
| 2011–2016 | The Good Wife | Frank Anderson | 1 episode (2012)[52] |
| 2013 | Elementary | Guest | Guest appearance[9] |
| 2014 | Forever | Oliver Clarke | Recurring role in several episodes[9] |
| 2018 | Succession | Mr. Wambsgans | Guest, 2 episodes[53] |
| 2021 | Evil | Guest | Guest appearance[9] |
| 2022–present | The Gilded Age | Church | Main cast as the Russell family butler, 30+ episodes across three seasons (as of November 2025)[9] |