Roger Bart
Roger Bart (born September 29, 1962) is an American actor and singer renowned for his versatile performances in Broadway musicals, films, and television series.[1] Born in Norwalk, Connecticut, and raised in Bernardsville, New Jersey, he graduated from Rutgers University in 1985 before launching a career that spans stage and screen.[2] Bart first gained prominence in theater with his Broadway debut as a replacement in the original production of Big River in 1987, followed by notable roles in productions like The Secret Garden and Tommy.[3] Bart's breakthrough came in musical theater, where he earned critical acclaim for originating the flamboyant role of Carmen Ghia in Mel Brooks' The Producers (2001), winning a Drama Desk Award for Featured Actor in a Musical and receiving a Tony Award nomination.[4] He previously won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Snoopy in the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown.[3] Other major Broadway credits include Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein (2007) and, most recently, Dr. Emmett "Doc" Brown in Back to the Future: The Musical (2023–present), including the Australian production (2025), for which he received a 2024 Tony nomination.[4] His stage work also extends to voice acting, notably providing the singing voice for the titular character in Disney's animated film Hercules (1997) and Scamp in Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (2001).[3] Transitioning to film and television, Bart reprised his role as Carmen Ghia in the 2005 screen adaptation of The Producers, directed by Susan Stroman, and appeared in films such as American Gangster (2007), Hostel: Part II (2007), and Law Abiding Citizen (2009).[1] On television, he is best known for his recurring role as the obsessive pharmacist George Williams on Desperate Housewives (2004–2005), which aired in seven episodes of the first season.[2] Additional TV credits include recurring roles as Barry Harris in Political Animals (2012), Judge Wilson in Good Trouble (2019–2023), and guest appearances on shows like The Blacklist, Grimm, and Elementary.[2] In 2025, Bart participated in a workshop for the new musical Lucky Us. Bart's multifaceted career highlights his ability to blend comedic timing, vocal talent, and dramatic depth across entertainment mediums.[3]Early life and education
Childhood and family
Roger Bart was born on September 29, 1962, at Norwalk Hospital in Norwalk, Connecticut.[5] He was the youngest of four siblings, including one sister and two brothers, to parents who worked as a chemical engineer and a schoolteacher, respectively; his parents later retired to Martha's Vineyard.[5] Shortly after his birth, the family relocated to Princeton, New Jersey, before settling in Bernardsville, where Bart spent the majority of his childhood and identified strongly with his New Jersey roots.[5] Bart's family had notable ties to the entertainment industry through his uncle, Peter Bart, a film producer at Paramount Pictures, former president of Lorimar Productions, and editor-in-chief of Variety from 1989 to 2009.[6] This connection provided early exposure to the world of performing arts and media, potentially shaping Bart's career aspirations, as he has expressed admiration for his uncle's enduring work ethic at age 91.[6] While Bart's upbringing in suburban New Jersey did not initially point toward a theatrical path, these familial influences introduced him to the industry's dynamics.[7] In his young adulthood, Bart developed a close friendship with composer Jonathan Larson, with whom he bonded over shared struggles as aspiring performers in New York City, including working as waiters between theater gigs.[8] The two frequently hung out at each other's workplaces and collaborated creatively; Bart provided vocals for early demos of Larson's musical Rent, including the title song, where he sang the role of Roger opposite Larson's Mark.[9][10] This bond inspired the character of Roger in Rent, a struggling musician loosely based on Bart's personality and experiences.[11]Academic background
Bart attended Bernards High School in Bernardsville, New Jersey, graduating in 1980.[12] He was later inducted into the school's hall of fame in recognition of his distinguished career in the performing arts.[12] Following high school, Bart enrolled at Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts, where he pursued a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in acting, completing it in 1985.[13] The program provided rigorous training in acting techniques, including the Meisner method, which emphasized truthful, instinctive performance over contrived "doing," a shift that challenged Bart's early comedic inclinations but ultimately shaped his approach to character work.[7] Under the direction of William Esper, who led the acting program from 1977 until his death in 2019 and rooted it in Meisner principles, Bart developed skills in improvisation, scene study, and emotional authenticity.[14] The curriculum also incorporated specialized training in voice and speech across all four years, utilizing methods such as Lessac and Linklater to enhance vocal production, articulation, and resonance as tools for dramatic expression.[15] This vocal work was complemented by exposure to musical theatre through appreciation courses and practical application in productions, fostering Bart's abilities in singing and rhythmic delivery essential for his later Broadway roles.[15] Ensemble collaboration was a core component, integrated into performance workshops and group devising processes that built teamwork and spontaneity.[15] Key experiences at Rutgers included participation in student-led productions at the Cabaret Theatre, where Bart performed in March of the Falsettos (1985), a musical that demanded vocal precision and ensemble harmony, and Zastrozzi: The Master of Discipline (1985), which honed his skills in classical text and physical characterization.[16] These opportunities, alongside the program's emphasis on professional preparation, equipped him with the foundational tools for a career in theatre, voice acting, and musical performance.[17]Career
Theatre career
Roger Bart began his Broadway career as a replacement in the role of Tom Sawyer in the musical Big River, joining the production on April 7, 1987.[18] This early experience marked his entry into professional theatre, where he honed his skills in ensemble dynamics and character work within a major musical adaptation of Mark Twain's Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.[19] Bart's breakthrough came with the 1999 revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, in which he originated the role of Snoopy, the imaginative beagle companion to Charlie Brown.[18] His performance earned him the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical, highlighting his comedic timing and vocal prowess in the beloved Peanuts-inspired production.[20] Building on this success, Bart originated the flamboyant role of Carmen Ghia in the 2001 musical The Producers, directed by Susan Stroman, which garnered him a Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical; he later reprised the character in the 2005 film adaptation.[18][21] In the years that followed, Bart continued to take on prominent character roles, starring as Dr. Frederick Frankenstein in the 2007 musical Young Frankenstein, a Mel Brooks adaptation that showcased his ability to lead a zany ensemble with straight-man precision.[18][22] He returned to Broadway in 2016 as Tony Delvecchio, a sleazy businessman, in the disaster-movie spoof Disaster!, further demonstrating his flair for satirical musical comedy.[18][23] Bart achieved another career milestone by originating the role of the eccentric inventor Doc Brown in Back to the Future: The Musical. The production premiered at the Manchester Opera House in February 2020, transferred to London's West End in 2021, and arrived on Broadway in August 2023, where it ran through January 2025; his portrayal earned a 2024 Tony nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.[18][24] In April 2025, Bart was announced to reprise Doc Brown for the Australian premiere at the Sydney Lyric Theatre, beginning September 26, 2025; the production opened on September 26, 2025, at the Sydney Lyric Theatre and is set to run through January 2026.[25][26] Over the course of his theatre career, Bart has evolved from ensemble and understudy positions to acclaimed featured roles and leading parts in high-profile musicals, consistently bringing his tenor voice and physical comedy to iconic characters in both revivals and original works.[4]Film career
Bart began his film career with a voice role in the 1997 Disney animated feature Hercules, providing the singing voice for the titular character and highlighting his vocal talents honed in musical theater.[4] He transitioned to live-action supporting roles in the mid-2000s, appearing as Stan Peters, a conformist husband in the satirical remake The Stepford Wives (2004), directed by Frank Oz, where his performance contributed to the film's ensemble portrayal of suburban dystopia, though the movie received mixed reviews for its uneven tone. In 2007, Bart played a U.S. Attorney in Ridley Scott's crime drama American Gangster, a small but pivotal role in the ensemble cast led by Denzel Washington and Russell Crowe, supporting the film's acclaimed depiction of 1970s Harlem underworld; the movie earned widespread praise for its storytelling and performances, grossing over $130 million worldwide. Bart reprised his Tony-nominated Broadway role as the flamboyant Carmen Ghia in the 2005 film adaptation of The Producers, directed by Susan Stroman, bringing his theatrical flair to the screen alongside Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick in the musical comedy about a scheme to produce a Broadway flop.[4][27] In the 2010s, he continued with character roles in ensemble films, including Buddy Ross, a Hollywood producer, in Trumbo (2015), a biopic on screenwriter Dalton Trumbo starring Bryan Cranston; Maurice, a drag queen, in the comedy Last Vegas (2013) with Michael Douglas and Robert De Niro; and Principal Bellingham in the teen comedy Speech & Debate (2017), where he supported the young leads in a story of high school misfits.[4] Bart made a brief cameo appearance in the 2021 musical film Tick, Tick... Boom!, directed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, adding to his selective screen work amid ongoing theater commitments. In 2025, Bart appeared in the Amazon MGM Studios holiday comedy The Man with the Bag, directed by Adam Shankman and starring Arnold Schwarzenegger (released October 3, 2025); details on his character remain undisclosed.[28] Throughout his film career, Bart has navigated typecasting concerns stemming from his memorable television role as the villainous pharmacist George Williams on Desperate Housewives, which he feared might limit future opportunities, yet he has balanced sporadic film projects with his primary theater work to maintain versatility.[29]Television career
Bart began his television career with voice work in animated projects, providing the singing voice for young Hercules in Disney's Hercules (1997) and for Scamp in the direct-to-video sequel Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (2001).[30] His breakthrough role came on the ABC series Desperate Housewives (2004–2012), where he portrayed George Williams, a seemingly charming pharmacist who revealed himself as a sociopathic stalker and serial killer, poisoning Bree Van de Kamp's husband Rex and briefly becoming her love interest.[31] Bart appeared in 15 episodes across seasons 1 and 2 (6 in season 1 and 9 in season 2), earning acclaim for the character's dark twist, which he described as his "favorite and most terrifying" role due to its unexpected depth revealed by creator Marc Cherry. For his ensemble work on the show, Bart shared in the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series at the 12th Annual SAG Awards in 2006.[32] Following Desperate Housewives, Bart took on a recurring role as journalist Mason Treadwell in the ABC drama Revenge (2011–2015), appearing in 11 episodes as a wealthy, investigative author entangled in the show's web of secrets and scandals.[33] He also reprised the character in the TV movie Revenge: The First Chapter (2012). In more recent years, Bart starred as Judge Curtis Wilson, a conservative Republican jurist and Supreme Court candidate, in the Freeform series Good Trouble (2019–2023), a spin-off of The Fosters, where he appeared as a series regular in a role that highlighted political and social tensions.[34] The success of Desperate Housewives significantly boosted Bart's visibility, leading to global fan recognition despite his initial fears that the villainous role might end his career; he later reflected that the experience opened doors to further television opportunities.[31] In a 2024 interview, Bart expressed openness to a potential Desperate Housewives revival, noting that the original female leads might be interested, though he humorously dismissed the idea of a male-centric spin-off as a "travesty."[31]Filmography
Film
- Hercules (1997) as Young Hercules (singing voice)[35]
- The Insider (1999) as Seelbach Hotel Manager[1]
- Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure (2001) as Scamp (singing voice)[35]
- The Stepford Wives (2004) as Roger Bannister[35]
- The Producers (2005) as Carmen Ghia[35]
- I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006) as Burl Canasta[35]
- American Gangster (2007) as U.S. Attorney[1]
- Hostel: Part II (2007) as Stuart[35]
- The Midnight Meat Train (2008) as Jurgis[35]
- Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008) as Dr. Beecher[35]
- Doubting Thomas (2008) as Principal Hampton[35]
- Law Abiding Citizen (2009) as Brian Bringham[35]
- Smiley (2012) as Professor Clayton[35]
- Excision (2012) as Bob[35]
- Freaky Deaky (2012) as Gerry[35]
- A Green Story (2012) as Johnson[35]
- April Apocalypse (2013) as Jack[35]
- Last Vegas (2013) as Maurice[35]
- Trumbo (2015) as Buddy Ross[35]
- Speech & Debate (2017) as Principal Bellingham[35]
- Ghost Light (2018) as Henry Asquith[35]
- The Man with the Bag (2025) as TBA[36]
Television
| Year(s) | Title | Role | Episodes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | Good & Evil | Dr. Eugene Sanders | Unknown [21] |
| 1994 | The George Carlin Show | Ron | 1 [37] |
| 1999 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Adam Cain | 1 [37] |
| 2000 | Law & Order | Alec Hughes | 1 [38] |
| 2000 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Benjy Dowe | 1 [38] |
| 2002 | Bram & Alice | David | Unknown [38] |
| 2002 | George Lopez | Jeff | 1 [39] |
| 2004 | The West Wing | Harry | 1 [21] |
| 2005–2006 | Desperate Housewives | George Williams | 15 [35] [21] [40] |
| 2006 | The Lost Room (miniseries) | Howard "The Weasel" Montague | 3 [1] |
| 2006 | Ugly Betty | Jack | 1 [21] |
| 2007 | Pushing Daisies | Randy Mann | 1 [21] |
| 2008 | Eli Stone | Lloyd (Guardian Angel) | 3 [21] |
| 2009 | 30 Rock | Brad Halster | 4 [21] |
| 2010 | The Good Guys | Mr. Fantastic | 3 [21] |
| 2010 | CSI: Miami | Bob Starling | 1 [1] |
| 2011–2015 | Revenge | Mason Treadwell | 18 [21] [41] |
| 2012 | Smash | Michael Swift | 7 [21] |
| 2012 | Grimm | Constantine Brinkerhoff | 1 [39] |
| 2012 | Political Animals (miniseries) | Barry Harris | 6 [21] |
| 2013 | It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | The Rep | 1 [21] |
| 2013 | The Millers | Roger | 1 [39] |
| 2013–2014 | How I Met Your Mother | Curtis | 4 [42] |
| 2014 | Jessie | Mr. Phil | 1 [21] |
| 2014 | How to Build a Better Boy (TV movie) | Dr. James E. Hartley | TV movie [1] |
| 2015 | Perception | Ethan Kendrick III | 5 [41] |
| 2016 | Code Black | Hank Goldman | 1 [43] |
| 2016 | Graves | Eisenhower "Ike" Johnson | 5 [4] |
| 2017 | American Housewife | Roger | 1 [39] |
| 2017 | The Last Tycoon | Richard B. Fawcett | 7 [39] |
| 2018 | Instinct | Dr. Daniel Sperling | 4 [4] |
| 2018 | A Series of Unfortunate Events | Vice Principal Nero | 4 [4] [44] |
| 2019–2021 | Good Trouble | Curtis Wilson | 19 [21] [1] |
| 2023 | Accused | DA Lester | 1 [39] |
Theatre
Roger Bart's theatre career spans Broadway, Off-Broadway, West End, and international productions, with a focus on musical theatre roles.[18][4]| Year(s) | Production | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | Vampire Lesbians of Sodom | Nick Kaledin | Provincetown Playhouse (Off-Broadway)[45] |
| 1987 | Big River | Tom Sawyer (replacement) | Eugene O'Neill Theatre (Broadway)[18][46] |
| 1991 | The Secret Garden | Dickon | Regional tour[47] |
| 1993 | The Who's Tommy | Cousin Kevin | Regional production[47] |
| 1995 | How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying | J. Pierrepont Finch | National tour[47] |
| 1997 | King David | Jonathan (original) | New Amsterdam Theatre (Broadway)[18][46] |
| 1997–1998 | Triumph of Love | Harlequin (original) | Royale Theatre (Broadway)[18][46] |
| 1999 | You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Snoopy (original) | Ambassador Theatre (Broadway)[18][46] |
| 2001–2007 | The Producers | Carmen Ghia (original and replacement); Leo Bloom (replacement, multiple periods); Leo Bloom (standby replacement) | St. James Theatre (Broadway)[18][46] |
| 2004 | The Frogs | Xanthias (original) | Vivian Beaumont Theatre (Broadway)[18][46] |
| 2007–2009 | Young Frankenstein | Dr. Frederick Frankenstein (original) | Hilton Theatre (Broadway)[18][46] |
| 2016 | Wonderful Town | Chick Clark; Speedy Valenti | Los Angeles Opera (regional)[48] |
| 2016 | Disaster! | Tony (original and replacement) | Nederlander Theatre (Broadway)[18][46] |
| 2019 | Hercules | Hades (original) | Public Theater (Off-Broadway)[4] |
| 2020 | Back to the Future: The Musical | Doc Brown (original) | Manchester Opera House (premiere, U.K. regional) |
| 2021–2023 | Back to the Future: The Musical | Doc Brown | Adelphi Theatre (West End)[49][50] |
| 2023–2025 | Back to the Future: The Musical | Doc Brown (original) | Winter Garden Theatre (Broadway)[18][46] |
| 2025– | Back to the Future: The Musical | Doc Brown | Sydney Lyric Theatre (Australian premiere)[51] |
Awards and nominations
Theatre awards
Roger Bart has received several prestigious accolades for his Broadway performances, particularly in musicals where his comedic timing and vocal prowess have been highlighted. In 1999, Bart won the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for his portrayal of Snoopy in the revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown. He also earned the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for the same role. Additionally, he received an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical that year.[52] For his performance as Carmen Ghia in the original Broadway production of The Producers in 2001, Bart was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical. He also garnered a Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.[53] In 2024, Bart received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for playing Doc Brown in Back to the Future: The Musical.[54] He was further nominated for the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical for this role.[55]| Year | Award | Category | Production | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Won |
| 1999 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Won |
| 1999 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown | Nominated |
| 2001 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | The Producers | Nominated |
| 2001 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | The Producers | Nominated |
| 2016 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Disaster! | Nominated[56] |
| 2024 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Back to the Future: The Musical | Nominated |
| 2024 | Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Performer in a Broadway Musical | Back to the Future: The Musical | Nominated |
Film and television awards
Roger Bart has received limited recognition for his contributions to film and television, primarily in the form of ensemble and vocal performance honors. His most notable accolade came from his recurring role on the ABC series Desperate Housewives, where he portrayed the pharmacist George Williams across multiple seasons.[32] In 2006, Bart shared in the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series for Desperate Housewives, recognizing the cast's collective work during the show's early success. This win highlighted the series' impact as a cultural phenomenon, with Bart's character contributing to its darkly comedic storylines.[32][57] Earlier in his career, Bart earned nominations for his singing voice work in Disney animated features. In 1998, he was nominated for an Online Film & Television Association (OFTA) Film Award in the Best Music, Original Song category for performing "Go the Distance" in Hercules, a track that underscored the film's theme of self-discovery.[57][58] In 2001, Bart received a nomination for a DVD Exclusive Awards Video Premiere Award in the Best Original Song category for "A World Without Fences" from Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure, where he provided the singing voice for the character Scamp. This recognition acknowledged his vocal contributions to direct-to-video animation.[59][57] No further major film or television awards or nominations have been documented for Bart as of 2025, though his supporting roles in projects like American Gangster (2007) and guest appearances on series such as Revenge and The Blacklist have garnered critical notice without formal honors.[57]| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | Online Film & Television Association Film Award | Best Music, Original Song ("Go the Distance") | Hercules | Nominated[57] |
| 2001 | DVD Exclusive Awards Video Premiere Award | Best Original Song ("A World Without Fences") | Lady and the Tramp II: Scamp's Adventure | Nominated[59] |
| 2006 | Screen Actors Guild Award | Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series | Desperate Housewives | Won (shared with ensemble)[32] |