Lewis J. Stadlen

Brooklyn-born actor Lewis J. Stadlen is the son of prolific voice actor Allen Swift, but has established a storied career in his own right, having built a reputation on stage and screen. As a young man, Stadlen trained under such acting technique stalwarts as Sanford Meisner and Stella Adler, before joining a touring company of "Fiddler on the Roof." He honed his craft on the road and landed on Broadway in 1969 in the musical comedy "Minnie's Boys," in which he played famed comedian Groucho Marx. His performance here earned him not only a Drama Desk Award but also a Theatre World Award. Shortly thereafter, Stadlen made his film debut with a small role in "Portnoy's Complaint," which was based on the Philip Roth novel. While he has earned a number of roles in film and television, it is theater where he has gained the most recognition. In 1974 and 1996 Stadlen was honored with Tony Award nominations. In 2000, he co-starred with Nathan Lane and Jean Smart in the Roundabout Theater's revival of the classic Kaufman-Hart comedy "The Man Who Came to Dinner," a performance that was broadcast live on television. His portrayal of the cut-up character Banjo earned him a Drama Desk nod.