Michael Stuhlbarg

While award-winning stage actor Michael Stuhlbarg was known in New York theater circles since the 1990s, he was considered a relative unknown when the Coen Brothers cast him as the lead in their 2009 feature, "A Serious Man." Among Stuhlbarg's calling cards were his chameleonic versatility, including his ability (and willingness) to wildly alter his physical appearance, as well as a talent that could toe the line between comedy and tragedy. He appeared in a number of Shakespeare in the Park productions in New York, including starring roles in "Hamlet" and "Richard II," and garnered a Tony Award nomination in 2005 for his supporting Broadway role in "The Pillowman." Prior to 2009, Stuhlbarg made a few supporting film appearances and found he was curiously at home in period pieces, but it was his "Serious Man" breakout that truly showcased the soulfulness and expressive face of the stage-to-screen crossover talent.