
Michael Cristofer
Biography
Michael Ivan Cristofer is an American playwright, filmmaker and actor. He received the Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the Tony Award for Best Play for The Shadow Box in 1977. He was awarded a Pulitzer Prize and an Antoinette Perry “Tony” Award for the Broadway production of his play, The Shadow Box.
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Subsequent to New York, the play was produced in every major American city and worldwide from Europe to the Far East.
Other plays include Breaking Up at Primary Stages; Ice at Manhattan Theatre Club; Black Angel at Circle Repertory Company; The Lady and the Clarinet starring Stockard Channing, produced by the Mark Taper Forum, Long Wharf Theater, Off-Broadway and on the London Fringe, and Amazing Grace starring Marsha Mason which received the American Theater Critics Award as the best play produced in the United States during the 1996-97 season.
His film work includes the screenplays for The Shadow Box directed by Paul Newman (Golden Globe Award, Emmy nomination), Falling in Love, The Witches of Eastwick, The Bonfire of the Vanities, Breaking Up, and Casanova starring Heath Ledger. His directing credits include Gia starring Angelina Jolie, which was nominated for five Emmys and for which he won a Director’s Guild Award. He then directed Body Shots and Original Sin.
For eight years he worked as artistic advisor and finally co-artistic director of River Arts Repertory in Woodstock, New York, a company which produced new plays by writers such as Richard Nelson, Mac Wellman, Len Jenkin, Eric Overmeyer and many others. Also at River Arts, he wrote stage adaptations of the films Love Me or Leave Me and the legendary Casablanca, and directed Joanne Woodward in his own adaptation of Henrik Ibsen’s Ghosts. His most recent work for the theater, The Whore and Mr. Moore, is in workshop at the Actor’s Studio where he is a member.
He's had recurring roles as Truxton Spangler on AMC's Rubicon, as Jerry Rand on Smash, and as Phillip Price on Mr. Robot. His film roles include The Other Woman, Emoticon and The Adderall Diaries.
Known for
Die Hard: With a VengeanceJarvis7.3
American Horror StoryHarrison Renard8.1
SuitsPaul8.2
Mr. RobotPhillip Price (voice)8.3
FalloutElder Cleric Quintus8.1
ElementaryIsaac Pike7.6
The Witches of EastwickScreenplay6.5
The Night ClerkWriter, Director6.2
Original SinScreenplay, Director6.1
Ray DonovanDanny O'Connor, Priest7.5
GiaDirector, Writer7.1
The Bonfire of the VanitiesScreenplay5.6
Filmography
- 2024The Great Lillian HallFilm: Director
- 2024FalloutSeries: Elder Cleric Quintus (6 episodes)
- 2023The Metropolitan Opera: ChampionFilm: Screenplay
- 2020The Night ClerkFilm: Writer, Director
- 2018Last SupperFilm: Raymond
- 2017ChuckFilm: Writer
- 2016Year by the SeaFilm: Robin
- 2016The Adderall DiariesFilm: Paul Hora
- 2015ChronicFilm: John
- 2015Mr. RobotSeries: Phillip Price (voice) (1 episode)
- 2015The Girl in the BookFilm: Dad
- 2014EmoticonFilm: Walter Nevins
- 20145 Flights UpFilm: Larry
- 2013Ray DonovanSeries: Danny O'Connor, Priest (2 episodes)
- 2012ElementarySeries: Isaac Pike (1 episode)
- 2012SmashSeries: Jerry Rand (15 episodes)
- 2011American Horror StorySeries: Harrison Renard (3 episodes)
- 2011SuitsSeries: Paul (1 episode)
- 2010The Other WomanFilm: Sheldon Greenleaf
- 2010RubiconSeries: Truxton Spangler (11 episodes)
- 2009EastwickSeries: Screenplay (1 episode)
- 2009Georgia O'KeeffeFilm: Writer
- 2001Original SinFilm: Screenplay, Director
- 1999Body ShotsFilm: Director
- 1998GiaFilm: Director, Writer
- 1997Breaking UpFilm: Screenplay
- 1995Die Hard: With a VengeanceFilm: Jarvis
- 1993Mr. JonesFilm: Screenplay
- 1990The Bonfire of the VanitiesFilm: Screenplay
- 1987The Witches of EastwickFilm: Screenplay
- 1984Falling in LoveFilm: Writer
- 1984The Little Drummer GirlFilm: Tayeh
- 1982CandidaFilm: Director
- 1980The Shadow BoxFilm: Screenplay
- 1978An Enemy of the PeopleFilm: Hovstad
- 1977The Andros TargetsSeries: Ron Comack (1 episode)
- 1976The Last of Mrs. LincolnFilm: Robert Lincoln
- 1976The EntertainerFilm: Frank Rice
- 1975Doctors' HospitalSeries: Dr. Taback (1 episode)
- 1975KnuckleFilm: Curley Delafield
- 1975Crime ClubFilm: Frank Swoboda
- 1974The Crazy World of Julius VrooderFilm: Alessini (as Michael Ivan Cristofer)
- 1974LincolnSeries: John Nicolay (5 episodes)
- 1973KojakSeries: Michael Viggers Jr. (1 episode)
- 1973The MagicianSeries: Dave Webster (1 episode)
- 1972The RookiesSeries: Charlie Phillips (1 episode)
- 1955GunsmokeSeries: Ben Shindrow (2 episodes)
Biography and credits from TMDB. This website uses TMDB and the TMDB APIs but is not endorsed, certified, or otherwise approved by TMDB.