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Mark Linn-Baker

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Mark Linn-Baker
Linn-Baker at the 39th Primetime Emmy Awards buffet in 1987
Born
Mark Linn Baker

(1954-06-17) June 17, 1954 (age 70)
St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
EducationYale University (BA, MFA)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • director
Years active1978–present
Spouses
​
​
(m. 1995; div. 2009)​
Christa Justus
​
(m. 2012)​
[1]
Children1

Mark Linn-Baker (born Mark Linn Baker; June 17, 1954) is an American actor and director who played Benjy Stone in the film My Favorite Year and Larry Appleton in the television sitcom Perfect Strangers.

Early life and education

[edit]

Mark Linn-Baker was born with the given names Mark Linn and the surname Baker in St. Louis, Missouri. He later changed his surname to a compound surname by hyphenating his middle name Linn with his surname Baker, producing Linn-Baker. His mother, Joan (née Sparks), of Jewish ancestry, was a dancer, and his father, William Nelson Baker, co-founded the Open Stage Theater in Hartford. His parents were both active in theatre and participated in civil rights activism.[2][3][4] He graduated from Wethersfield High School in Wethersfield, Connecticut, in 1972, and from Yale University in 1976. He then attended the Yale School of Drama, receiving a MFA in Drama in 1979, and following that, found most of his early roles on stage.

Career

[edit]

He developed and performed in a two-man comedy show, The Laundry Hour, with Lewis Black, in the early 1980s.

He appeared in the 1983 Broadway version of the Doonesbury comic strip. He appeared in Laughter on the 23rd Floor in 1993; the 1996 revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum; the 1998 Roundabout Theatre Company production of A Flea in Her Ear; the 2003 musical A Year with Frog and Toad; and the 2006 comedy Losing Louie.

His film debut was a small part in Woody Allen's 1979 film Manhattan. The majority of Linn-Baker's scenes were cut from the film. Three years later, he landed a far more memorable film role partly inspired by Allen himself, playing Benjy Stone in the 1982 comedy film My Favorite Year alongside Peter O'Toole. In a manner similar to his future role in Perfect Strangers, Linn-Baker played the straight man to O'Toole's outrageous character, Alan Swann.

Having attained success on stage and the big screen, Linn-Baker began to turn his sights toward television. In 1983, he appeared in an unsold detective show pilot called O'Malley. The following year saw a role on the television movie, The Ghost Writer, and in the summer series, The Comedy Zone. Soon, Linn-Baker was appearing in several high-profile television shows. He guest-starred on a 1984 episode of Miami Vice as Bonzo Barry and portrayed hapless office worker Phil West on a 1985 episode of Moonlighting titled "Atlas Belched". Linn-Baker starred with Charles Kimbrough in the 1985 CBS pilot The Recovery Room, a sitcom about a bar located across from a major city hospital and its inhabitants. Airing as a special that summer, the pilot did not lead to a regular series. Between parts, Linn-Baker also appeared during this time in television commercials pitching products ranging from Kellogg's Nutri-Grain to Kraft's Life Savers.

Linn-Baker starred in the ABC series Perfect Strangers as Larry Appleton, a young man living on his own for the first time in Chicago. Larry's world was disrupted when a distant cousin from the (fictional) Mediterranean island of Mypos, Balki Bartokomous (Bronson Pinchot), showed up on his doorstep. Storylines revolved around Larry's attempts to show Balki the ways of American culture, although the neurotic Larry frequently proved to be just as naive as Balki. The series ran for eight seasons. Later, he appeared in Peter Bogdanovich's 1992 film Noises Off.

In 2005, he was a regular cast member on the WB Network sitcom Twins, which was canceled after a single season. He also appeared in the 2010 film How Do You Know as Ron. In 2011, he starred in his sixth Broadway show Relatively Speaking in a one-act play by Woody Allen. He previously appeared opposite Nathan Lane in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In 2016 he appeared off-Broadway as Sir Peter Teazle in The School for Scandal at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.[5] As of 2017 he is playing the role of Carlton Miller, aide to Mayor Margaret Dutton (Lorraine Bracco) on the CBS police procedural drama Blue Bloods.

In 2019, he played Mayor George Shinn in the Kennedy Center's production of The Music Man opposite Norm Lewis as Hill and Jessie Mueller as Marian. He reprised his role when he replaced Jefferson Mays in the 2022 Broadway revival, where he performed opposite Hugh Jackman as Hill and Sutton Foster as Marian.

Guest appearances

[edit]

On a 1992 episode of Full House, Linn-Baker played Dick Donaldson, the wealthy, snobbish cousin of Becky Donaldson Katsopolis (Lori Loughlin). In 1997, he guest starred on Family Matters as the abusive boss of Harriette Winslow (Jo Marie Payton). Linn-Baker guested three times on Hangin' with Mr. Cooper as Larry Weeks. Additionally, he appeared on an episode of Law & Order as a strip club owner being extorted by the Mob. In a 1997 episode of Sesame Street, he had a guest role as a veterinarian examining a sick—and invisible—Barkley.

Linn-Baker also directed numerous episodes of Family Matters, Hangin' with Mr. Cooper, Step By Step and The Trouble with Larry. He appeared as a spokesperson for Peter Pan peanut butter in a series of commercials in the late 1980s and 1990s.

He also appeared in a Christmas episode of Ally McBeal as a man fired for seeing a unicorn.

On a 2003 episode of Law & Order: Criminal Intent, he guested as an insurance investigator named Wally Stevens who displays strong Asperger's Syndrome traits. He gets a degree of empathy from Det. Robert Goren and a number of behind-his-back snickers from Goren's partner Alexandra Eames. His character made a return cameo appearance in the season 6 episode "Endgame", where it was revealed Goren has kept in touch with the character through correspondence.[citation needed] In season 2, episode 14 ("Probability"), the last line spoken by Eames is "I'm sure he'd like a pen pal."

Linn-Baker provided the voice for one of a quartet of aardvarks in the 2002 Sandra Boynton album Philadelphia Chickens. The other three were voiced by Joe Grifasi, Michael Gross, and Devin McEwan.[6]

He joined his friend, fellow Yale Drama School graduate and former sidekick Lewis Black, on the audiobook version of Black's second book Me of Little Faith where he and Black recreate The Laundry Hour, an act they did in New York City in the early 1980s. He guest-starred in several episodes of the children's TV show The Electric Company in February–March 2009 as "Uncle Sigmund Scrambler".[citation needed]

In 2009, he appeared in an episode of the U.S. version of Life on Mars, playing a character who collected women's underwear that he later used for masturbation. In 2010, he appeared in an episode of Law & Order, "The Taxman Cometh", as Dr. Vincent Balicheck, a physician who used controversial therapies on cancer patients which resulted in their deaths.[7]

Linn-Baker and Perfect Strangers are referenced in the HBO TV series The Leftovers, which takes place after a fictional global event called the Sudden Departure, the inexplicable, simultaneous disappearance of 140 million people, 2% of the world's population. Within the show, the entire cast of Perfect Strangers has departed, except for Linn-Baker, who has faked his own departure and escaped to Mexico.[8] Linn-Baker appears, as a fictional version of himself, in the episodes "Axis Mundi"[9] and "Don't Be Ridiculous."[10]

In 2009, he had a recurring guest-starring role in the revival of The Electric Company, and in 2017, he started a recurring role on the CBS drama Blue Bloods as Deputy NYC mayor Carlton Miller. In 2019, he appeared as Josh's father Dave in the Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt episode "Kimmy is in a Love Square!" Also in 2019, he appeared in Season 6 (Episode 7) of The Blacklist as entomologist Dr. Jonathan Nikkila.

Personal life

[edit]

In 1995, Linn-Baker married Adrianne Lobel, the daughter of children's book author Arnold Lobel, best known for his Frog and Toad series.[11][citation needed] They divorced after having one daughter.[1] Linn-Baker helped adapt his father-in-law's stories into the Tony-nominated Broadway musical A Year with Frog and Toad, in which Linn-Baker played Toad and Jay Goede played Frog. On December 29, 2012, Linn-Baker married actress Christa Justus.[1]

Filmography

[edit]

Television

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1978 All's Well That Ends Well Bertram Television film
1982 Alice at the Palace Various Television film
1983 O'Malley Public Defender Television film
1984 American Playhouse Nathan Zuckerman 1 episode
1984 Comedy Zone Various 2 episodes
1985 Miami Vice 'Bonzo' Barry Gold 1 episode
1985 The Equalizer Ronnie 1 episode
1985 Moonlighting Phil West 1 episode
1986–1993 Perfect Strangers Larry Appleton Lead role; 150 episodes
1989 The Hogan Family Stan Forrest 1 episode
1991 Bare Essentials Gordon Perkins Television film
1992 Ghostwriter Police Officer 1 episode
1992 Full House Dick Donaldson 1 episode
1993 The General Motors Playwrights Theater The Student 1 episode
1994–1996 Hangin' with Mr. Cooper Larry Weeks /

Basketball Player with Glasses

3 episodes (1 uncredited)
1997 Spin City Dr. Benjamin 1 episode
1997 Family Matters Mr. Benner 1 episode
1997 Soul Man Gumdrop 1 episode
1998 Ally McBeal Sheldon Maxwell 1 episode
1999, 2010 Law & Order Dr. Vincent Balicheck /

Tom Wilder

2 episodes
2001 Laughter on the 23rd Floor Val Skotsky Television film
2003, 2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Wally Stevens 2 episodes
2005–2006 Twins Alan Arnold 18 episodes
2009 Life on Mars Lincoln Hart 1 episode
2009–2010 The Electric Company Sigmund Scrambler 4 episodes
2012 The Good Wife Judge Don Linden 1 episode
2015, 2017 The Leftovers Himself 2 episodes
2016 Red Oaks Rabbi Ken 4 episodes
2017 The Good Fight Judge Don Linden 1 episode
2017–2018 Blue Bloods Carlton Miller 9 episodes
2019 Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt Dave Hoffman 1 episode
2019 The Blacklist Dr. Jonathan Nikkila 1 episode
2019–2021 Succession Maxim Pierce 2 episodes
2020 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Dr. Paul Capezio 1 episode
2021 Younger Clive Wexler 1 episode
2021–present Ghosts Henry Farnsby 4 episodes
2022 She-Hulk: Attorney at Law Morris Walters Disney+ series; 4 episodes

Film

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1979 Manhattan Shakespearean Actor Scenes deleted
1981 The End of August Victor LeBrum
1982 My Favorite Year Benjy Stone
1988 Me and Him Him
1988 Going to the Chapel Norman Brinkmann
1992 Noises Off Tim Allgood
2005 12 and Holding Mr. Farmer
2009 Adam Sam Klieber
2010 How Do You Know Ron
2018 Accommodations Eugene Beltzer

Stage

[edit]

As actor

[edit]
Year Title Role(s) Venue Notes Ref.
1978 Sganarelle: An Evening of Molière Farces In The Flying Doctor: Sganarelle

In The Forced Marriage [fr]: Marphurius, understudy Alcidas
In Sganarelle: Valère, understudy Sganarelle

Yale Repertory Theatre [12]
1978 All's Well That Ends Well Bertram New York Shakespeare Festival [13][14]
1979 Othello Othello's orderly New York Shakespeare Festival [15]
1980 Alice in Concert performer The Public Theater [16]
1981 The Laundry Hour performer The Public Theater [17]
1982 Maybe I'm Doing It Wrong performer Astor Place Theater [18]
1982 The Death of von Richthofen as Witnessed From Earth William Evans The Public Theater [19]
1982 Waiting for Godot Vladimir American Repertory Theater [20][21]
1983 Doonesbury Mark Biltmore Theater Broadway debut [22][23]
1984 The Miss Firecracker Contest Delmount Williams Manhattan Theater Club [24]
1990 Signature Maxwell T-Thorp New York Stage and Film [25][26]
1993 Face Value Bernard Sugarman Cort Theatre [27][28]
1993 Laughter on the 23rd Floor Val Richard Rodgers Theater [29]
1996 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Hysterium St. James Theater [30]
1998 A Flea in Her Ear Victor Chandebise, Dodo Laura Pels Theater [31]
1999 As You Like It Touchstone Williamstown Theatre Festival [32][33]
1999 Chesapeake Kerr Second Stage Theater Drama Desk Award nomination [34]
2002 The Pajama Game Hines New York City Center [35]
2002 A Year with Frog and Toad Toad Children's Theatre Company [36]
2003 A Year with Frog and Toad Toad Cort Theater [37]
2006 Losing Louie Tony Biltmore Theater [38]
2007 Romantic Poetry Jilly Brilla, Carl Wartel Theater [39]
2008 Almost an Evening In Waiting: McMartin

In Debate: God Who Loves

Atlantic Stage 2 [40]
2008 Romantic Poetry Carl New York City Center [41]
2011 One Slight Hitch Doc Coleman Williamstown Theatre Festival [42]
2011 Relatively Speaking In Honeymoon Motel: Sam Roth Brooks Atkinson Theater [43]
2012 One Slight Hitch Doc George Street Playhouse [44]
2014 You Can't Take It With You Paul Sycamore Longacre Theater [45]
2015 On the Twentieth Century Oliver Webb American Airlines Theatre [46]
2016 The School for Scandal Sir Peter Teazle Lucille Lortel Theatre [47]
2016 The Music Man Mayor Shinn The Muny [48]
2017 A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum Senex The Muny [49]
2018 Good For Otto Timothy Signature Theatre Company [50]
2019 The Music Man Mayor Shinn Kennedy Center [51]
2019 Fern Hill Billy 59E59 Theaters [52]
2022 The Music Man Mayor Shinn Winter Garden Theatre [53]

As director

[edit]
Year Title Venue Notes Ref.
1985 Savage in Limbo 47th Street Theater [54]
1986 L.A. Freewheeling Hartley House Theatre [55]
1988 Zero Positive The Public Theater direction by Kenneth Elliott, original direction by Mark Linn-Baker [56]
1998 Black Humor Cherry Lane Theatre [57]
2001 Once Around the City Second Stage Theater [58]

As author

[edit]
  • The Laundry Hour (1981) - co-authored with Lewis Black, William Peters and Paul Schierhorn [17]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c Shattuck, Kathryn (11 January 2013). "Vows: Christa Justus and Mark Linn-Baker". The New York Times. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  2. ^ "Perfect Strangers Online – Mark Linn-Baker Articles – Men's Look – 8/87". Perfectstrangers.tv. Archived from the original on 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  3. ^ "Perfect Strangers Online – Episode Guide – Episode 5: Check This". Perfectstrangers.tv. 1986-04-22. Archived from the original on 2013-06-23. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  4. ^ Patricia Seremet; Courant Columnist (1996-12-02). "What Now, Hartford, After The Debate?". Hartford Courant. Archived from the original on 2014-04-23. Retrieved 2013-04-22.
  5. ^ The School for Scandal review Archived 2017-04-24 at the Wayback Machine by Shani R. Friedman, Theatre Is Easy, April 30, 2016
  6. ^ Philadelphia Chickens. Workman. 14 October 2002. ISBN 9780761126362. Archived from the original on 27 August 2022. Retrieved August 28, 2011.
  7. ^ "The Taxman Cometh". Archived from the original on June 1, 2010. Retrieved June 1, 2010.
  8. ^ Sepinwall, Alan. "The Leftovers co-creator explains crazy season 3 opening & Perfect Strangers gag: Why the TGIF show of all shows? And where did the idea come from for that prologue?" Archived 2016-05-11 at the Wayback Machine HitFix (October 5, 2015).
  9. ^ "Axis Mundi" Archived 2017-05-06 at the Wayback Machine directed by Mimi Lede; written by Damon Lindelof and Jacqueline Hoyt (aired October 4, 2015).
  10. ^ "Don't Be Ridiculous" Archived 2017-06-23 at the Wayback Machine directed by Keith Gordon; written by Damon Lindelof and Tom Perrotta (aired April 23, 2017).
  11. ^ Jane Holahan (April 11, 2013). "Frog and Toad's long friendship turns musical". Intelligencer Journal/Lancaster New Era. Archived from the original on June 23, 2013.
  12. ^ Savitt, Jane (Spring 1978). "Yale Repertory Theatre program". p. 12. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  13. ^ Berkvist, Robert (30 June 1978). "All's WellWith Shakespeare in the Park". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  14. ^ "All's Well That Ends Well (TV Movie 1978)". Internet Movie Database. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  15. ^ Gussow, Mel (9 August 1978). "Stage: Raul Julia Portrays Othello". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  16. ^ Rich, Frank (8 January 1981). "THE STAGE: MERYL STREEP SINGS IN 'ALICE IN CONCERT'". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  17. ^ a b Gussow, Mel (5 August 1981). "THEATER: 'THE LAUNDRY HOUR,' A 2 MAN CABARET-TYPE SHOW". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  18. ^ Gussow, Mel (15 March 1982). "THEATER: A REVUE BUILT FROM NEWMAN'S MUSIC". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  19. ^ Rich, Frank (30 July 1982). "MUSICAL: MCANUFF'S 'RICHTHOFEN' ARRIVES AT PUBLIC". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  20. ^ "Waiting for Godot (1983)". American Repertory Theater. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  21. ^ Grossman, lev (11 January 2012). "I Was a Teenage Samuel Beckett: Or, My Literary Biography Problem". Time. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  22. ^ Rich, Frank (22 November 1983). "STAGE: 'DOONESBURY'". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  23. ^ "Mark Linn-Baker – Broadway Cast & Staff". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  24. ^ Rich, Frank (28 May 1984). "THEATER: 'FIRECRACKER,' A BETH HENLEY COMEDY". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  25. ^ Nemy, Enid (15 June 1990). "On Stage". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  26. ^ Henley, Beth (2002). Signature. New York: Dramatists Play Service. p. 4. ISBN 9780822218760. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  27. ^ Soloski, Alexis (4 November 2020). "David Henry Hwang's 'M. Butterfly' Followup: 'M. Turkey'". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  28. ^ "Face Value – Broadway Play – Original". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  29. ^ Gerard, Jeremy (22 November 1993). "Laughter on the 23rd Floor". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  30. ^ Gerard, Jeremy (19 April 1996). "A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  31. ^ Simon, John (16 March 1998). "In Brief: 'A Flea in Her Ear'". New York Magazine. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  32. ^ "As You Like It - Williamstown Theatre Festival". Williamstown Theatre Festival. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  33. ^ Simonson, Robert (28 June 1999). "Linn-Baker and Cumpsty Join Paltrow in WTF As You Like It, Aug. 4-15". Playbill. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  34. ^ Isherwood, Charles (18 October 1999). "Chesapeake". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  35. ^ Brantley, Ben (4 May 2002). "THEATER REVIEW; A Test of Love for Labor and Management". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  36. ^ Ritter, Peter (26 September 2002). "A Year With Frog and Toad". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  37. ^ Brantley, Ben (14 April 2003). "THEATER REVIEW; Woodland Creatures Sing, Act and Dress Well". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  38. ^ Rooney, David (12 October 2006). "Losing Louie". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  39. ^ Cotter, James F. (25 July 2007). "Play review: 'Romantic Poetry'". Times Herald-Record. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  40. ^ Brantley, Ben (23 Jan 2008). "A World Right Around the Corner From Hell". New York TImes. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  41. ^ Suskin, Steven (28 October 2008). "Romantic Poetry". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  42. ^ "Theater review: 'One Slight Hitch' a delightful farce". The Daily Gazette. 12 July 2011. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  43. ^ Isherwood, Charles (20 Oct 2011). "Each Family, Tortured in Its Own Way". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  44. ^ Gates, Anita (19 Oct 2012). "Panic in Suburbia on a Daughter's Wedding Day". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  45. ^ Stasio, Marilyn (28 September 2014). "Broadway Review: 'You Can't Take It With You' with Rose Byrne, James Earl Jones". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  46. ^ Stasio, Marilyn (15 March 2015). "Broadway Review: 'On the 20th Century' with Kristin Chenoweth, Peter Gallagher". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  47. ^ Shaw, Helen (25 April 2016). "The School for Scandal". Time Out. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  48. ^ Farmer, Tina (2016). "Pleasing and familiar, 'The Music Man' entertains, though it feels a bit off key". KDHX. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  49. ^ Przybylski, Katy (7 July 2017). "The Muny's "Forum" is filled with hilarity—and surprises". St. Louis Magazine. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  50. ^ Reed, Rex (8 March 2018). "Ed Harris Stars in 'Good For Otto,' a Long Play Where No One Is Named Otto". The Observer. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  51. ^ Marks, Peter (8 February 2019). "Trouble? Ya got none in Kennedy Center's revival of 'The Music Man.'". Washington Post. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  52. ^ Scheck, Frank (19 September 2019). "'Fern Hill': Theater Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  53. ^ "The Music Man – Broadway Musical – 2022 Revival". Internet Broadway Database. The Broadway League. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  54. ^ Bruckner, D.J.R. (24 September 1985). "THE STAGE: 'LUNIN: THEATER OF DEATH'". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  55. ^ "Theater: Off-Off Broadway". New York Magazine. 9 June 1986. p. 154. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  56. ^ Rich, Frank (2 June 1988). "Review/Theater; In 'Zero Positive,' Tragedy of AIDS Keeps Buckling Into Farce". New York Times. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  57. ^ Lefkowitz, David (5 March 1998). "NYC's Black Humor To Stop Laughing, Mar. 8". Playbill. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
  58. ^ Hofler, Robert (11 July 2001). "Once Around the City". Variety. Retrieved 14 January 2024.
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