Bill Irwin

Bill Irwin is a Tony Award-winning actor, choreographer, clown, and comedian whose career spans Broadway, film, and television. Irwin began as a vaudeville-style stage performer and has contributed to the renaissance of American circus arts. He was a founding member of the Pickle Family Circus in San Francisco and the theater troupe Kraken, developing a distinctive blend of physical comedy, mime, and dance influenced by vaudeville traditions and postmodern experimentation. Irwin holds a degree in theater arts from Oberlin College and is a graduate of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Clown College. He has received a MacArthur Fellowship.

Irwin's original stage works have established him as a significant figure in contemporary American theater. As an actor, writer, director, and creator, his stage works include "The Regard of Flight," "Largely New York," "Fool Moon," "The Harlequin Studies," and "Mr. Fox: A Rumination." He collaborated with David Shiner and Nellie McKay in the Off-Broadway production "Old Hats," which won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue. Irwin's stage acting credits also include "Waiting for Godot" alongside Steve Martin and Robin Williams. On Broadway, his performance as George in the revival of Edward Albee's "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" earned Irwin Tony and Helen Hayes awards for best actor. His honors also include a National Endowment for the Arts Fellowship and Guggenheim, Fulbright, and MacArthur fellowships.

In film, Irwin is known for his role as Lou Lou Who in "Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas." He voiced and puppeteered the robot TARS in "Interstellar," directed by Christopher Nolan, handling both the physical and vocal performance for the character. Irwin is also set to voice Polyphemus in Christopher Nolan's adaptation of "The Odyssey."

On television, Irwin is recognized as Mr. Noodle on the Sesame Street segment "Elmo's World." He has appeared as Dr. Peter Lindstrom on "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" and as the Dick & Jane Killer on "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation." Irwin's television credits include roles in the FX series "Legion," "Star Trek: Discovery" as Su'Kal, and a guest appearance on "The Gilded Age" on HBO. He is featured in the PBS series Great Performances in an episode titled "Bill Irwin, Clown Prince."

Irwin continues to explore the boundaries of live performance. He returned with his show "On Beckett," conceived, written, and performed by Irwin, which examines the writings of Samuel Beckett, playwright of "Waiting for Godot." In this production, Irwin explores a performer's relationship with Beckett, drawing on his experience in physical theater and acting to present the playwright's language in innovative ways. Irwin's work in theater, film, and television highlights his expertise in physical comedy, contemporary performance, and American stage traditions.