Age: 75
Birthplace: London, Ontario, Canada
Victor Joseph Garber (born March 16, 1949) is a Canadian film, stage and television actor and singer. He is known for playing Jesus in Godspell, John Wilkes Booth in Assassins, Jack Bristow in the television series Alias, Max in Lend Me a Tenor, Thomas Andrews in James Cameron's Titanic, and Ken Taylor, Canadian Ambassador to Iran, in Argo. He currently guest stars as Dr. Martin Stein on The Flash and stars as a regular on Legends of Tomorrow.
Garber was born in London, Ontario, and is of Russian-Jewish descent. His parents were father Joseph "Joe" Garber (died 1995), and mother, Hope Garber (née Bessie Hope Wolf; died 2005), an actress, singer, and the host of At Home with Hope Garber. He has a brother, Nathan, and a sister, Alisa.
Garber began acting at the age of nine, and studied at the University of Toronto's Hart House at age 16.
When Garber was twelve, he was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. He attended Ryerson Elementary School. He also was enrolled in the children's program of the Grand Theatre; and, at age 16, he was accepted at a six-week summer theatre training program at the University of Toronto taught by Robert Gill.
In 1967, after a period working as a solo folk singer, he formed a folk group called The Sugar Shoppe with Peter Mann, Laurie Hood and Lee Harris. The group enjoyed moderate success, breaking into the Canadian Top 40 with a version of Bobby Gimby's song "Canada" (1967). Three other Sugar Shoppe songs made the lower reaches of the Canadian Top 100 in 1967 and '68, and the band even performed on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson before breaking up.
He played Jesus in Toronto's 1972 production of Godspell. He appeared on Broadway in the original productions of Deathtrap, Sweeney Todd and Noises Off, and in the original Off Broadway cast of Assassins, as well as the 1990s revival of Damn Yankees. He has been nominated for four Tony Awards and opened the Tony Awards program in 1994 (the year he was nominated for the Tony Award for Damn Yankees). In 1998, he co-starred on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning play Art with Alan Alda and Alfred Molina. In 2005, he played the role of Frederic in the Los Angeles Opera production of A Little Night Music. He played the male lead in a critically hailed Encores presentation of Follies (2007), opposite Donna Murphy. In mid-2007, he played Garry Essendine in a production of Noël Coward's Present Laughter at Boston's Huntington Theatre. He reprised the role in the Roundabout Theatre's New York production, which opened in January 2010 to generally favourable reviews.
His film work includes James Cameron's Titanic (1997), in which he essayed a Mid-Ulster accent to play the shipbuilder Thomas Andrews. Other movie appearances include Godspell (1973) as Jesus (the part he originally played in the 1972 Canadian stage production), Sleepless in Seattle (1993), Annie (1999), Legally Blonde (2001), and Tuck Everlasting (2002). In 2009, he took on the role of the DC Comics supervillain Sinestro in the direct-to-video animated film, Green Lantern: First Flight. The same year, Garber played a Klingon interrogator in J. J. Abrams' Star Trek film; however, his scenes were deleted from the finished film.
In 2010, Garber had an uncredited cameo in The Town as a bank manager. The film was directed by Alias co-star Jennifer Garner's husband, Ben Affleck. Also Garber had a credited role in the Ice Quake at the end of 2010. In late 2012, he appeared in Affleck's film Argo, about the Iran hostage crisis; Garber portrayed Canadian Ambassador to Iran Kenneth D. Taylor. He also co-starred in 2014 Samuel L. Jackson and Felicity Huffman in the Finnish-British Action Thriller Big Game.
On television, he has had roles on American and Canadian shows. He had a recurring guest role on CTV's E.N.G. (1991-93). He portrayed Jack Bristow on ABC's show, Alias, earning three Emmy nominations. He next starred on the television series Justice (2006) on Fox and ABC's Eli Stone. He appeared as Olivier Roth in four episodes of the Canadian science drama ReGenesis. He appeared in Episode 3 of the Fox series Glee as Will's father. He currently guest stars as Dr. Martin Stein on The Flash and appears as a regular on Legends of Tomorrow. On the sitcom "Fraiser" he played his butler.
In December 2010, for their annual birthday celebration to "The Master", The Noël Coward Society invited Garber as the guest celebrity to lay flowers in front of Coward's statue at New York's Gershwin Theatre, thereby commemorating what would have been Coward's 111th birthday.
In 2013, he was inducted into Canada's Walk of Fame.
Garber prefers to keep his personal life private and has largely stayed out of the tabloids. He referred publicly to his homosexuality in 2012. In 2013, he said "I don't really talk about it, but everybody knows." Garber has been in a relationship with Canadian artist and model Rainer Andreesen since 2000. On October 10, 2015, Andreesen announced on his instagram page that he and Garber were just married in Canada.
In June 2010, a production error caused a picture of Victor Garber being accidentally used on an opinion poll on RTÉ News. The production team mistook the actor as Enda Kenny, the leader of Fine Gael, at that time the main opposition party in Ireland. RTÉ immediately apologized to both men for the mistake. Garber did not comment on the incident.
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1973 | Godspell | Jesus Christ | |
1974 | Monkeys in the Attic | Eric | |
1981 | In the Research of Path of Life | Benjamin Lonergan | |
1988 | Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway, TheThe Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway | Ernest Hemingway | |
1992 | Singles | Child's Father | Uncredited |
I'll Never Get to Heaven | Eric Hoskins | ||
Light Sleeper | Tis Brooke | ||
1993 | Sleepless in Seattle | Greg | |
Life with Mikey | Brian Spiro | ||
1994 | Exotica | Harold Brown | |
Mixed Nuts | Irate Neighbour | Voice role | |
1995 | Jeffrey | Tim | |
Kleptomania | Morgan Allen | ||
1996 | First Wives Club, TheThe First Wives Club | Bill Atchison | National Board of Review Award for Best Acting by an Ensemble |
1997 | Titanic | Thomas Andrews | Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
Absolution of Anthony, TheThe Absolution of Anthony | Father Carson | Short | |
1998 | How Stella Got Her Groove Back | Isaac | Uncredited |
1999 | External Affairs | Harry Raymond | |
2001 | Legally Blonde | Professor Callahan | |
Call Me Claus | Taylor | ||
2002 | Tuck Everlasting | Robert Foster | |
Home Room | Det. Martin Van Zandt | ||
2008 | Milk | Mayor George Moscone | Critics Choice Award for Best Acting Ensemble Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture |
2009 | Green Lantern: First Flight | Sinestro | Voice role |
Star Trek | Klingon Interrogator | Deleted scene | |
2010 | You Again | Mark | |
Town, TheThe Town | Assistant Bank Manager | Uncredited | |
2011 | Kung Fu Panda 2 | Master Thundering Rhino | Voice role |
Entitled, TheThe Entitled | Bob Vincent | ||
Take Me Home | Arnold | ||
2012 | Argo | Ken Taylor | Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture Hollywood Film Award for Ensemble of the Year Palm Springs International Film Festival for Best Ensemble Nominated—Central Ohio Film Critics Association for Best Ensemble Nominated—Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards for Best Ensemble Acting Nominated—San Diego Film Critics Society Awards for Best Ensemble Performance |
Moving Day | Wilf Redmond | ||
2013 | I'll Follow You Down | Sal | |
2014 | Big Game | Vice President | |
2015 | Self/less | Martin O´Neill | |
Sicario | Dave Jennings | ||
2016 | The Gettysburg Address | William L. Saunders | Voice |
2017 | Rebel in the Rye | Filming |
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1974 | Jack: A Flash Fantasy | Jack of Hearts | Television film |
ABC Afterschool Special | Christian de Neuvillette | Voice role, Episode: "Cyrano" | |
1975 | Hallmark Hall of Fame | Marquis de Lafayette | Episode: "Valley Forge" |
1977 | Best of Families, TheThe Best of Families | Teddy Wheeler | Miniseries |
1978 | Tartuffe | Valere | Television film |
1983 | Charley's Aunt | Jack Chesney | Television film |
1985 | I Had Three Wives | Jackson Beaudine | 5 episodes |
Tales from the Darkside | Ambrose Cavender | Episode: "The Tear Collector" | |
Private Sessions | Jerry Sharma | Television film | |
1986 | The Twilight Zone | Dr. Kevin Carlson | Episode: "A Day in Beaumont / The Last Defender of Camelot" |
Roanoak | John White | Television film | |
Guiding Light | Det. Frank Minnelli | Unknown episodes | |
1987-91 | Days and Nights of Molly Dodd, TheThe Days and Nights of Molly Dodd | Dennis Widmer | 10 episodes |
1988 | Liberace: Behind the Music | Liberace | Television film |
1991 | Grand Larceny | Judge Keeler | Television film |
E.N.G. | Adam Hirsch | 10 episodes (1991 - 1993) | |
1992 | First Circle, TheThe First Circle | Lew Rubin | Television film Nominated—Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role |
I'll Fly Away | Warren | Episode: "Fragile Truths" | |
Powers That Be, TheThe Powers That Be | Mack Novitz | Episode: "Oh, Mack" | |
1993 | Alex Haley's Queen | Digby | Miniseries |
Dieppe | Lord Louis Mountbatten | Television film Nominated—Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role |
|
Woman on the Run: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story | Frank Marrocco | Television film | |
1994 | Kung Fu: The Legend Continues | Blackwell | Episode: "The Innocent" |
1995 | Law & Order | Paul Sandig | Episode: "Savages" |
Almost Perfect | Howard Guthrie | Episode: "You Like Me, You Really Like Me" | |
1996 | Hostile Advances | Jack Gilcrest | Television film |
F/X: The Series | Andrew Price | Episode: "The Brotherhood" | |
Outer Limits, TheThe Outer Limits | Dr. Ben McCormick | Episode: "Out of Body" | |
1997 | Cinderella | King Maximillian | Television film |
Liberty! The American Revolution | John Dickinson | 6 episodes | |
1999 | Summer's End | Narrator | Voice role, television film |
Invisible Child | Tim Beeman | Television film | |
Annie | Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks | Television film | |
External Affairs | Harry Raymond | Nominated—Gemini Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Dramatic Program or Mini-Series | |
2000 | Love and Murder | Inspector Philip Millard | Television film |
Frasier | Ferguson | Episode: "Taking Liberties" Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series |
|
Outer Limits, TheThe Outer Limits | Dr. Edward Normandy | Episode: "Glitch" | |
2001 | Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows | Sidney Luft | Television film Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Movie |
Wandering Soul Murders, TheThe Wandering Soul Murders | Inspector Philip Millard | Television film | |
Colder Kind of Death, AA Colder Kind of Death | Inspector Philip Millard | Television film | |
Laughter on the 23rd Floor | Kenny Franks | Television film | |
Call Me Claus | Taylor | Television film | |
2001-2006 | Alias | Jack Bristow | Main cast (Season 1-5): 105 episodes Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film (2003) Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television (2003) Nominated—Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actor on Television (2004) Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (2002-04) Nominated—Teen Choice Award for Choice TV Parental Units (2005) |
2002 | Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story | J.J. Robinette | Television film |
2003 | Music Man, TheThe Music Man | Mayor Shinn | Television film |
It's All Relative | Jerry / Joffrey | Episode: "The Doctor Is Out" | |
2004 | Will & Grace | Peter Bovington | Episode: "Saving Grace, Again: Part 2" Nominated—Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series |
2006 | Justice | Ron Trott | 13 episodes |
2007 | American Masters | Narrator | Episode: "Novel Reflections: The American Dream" |
Ugly Betty | Professor Barrett | Episode: "Grin and Bear It" | |
ReGenesis | Oliver Roth | 5 episodes (2007 - 2008) | |
2008 | Eli Stone | Jordan Wethersby | 26 episodes |
2009 | Last Templar, TheThe Last Templar | Monsignor De Angelis | Miniseries |
Everything She Ever Wanted | Walter Allanson | Miniseries | |
Glee | Will's Father | Episode: "Acafellas" | |
Nurse Jackie | Neil Nutterman | 2 episodes | |
Rex | Paul | Television film | |
Web Therapy | Kip Wallice | Web series, 3 Episodes | |
National Geographic: America Before Columbus | Narrator | ||
2010 | Ice Quake | Colonel Bill Hughes | Television film |
Republic of Doyle | Garrison Steel | 3 episodes (2010 - 2012) | |
2011 | Stargate Universe | Ambassador Ovirda | Episode: "Seizure" |
Suits | Phillip Hardman | Pilot (scenes cut in US release) | |
Murdoch Mysteries | Detective Malcolm Lamb | Episode: "Tattered and Torn" | |
Flashpoint | Dr. Larry Toth | Episode: "Fault Lines" Episode: "Priority of Life" |
|
30 Rock | Eugene Gremby | Episode: "Respawn" | |
Law & Order: LA | Walter Calvin | Episode: "Angel's Knoll" | |
William & Catherine: A Royal Romance | Charles, Prince of Wales | Television film | |
Charlie's Angels | Charles Townsend | Voice role | |
Web Therapy | Kip Wallice | Main role (2011-2015) | |
2012 | Big C, TheThe Big C | Willie Wanker | Episode: "Family Matters" |
Damages | Bennett Herreshoff | 3 episodes | |
The Firm | Judge Dominic | Episode: "Chapter 6" | |
2013 | Deception | Robert Bowers | Main role (11 episodes) |
The Hunters | Mason Fuller | Television film | |
2014 | The Good Wife | Judge Loudon Spencer | Episode: "We, the Juries" |
Sleepy Hollow | Mr. Crane | Episode: "Bad Blood" | |
Louie | Louie's Lawyer | Episode: "Model" | |
Blue Bloods | Donald Stein | Episode: "Under the Gun" | |
The Flash | Dr. Martin Stein / Firestorm | 8 episodes | |
2014-2015 | Power | Simon Stern | 7 episodes |
2015 | Motive | Neville Montgomery | Episode: "6 Months Later" |
2015 | The Flash | Dr. Martin Stein / Firestorm | 4 episodes Pending - Saturn Award for Best Guest Starring Role on Television |
2016 | Legends of Tomorrow | Dr. Martin Stein / Firestorm | Main role (2016—present) |
Charities
Victor Garber supports the following charitable causes: AIDS, Alzheimer's.