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Michael Higgins Biography (1925-)

Full name, Michael Patrick Higgins; born January 20, 1925 (some sources say 1921), in Brooklyn, NY; son of Michael Peter (a grocer, poet, and in the insurance business) and Mary Katherine (maiden name, McGowan) Higgins; married Elizabeth Lee Goodwin, March 2, 1946; children: Swen, Christopher, Deirdre. Addresses: Agent: The Artists Group, 10100 Santa Monica Blvd., Suite 2490,Los Angeles, CA 90067.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Occupation

Actor

Birth Details

January 20, 1925

Brooklyn, New York, United States

Famous Works

• CREDITS
• Stage Appearances
• (Stage debut) Lucentio, The Taming of the Shrew, Shakespeare Fellowship of America, New York City, 1936
• Twelfth Night, Romeo and Juliet, Julius Caesar, andA Midsummer Night's Dream, Shakespeare Fellowship of America, NewYork City, 1936-40
• Boy, Because Their Hearts Were Pure, or The Secret of the Mine, Cragsmoor Playhouse, Cragsmoor, NY, 1941
• (Broadway debut) Third guard, Antigone, Cort Theatre, 1946
• Tommy Tucker, The First Year, Greenwich Mews Theatre, New York City, 1947
• Michael Barnes, The Male Animal, Chapel Theatre, Great Neck, NY, 1947
• Geoffrey Cole, The Vinegar Tree, Chapel Theatre, 1947
• Second rebel soldier, Our Lan', Royale Theatre, New York City,1947
• Bobby, Fanny's First Play, Lenox Hill Theatre, New York City,1948
• Daniele, Sky Is Red, 45 University Place, New York City, 1949
• Charlie, Crabbed Youth and Age, Lenox Hill Theatre, 1950
• Patrick, Cathleen Ni Houlihan, Lenox Hill Theatre, 1950
• Christie, The Devil's Disciple, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, then Cape Playhouse, Dennis, MA, later Falmouth Playhouse, Falmouth, MA, all 1950
• Benvolio, Romeo and Juliet, Broadhurst Theatre, New York City, 1951
• Title role, Billy the Kid, Carnegie Recital Hall, New York City, 1951
• Prince Hal, Henry IV, Part I, Lenox Hill Theatre, 1952
• Touchstone, As You Like It, Lenox Hill Theatre, 1952
• Title role, Dr. Faustus, Lenox Hill Theatre, 1953
• Hortensio, The Taming of the Shrew, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, Wellesley, MA, 1953
• John, Dark of the Moon, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1953
• Captain, Androcles and the Lion, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1953
• Silvius, As You Like It, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1953
• Captain Absolute, The Rivals, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1953
• Dick Dudgeon, The Devil's Disciple, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1953
• Bertrand de Poulengey and the Inquisitor, Saint Joan, University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras, PR, 1954
• Hortensio, The Taming of the Shrew, University of Puerto Rico, 1954
• Captain, Androcles and the Lion, University of Puerto Rico, 1954
• Flute, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1954
• John Proctor, The Crucible, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1954
• Sir Charles Marlow, She Stoops to Conquer, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1954
• Bertrand de Poulengey and Peter Cauchon, Saint Joan, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1954
• John Proctor, The Crucible, Arena Stage, Washington, DC, 1954
• Starbuck, Moby Dick, Kaufmann Auditorium, New York City, 1955
• Duke of Brachiano, The White Devil, Phoenix Theatre, New York City, 1955
• Fifth son, The Carefree Tree, Phoenix Theatre, 1955
• Humphrey, The Lady's Not for Burning, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1955
• Eben, Desire under the Elms, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1955
• Title role, Henry IV, Parts I and II, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1955
• Ben, Love for Love, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1955
• Orestes, Electra, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1955
• Brother Ladvenu, The Lark, Longacre Theatre, New York City, 1955
• Title role, Hamlet, Antioch Arena Theatre, Yellow Springs, OH, then Toledo Amphitheatre, Toledo, OH, both 1956
• Ninian Edwards, Abe Lincoln in Illinois, Group 20, Boston Arts Festival, Boston, MA, 1956
• Eddie Carbone, A View from the Bridge, Group 20, Theatre-on- the-Green, 1956
• Elis, Easter, Fourth Street Theatre, New York City, 1957
• Octavius, Man and Superman, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1957
• Christian, Cyrano de Bergerac, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1957
• Dick Johnson, Girl of the Golden West, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1957
• Christy, Playboy of the Western World, Group 20, Theatre-on-the-Green, 1957
• Herod, For the Time Being, Theatre de Lys, New York City, 1957
• John Proctor, The Crucible, Martinique Theatre, New York City, 1958
• Prince Myshkin, The Idiot, Master's Institute, New York City,1958
• Son of Cuchulain, On Baile's Strand, Beekman Tower Hotel Theatre, New York City, 1959
• Street singer, Death Cuchulain, Beekman Tower Hotel Theatre, 1959
• Title role, J.B., American National Theatre Academy Theatre, New York City, 1959
• Hector, Tiger at the Gates, Arena Stage, 1961
• Monsieur Levert, Dead Letter, Off Beach Theatre, Westhampton, NY,1961
• Captain Caleb Williams, Diff'rent, Mermaid Theatre, New York City, 1961
• Olson, The Long Voyage Home, Mermaid Theatre, 1961
• Dr. Ama, It's All Yours, Van Dam Theatre, New York City, 1962
• Earl of Kent, King Lear, New York Shakespeare Festival, DelacorteTheatre, New York City, 1962
• Title role, Macbeth, New York Shakespeare Festival, Heckscher Theatre, New York City, 1962
• Antony, Antony and Cleopatra, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, 1963
• Seigsmund, Life Is a Dream, Astor Place Theatre, New York City, 1964
• Peter Cauchon and Robert de Beaudricourt, Saint Joan, Boston ArtsFestival, 1964
• Eddie Carbone, A View from the Bridge, Boston Arts Festival, 1964
• Lord Byron, Camino Real, Boston Arts Festival, 1964
• Ephraim Cabot, Desire under the Elms, Circle in the Square, New York City, 1964
• Amos, The Queen and the Rebels, Theatre Four, New York City, 1965
• James Tyrone, Long Day's Journey into Night, Arena Stage, 1965
• Jason, Medea, Martinique Theatre, 1965
• Karl, Break-Up, Long Wharf Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1966
• David Wylie, What Every Woman Knows, Goodspeed Opera House, East Haddam, CT, 1966
• Title role, Macbeth, Arena Stage, 1966
• Inspector Messiter, The Magistrate, Arena Stage, 1967
• John Proctor, The Crucible, Arena Stage, 1967
• Ephraim Cabot, Desire under the Elms, Theatre Company of Boston, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI, 1967
• Alfred Allmers, Little Eyolf, Artists Theatre Festival, Southhampton College, Long Island, NY, 1968
• Title role, Tom Paine, Goodman Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1968
• Title role, Santacqua, H.B. Playwrights Foundation, New York City,1969
• Title role, Uncle Vanya, Studio Arena Theatre, Buffalo, NY, 1970
• John Adams, John and Mary, Ford's Theatre, Washington, DC, then Circle in the Square, both 1971
• James Tyrone, Long Day's Journey into Night, Hartke Theatre, Catholic University, Washington, DC, 1971
• George Washington, Sally, George, and Martha, Theatre de Lys, 1971
• The President, Conflict of Interest, Arena Stage, 1972
• Herman, Wedding Band, Ivanhoe Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1972
• Father, Canadian Gothic, Manhattan Theatre Club, New York City, 1973
• Half Cherry, L'ete, Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1973
• Dr. Astrov, Uncle Vanya, Circle in the Square, 1973
• Larry Slade, The Iceman Cometh, Circle in the Square, 1973
• Tom Giordano, Dear Mr. Giordano, H.B. Playwrights Foundation, 1974
• H. R. Haldeman, Expletive Deleted, Theatre of Riverside Church, New York City, 1974
• Frank Strang, Equus, Plymouth Theatre, New York City, 1974
• Frank Michelson, The Day Mr. and Mrs. Michaelson Ran Away from Home, Actors Studio, New York City, 1976
• Roberto da Fralizi, Statues, Exhibitions, and the Bridge of Belharbour, Manhattan Theatre Club, 1976
• Lieutenant Lonegan, The Dream, Forrest Theatre, Philadelphia, PA,1977
• Teddy, Molly, Spoleto Festival USA, Dock Street Theatre, Charleston, SC, 1977
• Frank Strang, Equus, Playhouse in the Park, Philadelphia, PA, 1977
• Butch Carey, Reunion, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1977
• Amundsen, Terra Nova, Yale Repertory Theatre, 1977
• Teddy, Molly, Hudson Guild Theatre, New York City, 1978
• Gramps, Artichoke, Manhattan Theatre Club, 1979
• Mr. Justice Millhouse, Whose Life Is It, Anyway?, TrafalgarTheatre, New York City, 1979
• Butch Carey, Reunion, Circle Repertory Company, New York City, 1979
• Edward, Chieftains, Theatre at St. Clement's, New York City, 1979
• Alden, Mixed Couples, Kennedy Center, Washington, DC, then BrooksAtkinson Theatre, New York City, both 1980
• Eldon, A Tale Told, Circle Repertory Company, 1980
• Abbot Thomas, Catholics, Citadel Theatre, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, then Hartman Theatre, Stamford, CT, both 1981
• John of Gaunt, Richard II, Circle Repertory Company, 1982
• Dennis Riordan, Outrage, Kennedy Center, 1983
• Sorin, The Sea Gull, Little Theatre, Saratoga, NY, then Circle Repertory Company, later American Place Theatre, New York City, all 1983
• Holofernes, Love's Labour's Lost, Circle Repertory Company, 1984
• Arthur, Levitation, Circle Repertory Company, 1984
• Major Tours
• Burleigh, The Milky Way, and Bud, Personal Appearance, American Theatre Wing, tour of veteran's hospitals, 1947
• Jeff Douglas, Brigadoon, American Theatre Wing, tour of veteran's hospitals, 1948-49 , then European and African cities, 1949
• Theatre As You Like It, U.S. cities, 1953
• Title role, J.B., U.S. cities, 1959-60
• Ephraim Cabot, Desire under the Elms, U.S. cities, 1964
• Betencourt, The Only Game in Town, U.S. cities, 1968
• Film Appearances
• (Film debut) Edge of Fury, United Artists, 1958
• Carl, Pie in the Sky (also known as Terror in the City), Allied Artists, 1964
• Michael, The Arrangement, Warner Bros., 1969
• Francis Early, Desperate Characters, Paramount, 1971
• Mr. Dennis, Wanda, Bardene International, 1971
• Paul, The Conversation, Paramount, 1974
• The Godfather, Part II, Paramount, 1974
• Mr. Cornell, The Stepford Wives, Columbia, 1975
• Sam, Death Play, New Line Cinema, 1976
• Billing, An Enemy of the People, Warner Bros., 1978
• Traffic court judge, King of the Gypsies, Paramount, 1978
• Jim Neville, The Black Stallion, United Artists, 1979
• Senator Ed Pardew, The Seduction of Joe Tynan, Universal, 1979
• Heffernan, Fort Apache, the Bronx, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1981
• Reynolds, A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy, Warner Bros., 1982
• Mr. Harrigan, Rumble Fish, Universal, 1983
• Mr. Vaughn, 1918, Cinecom International, 1985
• Senator Peterson, Seven Minutes in Heaven, 1985
• Mr. Vaughn, On Valentine's Day (also known as Story of a Marriage), Angelika, 1986
• Doctor Fowler, Angel Heart, Tri-Star, 1987
• Mr. Vaughn, Courtship, 1987
• Dr. Martin, Crusoe, 1988
• Reverend Gebhardt, Dead Bang (also known as Dead-Bang), 1989
• Robber, "Life without Zoe," New York Stories, 1989
• Man in '50s restaurant, An Empty Bed, 1990
• Artemus, Wind, 1992
• Mr. Gierasch, School Ties, 1992
• Older man, The Impostors, Fox Searchlight Pictures, 1998
• Confessional priest, Just the Ticket, United Artists, 1999
• State and Main, Fine Line, 2000
• Old man, Mean People Suck, 2000
• Television Appearances
• Series
• Johnny Roberts, One Man's Family, NBC, 1949-50
• Ed Morrissey, The Hamptons, ABC, 1983
• Movies
• Rashomon, 1960
• A Time for Miracles, 1980
• Paul's Case, 1980
• Professor Glenn Frank, Kent State, NBC, 1981
• Walter Forrest, Born Beautiful, NBC, 1982
• Dr. Emmet Salem, The Cradle Will Fall, CBS, 1983
• Hanibal, The Gift of Love: A Christmas Story, CBS, 1983
• William Spear, Ernie Kovacs: Between the Laughter, ABC, 1984
• Dr. Walker, Nobody's Child, CBS, 1986
• Phineas Taylor, Barnum, CBS, 1986
• Grandpa, Calm at Sunset (also known as Calm at Sunset, Calm atDawn), 1996
• Specials
• (Television debut) A Strange Christmas Dinner, NBC, 1945
• Ladvence, "The Lark," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1957
• James Monroe, "The Patriots," Hallmark Hall of Fame, NBC, 1963
• Hobo and father, Carl Sandburg: Echoes and Silences, 1982
• Henry Vaughn, "Story of a Marriage Courtship" (also known as "Story of aMarriage"), American Playhouse, PBS, 1987
• Pilots
• Judge Whitewood, The Firm, NBC, 1983
• Episodic
• Academy Theatre, NBC, 1949
• Hector, "The Iliad," Omnibus, CBS, 1955
• "The Terrorists," Goodyear Television Playhouse, 1956
• The Verdict Is Yours, CBS, 1958
• Newspaperman, The Secret Storm, CBS, 1959
• Anthony March, "The Open Window," Alcoa Presents, NBC, 1959
• Psychiatrist, As the World Turns, CBS, 1960
• Great Ghost Tales, NBC, 1961
• Ed Lawson, Our Five Daughters, NBC, 1962
• Tim Finnegan, "Two of a Kind," Gunsmoke, CBS, 1963
• Herb, The Secret Storm, CBS, 1964
• Dr. Roger O'Hara, "One Nation Indivisible," Ben Casey, ABC, 1964
• Rod Cassidy, "The Kite," Gunsmoke, CBS, 1964
• "Johnny Moon," The Virginian, NBC, 1967
• Mr. Clifford, "Barney Hosts a Summit Meeting," The Andy Griffith Show, CBS, 1968
• Marvin Stahl, "Lady Cop," The Equalizer, CBS, 1985
• Achibald Mayfield, "One Flew East," Scarecrow and Mrs. King, 1987
• Thad Messimer, "In Memory Of," Law & Order, NBC, 1991
• Henry Long, Dellaventura, CBS, 1997
• Security guard, Law & Order, NBC, 1998
• Darryl Grady, "Ramparts," Law & Order, NBC, 1999
• Also appeared in Pulitzer Prize Playhouse, ABC; Studio One,CBS; You Are There, CBS; Ethel and Albert, ABC; Camera Three, CBS; U.S. Steel Hour, CBS; Lamp unto My Feet, CBS; General Electric Theatre, CBS; Playhouse 90, CBS; Armstrong Circle Theatre, NBC; Look Up and Live, CBS; The Jackie Gleason Show, CBS; The Defenders, CBS; The Nurses, CBS; The Outer Limits, ABC; The Doctors, NBC.

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

• Back Stage, December 21, 1990, p. 25.