Nathan Lane

Biography

Nathan Lane (born Joseph Lane, February 3, 1956 in Jersey City, New Jersey) is an American actor acclaimed for both stage and screen work. He has earned three Tony Awards among many other honors for performances in musicals like A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, The Producers, and the revival of Angels in America. Raised partly in the Catholic tradition, he changed his name early in his career when he moved to New York City, choosing “Nathan” after Nathan Detroit from Guys and Dolls. He first appeared on Broadway in 1982 in Present Laughter, and he soon developed a reputation for sharp comic timing, bold character choices, voice work—including Timon in The Lion King—and roles in films such as The Birdcage and Mousehunt. He has also appeared in TV shows including Modern Family and Only Murders in the Building, earning Emmy nods and wins along the way. Openly gay since 1999, Lane married Devlin Elliott in 2015. His work has made him one of the most beloved and versatile performers in contemporary American theatre and entertainment.