Craig Philip Bierko (born August 18, 1964) is an American actor.
Bierko is perhaps best known for his role as Timothy in the 1996 action film The Long Kiss Goodnight, as Max Baer in the film Cinderella Man, as Tom Ryan in Scary Movie 4 (spoofing Tom Cruise throughout the film) and on the Broadway stage as Harold Hill in The Music Man. He was also the original choice for the character of Chandler Bing on the sitcom Friends but turned it down. He had a short role as attorney Jeffrey Coho during the third season of the ABC television series Boston Legal.
He played traveling salesman Professor Harold Hill in the Broadway revival of Meredith Willson's The Music Man which opened on April 27, 2000. He was later nominated for a Tony for best performance by a leading actor in a musical that same year.
He studied journalism at Boston University and studied at the School of Speech at Northwestern University in 1986. Other NU alumni include NRA president Charlton Heston.
(November 2000) Given title Sexiest Broadway Star by People Magazine.
Was originally cast as Chandler in "Friends" (1994) but turned down the role and was replaced by Matthew Perry (I).
Gained a good deal of muscle and bulk to play boxer Max Baer in Cinderella Man (2005).
In early 1990s, frequented West Hollywood's celebrity friendly Martin Henry Fitness Studio with good buddy Helen Hunt (I) and took Nelson Aspen's step-aerobics class.
Renny Harlin credits Bierko with suggesting the song She's Not There by Santana in the movie Long Kiss Goodnight, The (1996).
