Dennis Boutsikaris, born December 21, 1952 in Newark, New Jersey, is an American character actor, two-time Obie-Award winning Broadway Actor and frequent television guest star and leading man in made-for-TV movies. He is also an Audie Award winning narrator of audiobooks.
A graduate of Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts, Boutsikaris toured the country with John Houseman's The Acting Company doing classical theatre. On Broadway he became the first American to play Mozart in Amadeus, and was directed by Sir Laurence Olivier in Filumena. He was married to actress Deborah Hedwall, who later co-starred with him in the Off-Broadway production of Sight Unseen to great critical acclaim. (They divorced in 2002)
He has received two Obie Awards: one in 1985 for Outstanding Performance in Nest of the Woodgrouse at the New York Shakespeare Festival, directed by Joseph Papp; and one in 1992 for Outstanding Performance in Sight Unseen at the Manhattan Theatre Club. He also received a Drama Desk Award nomination for Best Actor for Sight Unseen, as well as a Cable ACE nomination for Best Supporting Actor for Chasing the Dragon in 1995. He was nominated for a People's Choice Award as best Newcomer.
His film credits include leading roles in *batteries not included, The Dream Team, Crocodile Dundee 2, Boys on the Side and In Dreams, among many others. His most recent indie films include Cherry Crush,' 'The Education of Charlie Banks" and "Calling it Quits".
On television he had the lead in the series Stat, The Jackie Thomas Show, and Misery Loves Company. He has also had recurring roles on Sidney Lumet's 100 Centre Street, Trinity, ER, Law & Order, and, most recently, Related.and "Six Degrees.'
He has starred in over 20 TV Movies, including Chasing the Dragon (with Markie Post), And Then There Was One,' (with Amy Madigan)' Three Faces of Karen, (with Gail O'Grady) Survival on the Mountain, Beyond Betrayal, and in a tour-de-force performance as Woody Allen in the miniseries Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story. (with Patsy Kensit).
He has been seen on Broadway in Bent, Filumena (Directed by Sir Laurence Olivier), and Amadeus (as the first American to play Mozart) with Frank Langella. He was seen in the Delacorte Theatre's production of Julius Caesar as Cassius. He was in the original New York productions of The Boys Next Door, A Picasso, and the revival of That Championship Season.
Off-Bway he is probably best known for the original production of SIGHT UNSEEN at the Manhattan Theatre Club and later at the Orpheum Theatre. For his portrayal of Jonathon Waxman he received the Obie Award and a nomination for a Drama Desk Award. At the Geffen Theatre in Los Angeles he starred in the premiere of David Mamet's THE OLD NEIGHBORHOOD and in 2007 Jane Anderson's A QUALITY OF LIFE.
He can be heard in over fifty audio books for Simon and Schuster and Time Warner. In 2005 he received an Audie from the Audio Publishers Association for his performance in Chasing the Devil.
A graduate from Hampshire College in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Toured the country with John Houseman (I)'s The Acting Company doing classical theatre.
Two-time Obie-winning stage actor who was the first American actor to play Mozart on Broadway in "Amadeus" (1982).
Wife Deborah Hedwall appeared with him in his Obie-winning performance "Sight Unseen" (1992).
