Mandy Patinkin is a veteran American theatre & film actor, singer, comedian and voice artist who began his career way back in the late 70’s. He made his big screen debut in The Big Fix (1979). Patinkin is immensely popular for portraying Inigo Montoya in the 1987 fantasy movie, The Princess Bride and Saul Berenson in the espionage thriller, Homeland (2011– ). His other important works include movies like Alien Nation (1988), Dick Tracy (1990), Impromptu (1991), The Doctor (1991), The Music of Chance (1993), Men with Guns (1997), Lulu on the Bridge (1998), Piñero (2001), Run Ronnie Run (2002), Everyone's Hero (2006), Wish I Was Here (2014) and Ali and Nino (2016). He was also seen in TV shows like Chicago Hope (1994–2000), Dead Like Me (2003–2004) and Criminal Minds (2005– ). Patinkin also appeared in theater plays like Leave It to Beaver Is Dead (1979) and Evita (1979). In 2017 Patinkin starred in director Kelly Asbury’s, Smurfs: The Lost Village (2017). He has voiced Papa Smurf in the movie.
Early LifeMandel Bruce "Mandy" Patinkin was born on November 30, 1952 in Chicago, Illinois to Doris Doralee and Lester Patinkin. He was a singer since his early childhood. After high school, Patinkin attended the University of Kansas, and eventually attended Juilliard School of Drama in New York City. He never graduated as he already had acting jobs at his hands.
Personal LifeMandy Patinkin married actress Kathryn Grody in 1980. They had previously met on the sets of Patinkin’s debut movie The Big Fix (1978). They have two sons- Isaac (born: 1983) and Gideon (born: 1987).
In 1982 Patinkin was diagnosed with keratoconus, a degenerative eye disease. He wore hard contact lens for 15 years and was doing fine until 1997. He could no longer depend on corrective lenses and had to get two corneal transplants in 1997-98, which worked out pretty well.
Patinkin was diagnosed with prostate cancer for which he was treated in 2004. The treatment proved effective, as he went on a 265 mile charity bike ride with his son, Issac, celebrating his recovery.
Television CareerIn 1994, Patinkin starred in the CBS medical drama Chicago Hope (1994–2000). He played Dr. Jeffrey Geiger on the show. It earned him an Emmy in 1995. He left the show midway through the second season as he was spending too much time away from his family. He did return at the start of the sixth season, but the show was cancelled post his character’s revival.
Patinkin starred alongside Ellen Muth in the Showtime comedy-drama television show, Dead Like Me (2003–2004). Patinkin and Muth played grim reapers in the series. All though the show was critically acclaimed it was cancelled after two seasons.
One of Patinkin’s most challenging and disturbing roles came in the CBS police procedural television series Criminal Minds (2005– ). He played Senior Supervisory Special Agent and Former BAU Unit Chief Jason Gideon. Patinkin was a series regular until the season three, when he quit it. His last starring episode was season three, second episode, In Name and Blood (2007). He quit the show because he wasn’t happy with the cruelty shown on-screen and the direction it was taking.
In one of his most acclaimed roles, Patinkin returned to TV to play CIA officer Saul Berenson in Showtime’s espionage thriller, Homeland (2011– ). He shares screen space with Claire Danes who plays Carrie Mathison and is also a series regular. Patinkin also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and was at his comedic best, as he had everyone in splits.
Movie CareerMandy Patinkin started his film career in 1979 with The Big Fix. It was an uneventful role. He followed it up with French Postcards (1979), Night of the Juggler (1980), Ragtime (1981), Daniel (1983) and Yentl (1983), all of which gave Patinkin little scope to showcase his acting skills. His first big break came in The Princess Bride, where he portrayed Inigo Montoya, the best swordsman of the country. His dialogue from the movie, "Hello, my name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." are now looked upon with much love. The movie itself is considered a cult classic now. He followed it up with The House on Carroll Street (1988) directed by Peter Yates and Alien Nation (1988) directed by Graham Baker.
In 1990 Patinkin starred alongside Warren Beatty, Madonna and Al Pacino in Warren Beatty’s Dick Tracy. The movie got mixed reviews but created Oscar Buzz and also won in the following categories- Best Original Song, Best Makeup and Best Art Direction. It was a box-office success. He starred with John Cusack and James Spader in Herbert Ross’ True Colors (1991). Patinkin also starred in the French period drama, Impromptu (1991) alongside Judy Davis and Hugh Grant. Before starring as a doctor on the hit TV show Chicago Hope, Patinkin played a doctor who treats another doctor in The Doctor (1991). The movie is based on Dr. Edward Rosenbaum's 1988 book, A Taste Of My Own Medicine. It was directed by Randa Haines. In The Music of Chance (1993) Patinkin returned to the big screen to play a gambler opposite James Spader. He starred in John Sayles’ critically acclaimed adventure drama, Men with Guns (1997).
The late 90’s and early 2000’s saw Patinkin in various TV shows. He returned to the big screen with Piñero (2001). He also starred alongside David Cross in Run Ronnie Run (2002). He did several forgettable movies like Frankie and Johnny Are Married (2003), Choking Man (2006), Everyone's Hero (2006) and 4.3.2.1. (2010).
Patinkin starred in Zack Braff’s comedy drama Wish I Was Here (2014). He also starred in Asif Kapadia’s critically acclaimed Ali and Nino (2016). He was also seen in Fernando Trueba’s The Queen of Spain (2016). In the 2017 follow-up to The Smurfs (2011) and The Smurfs 2 (2013), Patinkin voiced Papa Smurf. The movie is directed by Kelly Asbury.
Stage CareerPatinkin made his Broadway debut in 1979 with Evita. He won a Tony Award for his portrayal of Che in Andrew Llyod Webber’s play. He was nominated again in 1984 for his role as George in the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, Sunday in the Park with George. Patinkin continued acting in theatre even when he was actively working in movies. His other stage credits include Trelawney of the Wells (1975), Hamlet (1975–76), The Shadow Box (1977), Henry IV, Part I (1981), The Winter's Tale (1989), The Secret Garden (1991), Falsettos (1993), The Wild Party (2000), Enemy of the People (2003), The Tempest (2008), Paradise Found (2010) and Compulsion (2010–2011). He received another Tony Award nomination for The Wild Party (2000), where he played Burrs.
Singing CareerPatinkin is a famed singer and has released two solo albums, both with CBS Records, Mandy Patinkin (1989) and Mandy Patinkin In Concert: Dress Casual (1990). With Nonesuch label, Mandy recorded Experiment (1993), Oscar & Steve (1995), Mamaloshen (1998), Kidults (2001) and Mandy Patinkin Sings Sondheim (2002). Mamaloshen was a very special project for Patinkin. It was a collection of traditional, classic and contemporary songs in Yiddish. The album won him the Deutschen Schallplattenpreis (Germany’s equivalent of the Grammy Award).