Philip Casnoff

Theatre

Casnoff began his career touring in the 1972–73 national company of Godspell where he understudied Jesus and Judas. He was cast as understudy for the title role in the 1976 Broadway production of Rockabye Hamlet, a rock musical version of Shakespeare's play, but the show closed after only seven performances.

In 1988, Casnoff starred as Freddie Trumper, an arrogant American professional chess player in the short-lived Broadway production of the musical Chess and received warm reviews for his performance. "Remarkably fine", wrote New York Post, "does justice to the role", commented New York Daily News, "wonderful singing", mentioned The New Yorker. It brought Casnoff the Theater World Award for Best Debut Performance.

Casnoff created the lead role of John Blackmore in the Shogun: The Musical (1990), based on the popular book and miniseries by James Clavell. During the previews of the show, he suffered a minor injury when struck by a piece of scenery but quickly recuperated and returned to the performances after just one day-off. The production, unfortunately, survived only for 12 previews and 72 performances, but Casnoff received a lot of critical acclaim. "Mr. Casnoff had the swaggering self-assurance of a star in complete command of a vast production", wrote Frank Rich in The New York Times.

He returned to Broadway as Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago on January 15, 2007, succeeding Huey Lewis in the role and stayed with the production through March 25, 2007.

Television

Casnoff's first major role was that of the main antagonist Elkanah Bent in the popular 1985 miniseries North and South. He went on to reprise the role in two sequels which aired in 1986 and 1994. He also played the French officer Lafayette in the 1984 miniseries George Washington.

In 1992, he was chosen to play Frank Sinatra in the television miniseries Sinatra. Casnoff met Sinatra during shooting and went on to receive a Golden Globe nomination for his performance.

Casnoff portrayed Russian criminal Nikolai Stanislofsky on HBO’s acclaimed TV series Oz from 1999 to 2000.

In 2000, he joined the cast of Lifetime Television's Strong Medicine. As Chief of Staff Dr. Robert Jackson, Casnoff stayed with the show for five seasons, until 2005. He also directed an episode.

His other screen credits also include Numb3rs, Without a Trace, Material Girls, Law & Order, Frasier, For All Time, Kiss Tomorrow Goodbye, Chicken Soup for the Soul, Diagnosis: Murder, ER, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, The Nanny, NCIS, Dollhouse.

Casnoff's first leading role in a feature film was in a movie Sight Unseen, which is still in a post-production with release date still TBA.

He also directed two episodes of Monk (TV series), namely Mr. Monk Stays in Bed, (July 22, 2005) and Mr. Monk and the Captain's Marriage, (January 27, 2006).

Personal life

Casnoff graduated from Central High School in June 1967; and attended Wesleyan University, attaining his B.A. in 1971. He has been married to actress Roxanne Hart since 1984. They have two sons, Alexander and Macklin. Casnoff presently lives in Los Angeles.