Biography
Who is Nathan Lane?
Early life and education
Nathan Lane was born Joseph Lane in Jersey City, New Jersey, on February 3, 1956. His parents were Daniel Joseph Lane, a truck driver and aspiring tenor, and Nora Veronica Finnerty, a housewife and secretary. He has two older brothers named Daniel Jr. And Robert. The family was Catholic, and his grandparents were Irish immigrants. He was named Joseph after his uncle, who served as a Jesuit priest. His father died in 1967 from alcoholism.
Career beginnings and name change
Accepted into Saint Joseph's University on a drama scholarship, he left shortly after starting because the funding did not cover his expenses. He decided to work for a year instead of attending college. Because an actor named Joseph Lane was already registered with Actors' Equity, he chose a new professional name. He selected Nathan after the character Nathan Detroit from the musical Guys and Dolls.
Broadway successes and awards
His professional career includes over 25 Broadway credits. He earned significant recognition for his portrayal of Nathan Detroit in the 1992 revival of Guys and Dolls, which earned him his first Tony nomination. He won his first Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role as Pseudolus in the 1996 revival of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. He won a second Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 2001 for his portrayal of Max Bialystock in The Producers.
Film and television roles
He is widely recognized for voicing the meerkat Timon in the 1994 Disney animated film The Lion King. He reprised this role in subsequent sequels and the television series Timon and Pumbaa. In 1996, he starred alongside Robin Williams in the film The Birdcage. His other film credits include Mouse Hunt, The Producers, and Beau Is Afraid.
Birthday and age
Nathan Lane was born on February 3, 1956, which makes Nathan 70 years old today. That birthday falls under the Aquarius sign. Nathan shares the date with 27 other famous people.
Explore more
