Biography
Who is Oliver Platt?
Early life and education
Oliver Platt was born in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, on January 12, 1960. His father, Nicholas Platt, served as a diplomat for the United States, representing the country in Pakistan, Zambia, and the Philippines. Because of his father's career, he spent much of his childhood living in Asia and Washington, D.C. During his youth, he attended twelve different schools, including the American School in Japan.
He pursued higher education at Tufts University, where he majored in drama. Before attending university, he was a student at the Colorado Rocky Mountain School in Carbondale, Colorado. He also attended the British American Drama Academy. During his time at Tufts, he became close friends with fellow actor Hank Azaria.
Career beginnings
His acting career started in the theatre. He spent three years working in Boston, Massachusetts, where he gained experience in various amateur productions. He also toured with the company Shakespeare and Company to earn his Equity card. His early professional work included regional and Off-Broadway productions, appearing with groups like the New York Shakespeare Festival and Lincoln Center Theater.
A chance meeting with actor Bill Murray at a family Christmas party led to a professional opportunity. Murray attended one of his shows and recommended him to director Jonathan Demme. This connection helped him land his film debut in the 1988 movie Married to the Mob, which he considers his breakthrough project.
Film and television roles
Following his debut, he appeared in many films throughout the 1990s, including Working Girl, Flatliners, Beethoven, and The Three Musketeers. In 1998, he co-starred in The Impostors with Stanley Tucci. In 1999, he played Hector, a crocodile enthusiast, in the movie Lake Placid. His filmography also includes roles in Dr. Dolittle, Bulworth, A Time to Kill, and X-Men: First Class.
On television, he starred in the series Deadline, where he played a newspaper columnist. He gained recognition for his recurring role as Oliver Babish on The West Wing, earning an Emmy nomination for the performance. He also appeared in the series Huff, receiving two Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe nomination for his work. Since 2015, he has portrayed Dr. Daniel Charles on the medical drama Chicago Med. Also, he played the recurring character Uncle Jimmy on the television series The Bear.
Stage work
He has significant experience in Broadway theatre. He made his Broadway debut in 2006 as the lead character John in the play Shining City, a performance that earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor. To prepare for this role, he visited Dublin to ensure his portrayal was authentic. In 2009, he returned to Broadway to play Nathan Detroit in a revival of the musical Guys and Dolls.
Family and personal life
His mother, Sheila Maynard Platt, worked as a clinical social worker. He has an older brother named Adam Platt, who works as a restaurant critic for New York magazine. His paternal great-grandfather was the architect Charles A. Platt. He is married to Mary Camilla Bonsal Campbell.
Birthday and age
Oliver Platt was born on January 12, 1960, which makes Oliver 66 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. Oliver shares the date with 65 other famous people.
Explore more
