Harvey Fierstein facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Harvey Fierstein
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Fierstein in 2009
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Harvey Forbes Fierstein
June 6, 1952 New York City, U.S.
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| Education | Pratt Institute (BFA) |
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| Years active | 1981–present |
Harvey Forbes Fierstein (born June 6, 1952) is an American actor, playwright, and screenwriter. He is famous for his unique, gravelly voice.
Fierstein is a star of the stage. He won two Tony Awards for his play Torch Song Trilogy, one for writing it and one for acting in it. He also won a Tony Award for writing the musical La Cage aux Folles. He won another Tony for Best Actor in a Musical for playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray.
You might know him from movies like Mrs. Doubtfire and Independence Day. He was also the voice of the character Yao in the Disney movies Mulan and Mulan II.
Fierstein also wrote the scripts for the hit musicals Kinky Boots and Newsies. In 2007, he was added to the American Theater Hall of Fame for his amazing work in theater. In 2025, he received a Lifetime Achievement Tony Award.
Fierstein was one of the first openly gay celebrities in the United States. He helped make stories about gay and lesbian life an important part of modern theater.
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Early Life and School
Harvey Fierstein was born in Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, a neighborhood in New York City. His mother, Jacqueline, was a school librarian, and his father, Irving, made handkerchiefs. Before his voice changed, Fierstein was a talented soprano singer in a professional boys' choir.
He went to the High School of Art and Design and later earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Pratt Institute in 1973.
Career in Theater and Film
Fierstein started his career in theater. He was a founding member of a theater group called The Gallery Players. He also performed in a play by the famous artist Andy Warhol. In his early days, he played many different and unusual characters on stage.
Writing and Acting in the 1980s
Fierstein became well-known for his play Torch Song Trilogy. He wrote it and also starred in it. The play was a huge success on Broadway. In 1982, it won him two Tony Awards: one for Best Play and another for Best Actor.
He also wrote the script for the musical La Cage aux Folles in 1983. This won him another Tony Award, this time for Best Book of a Musical.
In 1984, he narrated the documentary The Times of Harvey Milk. This film tells the story of Harvey Milk, an important politician from San Francisco. Fierstein won an Emmy Award for his narration.
Famous Roles in the 1990s
In the 1990s, Fierstein appeared in many popular movies and TV shows.
- He was the voice of Karl, Homer Simpson's assistant, in an episode of The Simpsons.
- He played a role in the TV show Cheers, which earned him an Emmy Award nomination.
- He acted alongside Robin Williams in the hit movie Mrs. Doubtfire (1993), playing Frank Hillard.
- He voiced the tough but lovable character Yao in Disney's animated movie Mulan (1998). He later voiced Yao again in the sequel, Mulan II.
- He wrote a children's book called The Sissy Duckling, which was turned into an HBO TV special.
Success in the 2000s
In 2002, Fierstein returned to Broadway to star as Edna Turnblad in the musical Hairspray. His performance was so popular that he won a Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical.
Later, he played the main role of Tevye in a revival of the classic musical Fiddler on the Roof. In 2007, he wrote the story for a new musical called A Catered Affair and also starred in it.
Hit Musicals in the 2010s
Fierstein continued to create amazing shows in the 2010s.
- He wrote the script for the Disney musical Newsies, which became a Broadway hit in 2012.
- He teamed up with singer Cyndi Lauper to create the musical Kinky Boots. Fierstein wrote the story, and Lauper wrote the music. The show won six Tony Awards in 2013, including Best Musical.
- He wrote the play Casa Valentina, which was performed on Broadway in 2014.
- He wrote the scripts for two live TV musicals: The Wiz Live! in 2015 and Hairspray Live! in 2016, where he also played Edna Turnblad again.
In 2016, Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper were honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Personal Life
Fierstein is known for his very deep, raspy voice. This is because of a special condition in his vocal cords that gives him a "double voice" when he speaks.
In 2022, he wrote a book about his life called I Was Better Last Night: A Memoir. It quickly became a New York Times Bestseller.
See also
In Spanish: Harvey Fierstein para niños
- LGBT culture in New York City
- List of LGBT people from New York City
