Richard Schiff facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Richard Schiff
Schiff in 2024
Born	(1955-05-27) May 27, 1955 (age 70) Bethesda, Maryland, U.S.
Alma mater	City College of New York
Occupation	Actor
Years active	1983–present
Spouse(s)	Sheila Kelley ​ (m. 1996)​
Children	2
Relatives	Clarence B. Jones (stepfather)

Richard Schiff (born May 27, 1955) is an American actor. He is famous for playing Toby Ziegler on the TV show The West Wing, which won him an Emmy Award.

More recently, he starred as Dr. Aaron Glassman in the popular medical drama The Good Doctor. He also played a recurring role on the HBO series Ballers. Gamers might know him as the voice and motion-capture actor for the powerful god Odin in the video game God of War: Ragnarök.

Early Life and Education

Richard Schiff was born in Bethesda, Maryland, but he grew up in New York City. He is the middle of three brothers. His mother, Charlotte, worked in television and publishing, and his father, Edward, was a real estate lawyer. His parents later divorced.

Before becoming an actor, Schiff had several interesting jobs. He drove a taxi in New York City and cleaned buses. He said it was a tough job, working from 11 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Schiff is Jewish. A story about his grandfather's life even inspired a plotline for his character on The West Wing. He finished his high school studies by taking night classes and later graduated from the City College of New York in 1983. He then studied acting to build his skills for the stage and screen.

Acting Career

Starting Out

Schiff first wanted to be a director. He directed several plays, including Antigone in 1983, which starred a young Angela Bassett. In the mid-1980s, he decided to try acting himself and began getting roles on television.

Director Steven Spielberg noticed him in an episode of a TV drama and cast him in the movie The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997). This role helped him get more work in Hollywood.

Major Roles and Success

Schiff's big break came when he was cast as Toby Ziegler, the White House Communications Director, in the hit TV series The West Wing. He was on the show for seven seasons and won an Emmy Award for his performance. He even got to direct an episode of the show.

Throughout the 1990s, Schiff appeared in many popular movies. He played a lawyer in the thriller Se7en and a train driver in Speed. He also had roles in Deep Impact and played a doctor in the comedy Dr. Dolittle with Eddie Murphy.

Schiff in May 2009

Recent Work

From 2017 to 2024, Schiff played Dr. Aaron Glassman, the head of a hospital, in the ABC drama The Good Doctor. This role introduced him to a new generation of fans.

In 2022, he took on a new challenge by providing the voice and movements for the character Odin in the award-winning video game God of War Ragnarök.

He has also appeared in many other TV shows, including Once Upon a Time, Ballers, and as a villain in the crime show NCIS. He also played Dr. Emil Hamilton in the Superman movie Man of Steel.

Personal Life

Schiff married actress Sheila Kelley in 1996. They have a son, Gus, and a daughter, Ruby. His wife Sheila also appeared on The Good Doctor, where her character was married to his character. Their daughter Ruby also had a role in the show's final season.

Schiff is interested in politics and has supported candidates from the Democratic Party.

In November 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Schiff and his wife both tested positive for the virus. He was briefly hospitalized but made a full recovery.

Selected Filmography

Here are some of Richard Schiff's most well-known roles in movies, television, and video games.

Film

Television

Video Games

See also

In Spanish: Richard Schiff para niños