kids encyclopedia robot

Victor Garber facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Victor Garber

Victor Garber 2017.jpg
Garber in 2017
Born
Victor Jay Garber

(1949-03-16) March 16, 1949 (age 75)
Education
Occupation
  • Actor
  • singer
Years active 1958–present
Spouse(s)
Rainer Andreesen
(m. 2015)
Parent(s) Joseph and Hope Garber
Signature
Victor garber signature.svg

Victor Jay Garber, OC (born March 16, 1949) is a Canadian–American actor and singer. Known for his work on stage and screen, he has been nominated for three Gemini Awards, four Tony Awards, and six Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2022, he was made an Officer of the Order of Canada.

Garber originated roles in the Broadway productions of Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 1979, Noises Off in 1983, Lend Me a Tenor in 1989, Arcadia in 1995 and Art in 1998. He's received four Tony Award nominations for his performances in the play Deathtrap in 1978, the Neil Simon musical Little Me in 1982, the comedic play Lend Me a Tenor in 1989 and the musical comedy revival of Damn Yankees in 1994.

He made his film debut as Jesus Christ in the musical Godspell (1973). He has also been nominated for three Screen Actors Guild Awards along with the casts of the critically acclaimed films Titanic (1997), Milk (2008), and Argo (2012) winning for the latter. Other notable films include Sleepless in Seattle (1993), The First Wives Club (1996), Legally Blonde (2001), Sicario (2015), Dark Waters (2019), and Happiest Season (2020).

On television, Garber is best known as Jack Bristow in the ABC series Alias (2001 to 2006) for which he received three consecutive Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series nominations. He received further Emmy nominations for his portrayal of Sidney Luft in Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows (2001) and for his guest roles in the sitcoms Frasier in 2001 and Will & Grace in 2005. He has since joined the Arrowverse appearing as Martin Stein / Firestorm in the superhero series The Flash (2015–2017) and Legends of Tomorrow (2016–2017, 2021).

Early life

Garber was born in London, Ontario, Canada, and is of Russian-Jewish descent. His father was Joseph "Joe" Garber (died 1995), and his mother, Bessie Hope Wolf (died 2005), was an actress, singer, and the host of At Home with Hope Garber. He has a brother, Nathan, and a sister, Alisa.

Garber began acting at the age of nine in 1958, and studied at the University of Toronto's Hart House at age 16. He attended Ryerson Elementary School and London Central Secondary School. He also was enrolled in the children's program of the Grand Theatre; and, at age 16, he was accepted at a six-week summer theatre training program at the University of Toronto taught by Robert Gill. In New York, he studied acting at HB Studio.

Career

Music

In 1967, after a period working as a solo folk singer, he formed a folk group called The Sugar Shoppe with Peter Mann, Laurie Hood and Lee Harris. The group enjoyed moderate success, breaking into the Canadian Top 40 with a version of Bobby Gimby's song "Canada" (1967). Three other Sugar Shoppe songs made the lower reaches of the Canadian Top 100 in 1967 and '68. The band had performed on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson before breaking up.

Theatre

He played Jesus in Toronto's 1972 production of Godspell, alongside Eugene Levy, Andrea Martin, Gilda Radner, Dave Thomas, Paul Shaffer and Martin Short. In 1985 he appeared in Noises Off at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Victor Garber 2010
Garber in February 2010

He appeared on Broadway in the original productions of Deathtrap, Sweeney Todd and Noises Off (1983), and in the original Off-Broadway cast of Assassins, as well as the 1990s revival of Damn Yankees. In 1986, Garber appeared at Circle in the Square opposite Uta Hagen in You Never Can Tell. He has been nominated for four Tony Awards and opened the Tony Awards program in 1994 (the year he was nominated for the Tony Award for Damn Yankees). In 1998, he co-starred on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning play Art with Alan Alda and Alfred Molina. In 2005, he played the role of Frederic in the Los Angeles Opera production of A Little Night Music. He played Ben in a critically praised Encores! staged concert production of Follies (2007) opposite Donna Murphy. In mid-2007, he played Garry Essendine in a production of Noël Coward's Present Laughter at Boston's Huntington Theatre. He reprised the role on Broadway in the Roundabout Theatre production, which opened in January 2010.

In January 2018, Garber replaced David Hyde Pierce as Horace Vandergelder in the Tony-winning Broadway revival of Hello, Dolly! at the Shubert Theatre opposite Bernadette Peters. Garber began performances on January 20 prior to the press opening on February 22.

Garber received the 2018 Theatre World John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Film

His earlier film work includes Godspell (1973) as Jesus (the part he played originally in the 1972 Canadian stage production) and Sleepless in Seattle (1993). In James Cameron's Titanic (1997) he essayed a Mid-Ulster accent to play the shipbuilder Thomas Andrews. Other film appearances include Annie (1999), Legally Blonde (2001), and Tuck Everlasting (2002). In 2009, he took on the role of the DC Comics supervillain Sinestro in the direct-to-video animated film Green Lantern: First Flight. The same year, Garber played a Klingon interrogator in J. J. Abrams' Star Trek film; however, his scenes were deleted from the finished film. He starred opposite Goldie Hawn, Diane Keaton, and Bette Midler in The First Wives Club as film producer Bill Atchison, husband of Goldie Hawn's character, Elise Eliot, in 1996.

In 2010, Garber had an uncredited cameo in The Town, directed by Ben Affleck, as a bank manager. Garber also appeared in the film Ice Quake. In late 2012, he appeared in Affleck's film Argo, about the Iran hostage crisis; Garber portrayed Canadian Ambassador to Iran Kenneth D. Taylor. He also co-starred in 2014 thriller Big Game.

He narrated the 2017 film They Shall Not Perish.

Victor Garber (2018) (cropped)
Garber in March 2018

Television

On television, he has had roles on American and Canadian shows. Garber's first leading role on television show was in CBS's 1985 summer series I Had Three Wives. He had a recurring guest role on CTV's E.N.G. (1991–93). He portrayed Jack Bristow, the father of main character Sydney Bristow on ABC's Alias, earning three Emmy nominations. He next starred on the television series Justice (2006) on Fox and ABC's Eli Stone. He appeared as Olivier Roth in four episodes of the Canadian science drama ReGenesis. He appeared in the Fox series Glee in the third episode titled "Acafellas", as Will's father. He played Dr. Martin Stein / Firestorm on The Flash starting with the episode "Crazy for You", before being spun off onto Legends of Tomorrow where he was a series regular for its first two seasons and half of the third. Garber made his final appearance as a regular in the episode "Crisis on Earth-X: Part Four" but reprised his role as in the 100th episode, "Wvrdr_error_100<oest-of-th3-gs.gid30n> not found". Aside from the two crossovers, Garber made an independent return to The Flash in the season three episode "Duet" as the unnamed husband of gangster Diggsy Foss in the dreamworld. He once again reprised his role as Martin Stein for a final time in a vocal cameo in the season nine episode "A New World, Part One". He also played the reoccurring character Admiral Halsey on The Orville.

Personal life

Garber prefers to keep his personal life private and has largely stayed out of the tabloids. In 2012, he referred publicly to being gay. In 2013, he said "I don't really talk about it but everybody knows." Garber has been in a relationship with Canadian artist and model Rainer Andreesen since 2000. On October 10, 2015, Andreesen announced on his Instagram page that he and Garber were married in Canada. Garber has Type 1 diabetes: he was diagnosed in 1962 at the age of 12.

Garber is good friends with his Alias co-star Jennifer Garner. He and his husband were the only guests at her wedding to Ben Affleck, which he officiated.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1973 Godspell Jesus Christ
1974 Monkeys in the Attic Eric
1981 In the Research of Path of Life Benjamin Lonergan
1988 Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway, TheThe Legendary Life of Ernest Hemingway Ernest Hemingway
1992 Singles Child's Father Uncredited cameo
I'll Never Get to Heaven Eric Hoskins
Light Sleeper Tis Brooke
1993 Sleepless in Seattle Greg
Life with Mikey Brian Spiro
1994 Exotica Harold Brown
Mixed Nuts Irate Neighbour Voice
1995 Jeffrey Tim
Kleptomania Morgan Allen
1996 The First Wives Club Bill Atchison
1997 Titanic Thomas Andrews
The Absolution of Anthony Father Carson Short
Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella King Maximilian
1998 How Stella Got Her Groove Back Isaac Uncredited cameo
2001 Legally Blonde Professor Callahan
Call Me Claus Taylor
2002 Tuck Everlasting Robert Foster
Home Room Det. Martin Van Zandt
2008 Milk Mayor George Moscone
2009 Green Lantern: First Flight Sinestro Voice
Star Trek Klingon Interrogator Deleted scene
2010 You Again Mark
The Town David Assistant Bank Manager Uncredited cameo
2011 Kung Fu Panda 2 Master Thundering Rhino Voice
The Entitled Bob Vincent
Take Me Home Arnold
2012 Argo Ken Taylor
Moving Day Wilf Redmond
2013 I'll Follow You Down Sal
2014 Big Game Vice President
2015 Self/less Martin O'Neill
Consumed Dan
Sicario Dave Jennings
Bob's Broken Sleigh Fluffy Voice
2017 Rebel in the Rye Sol Salinger
2019 Dark Waters Phil Donnelly
2020 Funny Face Developer's Father
Happiest Season Ted Caldwell
2023 Wish Sabino Voice
TBA The Gettysburg Address William L. Saunders Voice; post-production

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1974 Jack: A Flash Fantasy Jack of Hearts TV movie
ABC Afterschool Special Christian de Neuvillette Voice, episode: "Cyrano"
1975 Hallmark Hall of Fame Marquis de Lafayette Episode: "Valley Forge"
1976 Great Performances Arthur Episode: Ah, Wilderness
1977 The Best of Families Teddy Wheeler Miniseries
1978 Tartuffe Valere TV movie
1983 Charley's Aunt Jack Chesney
1985 I Had Three Wives Jackson Beaudine Lead role, 5 episodes
Tales from the Darkside Ambrose Cavender Episode: "The Tear Collector"
Private Sessions Jerry Sharma TV movie
1986 The Twilight Zone Dr. Kevin Carlson Episode: "A Day in Beaumont"
Roanoak John White TV movie
Guiding Light Det. Frank Minnelli Unknown episodes
1987–1991 The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd Dennis Widmer 10 episodes
1988 Liberace: Behind the Music Liberace TV movie
1991 Grand Larceny Judge Keeler
1991–1993 E.N.G. Adam Hirsch 10 episodes
1992 The First Circle Lew Rubin TV movie
I'll Fly Away Warren Episode: "Fragile Truths"
The Powers That Be Mack Novitz Episode: "Oh, Mack"
1993 Alex Haley's Queen Digby Miniseries
Dieppe Lord Louis Mountbatten TV movie
Woman on the Run: The Lawrencia Bembenek Story Frank Marrocco
Sesame Street Charles Episode 3130: "Barkley wants to play"
1994 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Blackwell Episode: "The Innocent"
1995 Law & Order Paul Sandig Episode: "Savages"
Almost Perfect Howard Guthrie Episode: "You Like Me, You Really Like Me"
1996 Hostile Advances Jack Gilcrest TV movie
F/X: The Series Andrew Price Episode: "The Brotherhood"
The Outer Limits Dr. Ben McCormick Episode: "Out of Body"
1997 Cinderella King Maximilian TV movie
Let Me Call You Sweetheart Geoff Dorso
Liberty! The American Revolution John Dickinson 6 episodes
1999 Summer's End Narrator Voice, television film
Invisible Child Tim Beeman TV movie
Annie Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks
External Affairs Harry Raymond
2000 Love and Murder Inspector Philip Millard
Frasier Ferguson Episode: "Taking Liberties"
The Outer Limits Dr. Edward Normandy Episode: "Glitch"
2001 Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows Sidney Luft TV movie
The Wandering Soul Murders Inspector Philip Millard
A Colder Kind of Death Inspector Philip Millard
Laughter on the 23rd Floor Kenny Franks
Call Me Claus Taylor
2001–2006 Alias Jack Bristow Main cast (Season 1–5): 105 episodes
2002 Torso: The Evelyn Dick Story J.J. Robinette TV movie
2003 The Music Man Mayor Shinn
It's All Relative Jerry / Joffrey Episode: "The Doctor Is Out"
2004 Will & Grace Peter Bovington Episode: "Saving Grace, Again: Part 2"
2006 Justice Ron Trott 13 episodes
2007 American Masters Narrator Episode: "Novel Reflections: The American Dream"
Ugly Betty Professor Barrett Episode: "Grin and Bear It"
2007–2008 ReGenesis Oliver Roth 5 episodes
2008–2009 Eli Stone Jordan Wethersby 26 episodes
2009 The Last Templar Monsignor De Angelis Miniseries
Everything She Ever Wanted Walter Allanson
Glee Mr. Schuester Episode: "Acafellas"
Nurse Jackie Neil Nutterman 2 episodes
Rex Paul TV movie
America Before Columbus Narrator Documentary
2009–2014 Web Therapy Kip Wallice Web series, 8 episodes
2010 Ice Quake Colonel Bill Hughes TV movie
2010–2013 Republic of Doyle Garrison Steel 4 episodes
2011 Stargate Universe Ambassador Ovirda Episode: "Seizure"
Suits Phillip Hardman Pilot (scenes cut in US release)
Murdoch Mysteries Detective Malcolm Lamb Episode: "Tattered and Torn"
Flashpoint Dr. Larry Toth 3 episodes
30 Rock Eugene Gremby Episode: "Respawn"
Law & Order: LA Walter Calvin Episode: "Angel's Knoll"
William & Catherine: A Royal Romance Charles, Prince of Wales TV movie
Charlie's Angels Charles "Charlie" Townsend Voice, 8 episodes
2011–2015 Web Therapy Kip Wallice Main role (19 episodes)
2012 The Big C Episode: "Family Matters"
Damages Bennett Herreshoff 3 episodes
The Firm Judge Walter A. Dominic Episode: "Chapter 6"
2013 Deception Robert Bowers Main role (11 episodes)
The Hunters Mason Fuller TV movie
2014 The Good Wife Judge Loudon Spencer Episode: "We, the Juries"
Sleepy Hollow Mr. Crane Episode: "Bad Blood"
Louie Louie's Lawyer Episode: "Model"
Working the Engels Dr. Colin Shandy Episode: "Family Therapy"
Blue Bloods Donald Stein Episode: "Under the Gun"
2014–2020 Power Simon Stern 16 episodes
2015 Motive Neville Montgomery 4 episodes
The Slap Narrator Miniseries
2015–2017,
2023
The Flash Martin Stein / Firestorm 12 episodes
Digsy Foss's husband Episode: "Duet"
2016–2017,
2021
Legends of Tomorrow Martin Stein / Firestorm Main role (seasons 1–3), guest role (season 7)
Eobard Thawne Episode: "The Chicago Way"
Sir Henry Stein Episode: "Return of the Mack"
2016 Vixen Martin Stein / Firestorm Voice role, web series, Episode: "Episode #2.1"
2017–2022 The Orville Admiral Halsey 13 episodes; recurring
2017 Modern Family Charles Dumont Episode: "Do It Yourself"
Difficult People John Passias Episode: "Cindarestylox"
Supergirl Martin Stein / Firestorm Episode: "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 1"
Arrow Episode: "Crisis on Earth-X, Part 2"
2018 Spirit Riding Free James Sr. Voice, episode: "Lucky and the Train Tycoon"
2019 Tales of the City Sam Garland 7 episodes
2020 Schitt's Creek Clifton Sparks Episode: "Sunrise, Sunset"
2020–2021 Power Book II: Ghost Simon Stern 2 episodes
2021–present Family Law Harry Svensson Main role
2021 The Simpsons Michael de Graff Voice, episode: "Portrait of a Lackey on Fire"
Beebo Saves Christmas Narrator TV special
2023 The Last Thing He Told Me Professor Tobias Cookman Episode: "Witness to Your Life"
And Just Like That... Mark Kasabian 2 episodes

Theatre

Source: Playbill

Year Production Role Venue
1972 Godspell Jesus Off Broadway
1973 Ghosts Performer Roundabout Theatre Company
1975 Joe's Opera
1976 Cracks
1977 The Shadow Box Mark Morosco Theatre
Tartuffe Valère Circle in the Square Theatre
1978 Deathtrap Cliff Anderson Biltmore Theatre
1979 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Anthony Hope Uris Theatre
1981 They're Playing Our Song Vernon Gersch Imperial Theatre
1982 Little Me Various roles Eugene O'Neill Theatre
1983 Noises Off Gary LeJuene Brooks Atkinson Theatre
1986 You Never Can Tell Valentine Circle in the Square Theatre
1988 The Devil's Disciple Richard Dudgeon
Wenceslas Square Performer
1989 Love Letters Andrew Promenade Theatre
Assassins John Wilkes Booth Playwright Horizons Theatre
Lend Me a Tenor Max Royale Theatre
1992 Two Shakespearean Actors Edwin Forrest Cort Theatre
1994 Damn Yankees Applegate Marquis Theatre
1995 Arcadia Bernard Nightingale Vivian Beaumont Theatre
1998 'Art' Serge Royale Theatre
2010 Present Laughter Garry Essendine American Airlines Theatre
2018 Hello, Dolly! Horace Vandergelder Shubert Theatre
2023 Gutenberg! The Musical! Producer (One night only) James Earl Jones Theatre

Awards and nominations

In addition to industry awards, Garber was appointed to the Order of Canada in 2022, with the rank of Officer.

Year Award Category Title Result Ref.
2001 Primetime Emmy Awards Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series Life with Judy Garland: Me and My Shadows Nominated
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Frasier
2002 Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series Alias
2003
2004
2005 Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series Will & Grace
1997 Screen Actors Guild Awards Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture Titanic
2008 Milk
2012 Argo Won
1978 Tony Awards Best Featured Actor in a Play Deathtrap Nominated
1982 Best Actor in a Musical Little Me
1989 Best Actor in a Play Lend Me a Tenor
1994 Best Actor in a Musical Damn Yankees
1984 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Ensemble Noises Off Won
1987 Outstanding Actor in a Play You Never Can Tell Nominated

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Victor Garber para niños

kids search engine
Victor Garber Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.