Patti LuPone
Born 1949 · Age 76
American actress and singer noted for her powerhouse Broadway and West End performances; three-time Tony Award winner, two-time (and credited) Grammy Award winner, two-time Laurence Olivier Award winner; Juilliard graduate and original member of The Acting Company.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Northport, New York
Patti Ann LuPone born to Angela Louise (née Patti) and Orlando Joseph LuPone in Northport, Long Island, New York.
Began dancing as a child
Started dancing at age four — an early foundation for her stage career.
Entered Juilliard Drama Division (Group 1)
Became part of the first graduating class of Juilliard's Drama Division (1968–1972: Group 1), alongside Kevin Kline and David Ogden Stiers.
Long-term relationship with Kevin Kline
Dated fellow Juilliard alumnus Kevin Kline for seven years in the 1970s, an important personal relationship early in her career.
Professional stage debut at the Young Vic (Iphigenia)
Made professional stage debut in London as the title character in Iphigenia at the Young Vic.
Original member of The Acting Company
Joined John Houseman's newly formed The Acting Company — touring repertory troupe; tenure lasted 1972–1976.
Graduated Juilliard with BFA
Graduated from Juilliard School (Drama Division) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
Broadway debut in Three Sisters
Made Broadway debut as Irina in Anton Chekhov's Three Sisters (Billy Rose Theater).
Tony nomination — The Robber Bridegroom
Received first Tony Award nomination (Best Featured Actress in a Musical) for The Robber Bridegroom.
Cast as Genevieve in The Baker's Wife (tour)
Hired by producer David Merrick as a replacement to play Genevieve in the pre-Broadway touring production of The Baker's Wife; the show closed out of town.
Began long collaboration with David Mamet
Started frequent collaborations with David Mamet (The Woods, The Water Engine, Edmond and later works), an important artistic partnership across decades.
Appeared in Broadway musical Working
Appeared in the Broadway adaptation of Studs Terkel's Working (short-lived run of 24 performances).
Starred as Eva Perón in Evita (original Broadway)
Won the leading role of Eva Perón in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's Evita (Harold Prince, director); breakout stardom.
Film role — 1941
Appeared in film 1941 (credited role Lydia Hedberg), expanding into screen work.
Tony Award — Best Actress in a Musical (Evita)
Won her first Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for Evita (Tony Awards ceremony year 1980).
Cabaret act 'Patti LuPone at Les Mouches' ran 27 weeks
Performed a late-night cabaret set in NYC after Evita performances; show ran 27 consecutive weeks; later restored recording released in 2008.
Performed Rosalind in As You Like It at Guthrie Theatre
Regional Shakespeare role opposite Val Kilmer; diversified stage work outside musicals.
Appeared as Nancy in Oliver! (Broadway revival)
Worked for Cameron Mackintosh in Broadway revival of Oliver!, playing Nancy opposite Ron Moody as Fagin.
Received two Olivier Awards credit
Recognized by Olivier Awards in 1985 for Best Actress in a Musical (for The Cradle Will Rock and Les Misérables) — part of her international accolades.
Created Fantine in London Les Misérables & won Olivier Award
Created the role of Fantine in the original London cast of Les Misérables (Barbican) and won the 1985 Olivier Award for Best Actress in a Musical (also credited for The Cradle Will Rock).
Portrayed Lady Bird Johnson in TV movie LBJ: The Early Years
Played Lady Bird Johnson on television; during filming later met her future husband, cameraman Matthew Johnston.
Starred as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes (Lincoln Center revival)
Returned to Broadway in the Lincoln Center revival of Anything Goes, earning a Tony nomination for the production.
Married Matthew Johnston
Marriage ceremony held on the stage of the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center after filming the TV movie LBJ.
Starred in TV series Life Goes On (1989–1993)
Played Libby Thatcher in the ABC drama Life Goes On, a major television role continuing through 1993.
Film role — Driving Miss Daisy
Appeared in the acclaimed film Driving Miss Daisy (1989).
Underwent surgery for vocal nodules (1990s)
Had surgery in the 1990s to treat vocal nodules and subsequently trained in more operatic technique to preserve her voice (reported).
Birth of son (reported)
Biography sources report LuPone's son, Joshua, was born in 1990 (she and Matthew Johnston have one child).
Reported settlement after Sunset Boulevard (biography account)
Biography source reports LuPone received a settlement (commonly reported as ~$1,000,000) after dispute over Sunset Boulevard casting; used to build a backyard pool in her Connecticut home (anecdote in some sources).
Created Norma Desmond in Sunset Boulevard (West End) — fired
Cast as Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Sunset Boulevard at the Adelphi Theatre; production problems led to her abrupt firing and replacement (Glenn Close later opened in LA/Broadway); reputational fallout in some accounts.
One-woman show 'Patti LuPone on Broadway' at Walter Kerr Theatre
Starred in her one-woman show (November 1995); received an Outer Critics Circle Award for the work.
Emmy nomination — The Song Spinner (Daytime)
Nominated for a Daytime Emmy Award for the TV movie The Song Spinner.
Succeeded Zoe Caldwell in Master Class (Broadway)
Selected to replace Zoe Caldwell in Terrence McNally's Master Class on Broadway (role of Maria Callas).
Appeared in David Mamet's The Old Neighborhood
Played Jolly in Mamet's play on Broadway; received strong critical notice for her naturalistic performance.
Emmy nomination — Guest Actress (Frasier)
Received an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series for Frasier (1998).
Film role — Summer of Sam
Appeared in Spike Lee's film Summer of Sam.
Starred in Broadway revival Noises Off
Starred in Noises Off on Broadway (with Peter Gallagher and Faith Prince).
Began recurring concert series at Ravinia (Sondheim cycle)
Regular performer at the Chicago Ravinia Festival in concert series of Sondheim musicals, beginning this period (multi-year involvement).
Returned to Broadway as Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd (John Doyle)
Starred in John Doyle's revival where actors also played instruments; LuPone played tuba and orchestra bells in addition to singing; received Tony nomination.
Took leave to play Rose in Gypsy at Ravinia
Brief three-week leave from Sweeney Todd to play Rose in Lonny Price's Ravinia production of Gypsy (August 2006).
Inducted into American Theater Hall of Fame
Honored with induction into the American Theater Hall of Fame in recognition of her theatrical contributions.
Starred in Los Angeles Opera production of Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny
Performed with Audra McDonald in Kurt Weill's opera (John Doyle, director); cast album recorded.
City Center Encores! Gypsy (Laurents direction) and Broadway transfer
Appeared in City Center Encores! limited Gypsy (July 9–29, 2007), which later transferred to Broadway.
Tony Award — Best Actress in a Musical (Gypsy)
Won Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for her performance as Rose in Gypsy (2008 Tonys).
Gypsy opened on Broadway (St. James Theatre)
Gypsy starring Patti LuPone opened March 27, 2008 and ran through January 11, 2009 on Broadway.
Grammy Awards — Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny recording wins 2 Grammys
The cast recording (LA Opera 2007 production) was recognized at the 51st Grammy Awards as Best Classical Album and Best Opera Recording (two awards credited to the recording).
Performance interrupted by audience flash camera during Gypsy
During a penultimate performance of Gypsy, LuPone stopped to address an audience member using a flash camera, an incident widely circulated online.
Solo shows and tours (ongoing)
Performs regularly in solo shows Matters of the Heart; Coulda, Woulda, Shoulda; The Lady With the Torch; sold-out Carnegie Hall engagements and tours with Mandy Patinkin.
Published memoir 'Patti LuPone: A Memoir' (New York Times Bestseller)
Memoir recounting her life and career published in September 2010; became a New York Times Best Seller.
Originated role of Lucia in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (Broadway)
Created role of Lucia in the Broadway adaptation (Belasco Theatre) opening Nov 4, 2010; show ran through Jan 2, 2011. Tony and Drama Desk nominations followed.
New York City Ballet debut — The Seven Deadly Sins
Debuted with NYCB in a production of The Seven Deadly Sins (role Anna I) directed and choreographed by Lynne Taylor-Corbett.
Performed at 65th Tony Awards with Company cast
Part of the New York Philharmonic concert production of Company; cast performed at the Tony Awards.
An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin — Broadway concert run
Completed a 63-performance Broadway engagement (Nov 21, 2011 – Jan 13, 2012) of a concert with Mandy Patinkin.
Appeared in Mamet's The Anarchist (Broadway premiere)
Performed in David Mamet's play The Anarchist opposite Debra Winger in late 2012/early 2013.
Inaugural act at 54 Below (cabaret space) in NYC
Appeared as inaugural act at the new cabaret venue 54 Below, demonstrating ongoing solo-cabaret presence.
Cast in American Horror Story (season 3) and appeared on Girls
Appeared on Ryan Murphy's American Horror Story as Joan Ramsey (2013) and made a cameo as herself on Girls.
Began voicing Yellow Diamond in Steven Universe
Became the voice of Yellow Diamond on the animated series Steven Universe (2013–2019) and reprised in related media.
Performed in Los Angeles Opera's The Ghosts of Versailles (role: Samira)
Returned to LA Opera to perform Samira in John Corigliano's The Ghosts of Versailles; role received positive reviews.
Appeared in Penny Dreadful (2015–2016)
Had multi-episode roles on Showtime's Penny Dreadful, playing a powerful witch and later Dr. Seward.
Appeared in Lincoln Center's Shows for Days; confiscated audience cellphone
Starred in Douglas Carter Beane's Shows for Days; made headlines when she confiscated a patron's cellphone for disrupting the show (phone later returned).
Originated Helena Rubinstein in War Paint (Goodman Theatre world premiere)
Played Helena Rubinstein in the world premiere of War Paint at Chicago's Goodman Theatre (summer 2016).
Audio recording of The Ghosts of Versailles released
Pentatone issued a 2-SACD audio recording of the production in April 2016 (PTC 5186538).
Tony nomination — War Paint
Received a Tony nomination for Best Actress in a Musical for War Paint.
Grammy Awards — The Ghosts of Versailles recording wins 2 Grammys
The Ghosts of Versailles audio won Grammys for Best Classical Album and Best Opera Recording (2017 Grammys crediting the production/recording).
War Paint opened on Broadway (Nederlander Theatre)
War Paint ran on Broadway (March 7 – November 5, 2017); LuPone stayed with the role throughout until the show closed early to allow her to have hip surgery.
Cast as Joanne in gender-swapped Company (London revival)
Starred as Joanne in Marianne Elliott's gender-swapped Company revival at the Gielgud Theatre in the West End (2018–2019 run).
Appeared in Pose (season 2)
Played an antagonistic role in Ryan Murphy's Pose (season 2).
Laurence Olivier Award — Best Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical (Company)
Won her second Olivier Award (Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical) for Company on the West End.
Second Laurence Olivier Award (Company)
Won Olivier Award for Outstanding Actress in a Supporting Role in a Musical for Company (2019).
Hollywood (Netflix) — starred in Ryan Murphy series
Appeared in Ryan Murphy's Netflix limited series Hollywood (2020).
Company transfer to Broadway postponed due to COVID-19
Transfer of the West End Company was set to open at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre on March 22, 2020 (Stephen Sondheim's 90th birthday) but postponed because of the pandemic.
Company previews began on Broadway
Previews for Company on Broadway (transfer starring LuPone) began November 15, 2021 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
Company officially opened on Broadway
Company officially opened on Broadway December 9, 2021 (LuPone as Joanne).
Resigned from Actors' Equity Association
Following the closing of Company, LuPone resigned from Actors' Equity Association (reported after Company's run).
Tony Award — Best Featured Actress in a Musical (Company)
Won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for playing Joanne in the 2021–22 Broadway production of Company.
Mask-enforcement incident at Company; public address
During a live American Theatre Wing conversation, LuPone publicly addressed a patron not wearing a mask properly; incident led to wider attention and a temporary extension of Broadway's mask mandate.
Cast as Lilia Calderu in Marvel's Agatha All Along (Disney+)
Announced she would play Lilia Calderu, a centuries-old witch, in the MCU Disney+ series Agatha All Along; performance praised in episode 'Death's Hand in Mine'.
Film role — Beau Is Afraid (Mona)
Played Mona, mother of Joaquin Phoenix's character, in Ari Aster's Beau Is Afraid (2023), receiving critical praise.
Set to return to Broadway in The Roommate opposite Mia Farrow
Announced casting in Jen Silverman's play The Roommate at the Booth Theatre, starring opposite Mia Farrow (scheduled August 2024).
Estimated net worth (approx.)
Estimated net worth after multi-decade career in theater, film, recordings, royalties and speaking/concert engagements.
Public apology after controversy over interview comments
Posted a public apology on Instagram in May 2025 after criticism of comments made in a New Yorker profile; acknowledged language was demeaning and expressed regret (reported).
Key Achievement Ages
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