| Danny Burstein | |
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Burstein (left) and Rebecca Luker at a 2008 gala |
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| Born | June 16, 1964 New York |
Danny Burstein (born June 16, 1964) is a versatile American actor who is known for his work in theater, film and television. He won the 2008 Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and was nominated for the 2008 Drama Desk Award and 2008 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his work in South Pacific. He was also nominated for a 2006 Ovation Award and a 2006 Tony Award for his performance in The Drowsy Chaperone.
Burstein was born in Mt. Kisco, New York. He attended the High School of the Performing Arts and Queens College in New York City. He received an MFA in Acting from the University of California, San Diego in 1990. Burstein is married to actress Rebecca Luker and has two sons, Alexander and Zachary.
Burstein's first acting job was in the chorus of The Music Man at the The Muny in St. Louis during college.[1]
On Broadway, Burstein's twelve appearances have included A Little Hotel on the Side (1992), Yakov in The Seagull (1992–93), in Saint Joan and Three Men on a Horse (both in 1993), Paul in Company (1995), 1st Officer William Murdoch in Titanic (1997–99), Aldolpho in The Drowsy Chaperone (2006–07), Luther Billis in South Pacific (2008–10), and Taxi Driver in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (2010–11).
He played the role of Buddy Plummer in the Kennedy Center production of Follies, which ran from May 7, 2011 through June 19, 2011 at the Eisenhower Theater in Washington, DC. His co-stars were Bernadette Peters, Ron Raines and Jan Maxwell.[2] He is reprising that role in the Broadway engagement of "Follies," which started in previews in August 2011 at the Marquis Theatre.[3]
Burstein's Off-Broadway credits include the world premieres of A. R. Gurney's Mrs. Farnsworth, opposite Sigourney Weaver and John Lithgow, at the Flea Theatre (Gordon) and Psych at Playwrights Horizons. He also starred in I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change at the Westside; as Ru in Merrily We Roll Along at the York; All in the Timing at the Houseman; as Daniel in Alan Menken and David Spencer's Weird Romance at the WPA; as Solomon in The Rothschilds and Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh, both at Circle in the Square; The United Way at Ensemble Studio Theater; A Class Act at Manhattan Theater Club; the Ira Gershwin centennial and as Steward in Sail Away, both at Carnegie Hall; DuBarry Was a Lady, as Romeo Skragg in Li'l Abner and as Tailor-Merchant in The Boys from Syracuse, all with the Encores! Series at New York City Center.[4][5]
Burstein can be heard on the cast albums of many of these musicals. He has also appeared in the films, "Nor'easter", "Construction", "Duane Incarnate", "Transamerica" and "Deception", and his many television credits include the BBC's "Absolutely Fabulous", the FX series "Louie" and for HBO, he has the recurring role of Lolly Steinman in "Boardwalk Empire". Burstein has lent his voice to a number of video games, including "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" and "Grand Theft Auto: IV".