Kevin Chamberlin stars in "Jessie" on Disney Channel as Bertram, the frosty butler.
Kevin Chamberlin has said that his huge frame and bald head are the reasons why his career as a Broadway and film character actor took off when he was in his mid-30s, while some leading-man types were mourning the ends of their careers at the same age.
Weighing in at 260 pounds, the actor who stole countless scenes in New York productions of "My Favorite Year" (1992), "Triumph of Love" (1997) and "Dirty Blonde" (2000) has been playing second-banana roles since he was a kid growing up in Moorestown, New Jersey. Chamberlin got his first taste of performing on stage when he was just nine years old, playing Huck Finn in a community theater production of "Tom Sawyer." After that, he was hooked and was cast in plays all throughout high school, although his size often worked against him, relegating him to the roles of goofy sidekick and "the big guy who's sweet" (e.g. Smee in "Peter Pan," Mr. Bumble in "Oliver!," and the Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz"). Chamberlin opted to give up drama club for a year and joined his high school wrestling team, eventually earning the title of state heavyweight champion, but much to his coach's chagrin, the lure of the greasepaint proved too enticing and he returned to the theater the following spring.
After high school, Chamberlin headed off to Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts where he studied with Katherine Gately and William Esper, graduating in 1985. He then moved to New York City and spent some time playing piano at auditions and working down on Wall Street while he was waiting for his big break, which came in 1990 when he was cast as Rev. Mervin Oglethorphe in the original cast of Connie Ray's off-Broadway play "Smoke on the Mountain," for which he received rave notices from the critics. The show ran for over a year at the fabled Lamb's Theater on West 44th Street.
In 1992, Chamberlin was cast by composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens in "My Favorite Year," a musical performed at Lincoln Center. In 1993, he returned to Lincoln Center for "Abe Lincoln in Illinois," starring Sam Waterson. This infamous revival boasted a cast of 50! Two years later, he formed another important working relationship; this time with director-playwright James Lapine, when they worked together on the musical "Muscle," originally announced as half of a double bill with "Passion" to be written by Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. When the composer-lyricist lost interest and concentrated on "Passion," William Finn and Ellen Fitzhugh stepped in to complete the score. Although the show went through the workshop process, with Lapine directing, there were too many problems to overcome and the show was abandoned.
After that, Chamberlin decided to concentrate on TV and movie acting for a little while, landing small parts in the blockbusters "Die Hard: With a Vengeance" (1995) and "In and Out" (1997) and a gig as a series regular on the CBS drama "New York News" (1995), co-starring Mary Tyler Moore and Madeline Kahn. The actor returned to the stage with an outstanding performance as a henchman in the critically acclaimed musical "Triumph of Love" (1997), which starred Betty Buckley and F Murray Abraham.
Although always a favorite with critics and audiences alike, Chamberlin really didn't come into his own until 2000 when he was nominated for his first Tony Award for his performance as one of Mae West's most ardent fans—as well as many of the men in her life—in the Claudia Shear play "Dirty Blonde," staged by Lapine. On the heels of that accomplishment, Chamberlin was finally given the chance to ascend from character actor to leading man in the film "Herman, USA" (lensed in 2000), which was based on the true story of a Minnesota farmer who—along with a number of other men in his farming community—advertises for a bride. That was also the year Chamberlin nabbed the plum role of Horton the Elephant in Flaherty and Ahrens' eagerly anticipated "Seussical: The Musical," a show based on the works of legendary children's book author Dr. Seuss. Chamberlin was thrilled to finally be offered what he called a big ballad romantic lead, something character actors are rarely given the chance to play. Reflecting on his new leading-man status, Chamberlin expressed his elation at finally getting the girl, even if, in this case, he was playing an elephant and she happened to be a bird.
"Seussical" has since gone on to become "the most produced musical in America"—and earned Kevin his second Tony Award nomination. In 2002, Kevin set up shop in Los Angeles where he appeared in many hit TV shows, including "Frasier," "Heroes," "Without a Trace," "Nip/Tuck," "According to Jim," "CSI: NY," "Crossing Jordan," and a series regular role on Lifetime's "State of Mind" starring Lily Taylor. He also landed supporting roles in the films "Road to Perdition," "Suspect Zero," "Lucky Number Slevin," "Christmas with the Kranks" and Ang Lee's "Taking Woodstock."
Broadway kept calling Kevin back and in 2006, he took over the role of Amos in the long-running hit "Chicago," playing opposite Rita Wilson and Usher. In 2007 director Joe Mantello cast Kevin to star opposite Rosie Perez in a revival of "The Ritz" which played at the infamous Studio 54. "The Addams Family" producers called Kevin in 2008, offering him the role of Uncle Fester and he lept at the chance to play one of pop culture's most popular television icons. The role earned him his third Tony nomination, as well as a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Nomination, and Broadway.com's Audience Award as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for 2010.
Kevin Chamberlin has said that his huge frame and bald head are the reasons why his career as a Broadway and film character actor took off when he was in his mid-30s, while some leading-man types were mourning the ends of their careers at the same age.
Weighing in at 260 pounds, the actor who stole countless scenes in New York productions of "My Favorite Year" (1992), "Triumph of Love" (1997) and "Dirty Blonde" (2000) has been playing second-banana roles since he was a kid growing up in Moorestown, New Jersey. Chamberlin got his first taste of performing on stage when he was just nine years old, playing Huck Finn in a community theater production of "Tom Sawyer." After that, he was hooked and was cast in plays all throughout high school, although his size often worked against him, relegating him to the roles of goofy sidekick and "the big guy who's sweet" (e.g. Smee in "Peter Pan," Mr. Bumble in "Oliver!," and the Cowardly Lion in "The Wizard of Oz"). Chamberlin opted to give up drama club for a year and joined his high school wrestling team, eventually earning the title of state heavyweight champion, but much to his coach's chagrin, the lure of the greasepaint proved too enticing and he returned to the theater the following spring.
After high school, Chamberlin headed off to Rutgers University's Mason Gross School of the Arts where he studied with Katherine Gately and William Esper, graduating in 1985. He then moved to New York City and spent some time playing piano at auditions and working down on Wall Street while he was waiting for his big break, which came in 1990 when he was cast as Rev. Mervin Oglethorphe in the original cast of Connie Ray's off-Broadway play "Smoke on the Mountain," for which he received rave notices from the critics. The show ran for over a year at the fabled Lamb's Theater on West 44th Street.
In 1992, Chamberlin was cast by composer Stephen Flaherty and lyricist Lynn Ahrens in "My Favorite Year," a musical performed at Lincoln Center. In 1993, he returned to Lincoln Center for "Abe Lincoln in Illinois," starring Sam Waterson. This infamous revival boasted a cast of 50! Two years later, he formed another important working relationship; this time with director-playwright James Lapine, when they worked together on the musical "Muscle," originally announced as half of a double bill with "Passion" to be written by Lapine and Stephen Sondheim. When the composer-lyricist lost interest and concentrated on "Passion," William Finn and Ellen Fitzhugh stepped in to complete the score. Although the show went through the workshop process, with Lapine directing, there were too many problems to overcome and the show was abandoned.
After that, Chamberlin decided to concentrate on TV and movie acting for a little while, landing small parts in the blockbusters "Die Hard: With a Vengeance" (1995) and "In and Out" (1997) and a gig as a series regular on the CBS drama "New York News" (1995), co-starring Mary Tyler Moore and Madeline Kahn. The actor returned to the stage with an outstanding performance as a henchman in the critically acclaimed musical "Triumph of Love" (1997), which starred Betty Buckley and F Murray Abraham.
Although always a favorite with critics and audiences alike, Chamberlin really didn't come into his own until 2000 when he was nominated for his first Tony Award for his performance as one of Mae West's most ardent fans—as well as many of the men in her life—in the Claudia Shear play "Dirty Blonde," staged by Lapine. On the heels of that accomplishment, Chamberlin was finally given the chance to ascend from character actor to leading man in the film "Herman, USA" (lensed in 2000), which was based on the true story of a Minnesota farmer who—along with a number of other men in his farming community—advertises for a bride. That was also the year Chamberlin nabbed the plum role of Horton the Elephant in Flaherty and Ahrens' eagerly anticipated "Seussical: The Musical," a show based on the works of legendary children's book author Dr. Seuss. Chamberlin was thrilled to finally be offered what he called a big ballad romantic lead, something character actors are rarely given the chance to play. Reflecting on his new leading-man status, Chamberlin expressed his elation at finally getting the girl, even if, in this case, he was playing an elephant and she happened to be a bird.
"Seussical" has since gone on to become "the most produced musical in America"—and earned Kevin his second Tony Award nomination. In 2002, Kevin set up shop in Los Angeles where he appeared in many hit TV shows, including "Frasier," "Heroes," "Without a Trace," "Nip/Tuck," "According to Jim," "CSI: NY," "Crossing Jordan," and a series regular role on Lifetime's "State of Mind" starring Lily Taylor. He also landed supporting roles in the films "Road to Perdition," "Suspect Zero," "Lucky Number Slevin," "Christmas with the Kranks" and Ang Lee's "Taking Woodstock."
Broadway kept calling Kevin back and in 2006, he took over the role of Amos in the long-running hit "Chicago," playing opposite Rita Wilson and Usher. In 2007 director Joe Mantello cast Kevin to star opposite Rosie Perez in a revival of "The Ritz" which played at the infamous Studio 54. "The Addams Family" producers called Kevin in 2008, offering him the role of Uncle Fester and he lept at the chance to play one of pop culture's most popular television icons. The role earned him his third Tony nomination, as well as a Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Nomination, and Broadway.com's Audience Award as Best Featured Actor in a Musical for 2010.
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