Nathan Lane (1956 - )

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The Birdcage (1996)

An often hilariously funny and successfully Americanized, upliftingly pro-gay remake of the French farce La Cage aux Folles. The setting is Miami Beach's hip South Beach where Armand Goldman (Robin Williams) runs an extravagant drag revue called The Birdcage. His longtime lover Albert (Nathan Lane) is the star attraction, billed as Starina. The two men live in an uninhibited, gloriously tacky apartment tended by Agador (a very funny Hank Azaria), their Guatemalan houseboy (think Lucy on steroids). The story remains the same: Armand's son wants to bring his fiancée and her right-wing parents over to meet the family, forcing the men to put on a "family values" show for the unsuspecting future in-laws. Gene Hackman and Dianne Wiest wonderfully underplay their roles as an arch-conservative U.S. Senator and his doting wife. As Armand, Williams is subtly fey and delivers the film's best lines, and Lane steals the show as the theatrically swishy diva "mom" with an ear-piercing squeal. Possibly too contemporary (will its au courant political jokes work in a few years?), the comedy is meant to be "non-offensive" to all, as the most intimate the lovers get is holding hands.

DVD is letterboxed to 1.85 (enhanced for 16x9) with a pan & scan option, and has Dolby Digital 5.1 sound (in English) and optional dubbed French and Spanish stereo sound. English, French and Spanish subtitles are also included, along with the trailer.

Director:  Mike Nichols

Starring:  Robin Williams, Nathan Lane, Gene Hackman, Dianne Wiest, Hank Azaria, Christine Baranski, Dan Futterman

Jeffrey (1995)

Paul Rudnick has adapted his own off-Broadway hit with this witty if slightly flawed comedy. Jeffrey (the chipper Steven Weber), a gay aspiring actor, has come to a momentous decision: In the age of AIDS, he's going to become celibate. Then he meets the devastatingly handsome Steve (Michael T. Weiss). As these two men tentatively begin a relationship, Jeffrey learns of Steve's HIV-positive status, which only complicates his fear of commitment. The success of Rudnick's play and film lies, partially, in creating a comedy centered around the subject of AIDS, and endowing it with an acerbic, even sardonic sense of humor. And when Jeffrey is funny (which it is most of the time), it is very, very funny. But in the filmization, certain dramatic scenes only magnify their less-than developed emotions. Patrick Stewart gloriously camps it up as Jeffrey's rich, designer friend Sterling, bringing unexpected depth to his role. Bryan Batt reprises his stage role as Sterling's PWA lover, and cameos include Sigourney Weaver, Kathy Najimy, Olympia Dukakis and a scene-stealing Nathan Lane.

Director:  Christopher Ashley

Starring:  Steven Weber, Patrick Stewart, Sigourney Weaver, Michael T. Weiss, Nathan Lane, Kathy Najimy, Bryan Batt, Olympia Dukakis

Nathan Lane Filmography:

The Nathan Lane Page

The Nathan Lane Page: a celebration of the career of actor, singer, comedy performer Nathan Lane. His theater work, film work, and work on television is described.

Nathan Lane

From lionking.org

Excerpt:

Nathan Lane was born Joseph Lane on February 3, 1956 in Jersey City. His father was Daniel Lane, who was a truck driver and aspiring singer (tenor), died of alcoholism when Nathan was only 11. Nathan was the youngest of two other brothers, Dan and Bobby, whom which started him in his acting career. Dan got him his first ever part in "Who'll save the Ploughboy?" at Jersey City State College. When he was in the 6th grade, Nathan landed a role in "Around the World in 80 Days" where he received his first stage laugh, and fell in love with acting. He went to school at St. Peter's Prep in Jersey City, where he graduated in 1974. After graduation, he won a scholarship to St. Joseph's University in Philadelphia. The scholarship was not enough so he returned back to Jersey City and took a job at the county clerks office. About two months later, Nathan landed another job at the Halfpenny Playhouse in East Orange, NJ. Nathan held other jobs, including a singing messenger and stand-up comedy...

Nathan Lane

From People Profiles at people.com

Excerpt:

Now openly gay, Lane refused to recreate his stage role of the HIV-positive Buzz for the screen version of Terrence McNally's Love! Valour! Compassion! (Seinfeld's Jason Alexander played Buzz in the movie), which reportedly caused a rift in Lane and McNally's longtime friendship. The decision was all the more painful for McNally since critics and colleagues alike said Lane had really found his own artistic voice -- as well as great scripts -- in such McNally stage vehicles as Lisbon Traviata and Love! Valour! Compassion!

The Man Who Came to Bubby’s: Nathan Lane Takes on Critics

by Mike Batistick for the New York Observer

Excerpt:

"The worst review I ever got," he said, "was by Brendan Gill of The New Yorker who wrote, ‘Nathan Lane is a rank amateur who should never be allowed on the stage.’ The second-worst notice came from that barrel of fun, Bob Brustein." Mr. Brustein wrote for The New Republic. Mr. Lane paused to remember the quote. "‘Nathan Lane is an irrepressible actor who should be forcibly repressed,’" he recalled.

Although he harbors no ill will toward either Mr. Gill or Mr. Brustein, said Mr. Lane, he doesn’t feel quite so forgiving toward Howard Kissel of the New York Daily News: "He used to be sort of a fan, but suddenly he turned against me and started writing these really nasty–and what I thought were downright homophobic–reviews about me." Mr. Lane, who came out of the closet last year in The Advocate, seemed to get a kick out of thinking about Mr. Kissel. "Have you ever seen him? He looks like the love child of Tiny Tim and Edna May Oliver. If they had a kid, it’d look like Howard Kissel. He looks like an 18th-century fop in a bad suit..."

Names Index:
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