Happy birthday to Nathan Lane, born 65 years
ago today in Jersey City. He has had to make room on his shelf at home for two
other Tony Awards (for The Producers and Angels in America), besides
the one he picked up, with such tongue in cheek, 25 years ago for A Funny
Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.
He has appeared on film, but to nowhere near the
extent or with the appropriate vehicles that his talent deserves. In fact, he
has joked about that lack, notably on a 2018 appearance on Late Night
With Seth Meyers, when he recalled a host appearance in which he tangled
with Harvey Weinstein:
“Things got heated, and unpleasantries were exchanged,
and he said 'I'll get someone else to do it!' I said 'Fine, I think I saw Regis
Philbin out there, see if he's available!' And he started to push me into a
corner, and he's screaming at me, and it crescendo-ed with 'I'll ruin you,' he
said—'I'll ruin you!' And I said, 'You can't hurt me, I don't have a
film career!'”
Lane’s heart, it’s apparent, belongs onstage, judging
from the number and variety of roles he has taken on over the years. I have
been lucky enough to see him in a couple of shows: The Man Who Came to
Dinner and Waiting for Godot. Other theater aficionados have been
even luckier.
(The photo here, of Nathan Lane after appearing in Angels
in America, was taken Aug. 26, 2018, by Btvway.)
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