David Jonathan Pittu (; born April 4, 1967) is an American actor, writer and director.
Pittu was born and grew up in Fairfield, Connecticut where, as a high school senior, he was a finalist in the NFAA's Arts Recognition Talent Search in Drama. He graduated from New York University 's Tisch School of the Arts in 1989.
Pittu's theater work includes plays and musicals, and he has received two Tony Award nominations. He was nominated for the 2007 Best Featured Actor in a Musical for playing Bertolt Brecht in Harold Prince's LoveMusik " Love/Musik Awards" ibdb.com, retrieved February 10, 2017 and for the 2008 Best Featured Actor in a Play for his multiple-role turn in the Mark Twain comedy Is He Dead? adapted by David Ives and directed by Michael Blakemore." Is He Dead? Awards" ibdb.com, retrieved February 10, 2017
He received the Daryl Roth 2010 Creative Spirit Award.Carrubba, Phillip. "Tony Award Nominee David Pittu Received 2010 Creative Spirit Award Given by Daryl Roth" oandmco.com, August 18, 2010
He received the 2009 St. Clair Bayfield Award for his performance in Twelfth Night at the Delacorte Theatre in 2009, directed by Daniel Sullivan."Awards" actorsequity.org, retrieved February 10, 2017 Also under Sullivan's direction, he played Paul Wolfowitz and others, in David Hare's Stuff Happens in 2006 at the Public Theater, which received a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble.Simonson, Robert. " 'Stuff Happens', Hare's Modern History Play, Is History After June 25" Playbill, June 25, 2006
He wrote and starred in What's That Smell: The Music of Jacob Sterling, a musical satire about a luckless, eternally "up-and-coming" composer-lyricist. Pittu also wrote the lyrics, with music by Randy Redd to What's That Smell, which premiered Off-Broadway at the Atlantic Theater Company in September 2008.Jones, Kenneth. "Bartlett Will Join Pittu in 'What's That Smell', Spoofing Musical Theatre Types" Playbill, August 18, 2008 The play with music received two Lucille Lortel Award nominations including one for Best Off-Broadway Musical, and was included in both the Entertainment Weekly and The New York Times Top 10 Best Lists in Theater 2008.
Other notable theater work: David Ives' The Heir Apparent (2014 Off-Broadway, CSC, director John Rando);Isherwood, Charles. "Theater Review. The Heir Apparent " The New York Times, April 9, 2014 Bill Cain's Equivocation (2010, Off-Broadway Manhattan Theater Club) directed by Garry Hynes;Lipron, Brian Scott. "Reviews. Equivocation " theatermania.com, March 2, 2010 Tom Stoppard's The Coast of Utopia (2006, Broadway, Lincoln Center); Harold Pinter's Celebration and The Room (2005, Off-Broadway, Atlantic Theater Company);Jones, Kenneth. "Nobel Prize-Winner Pinter's 'Celebration' and 'The Room' Open in NYC" Playbill, December 5, 2005 and Stephen Sondheim's Company, part of the Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration (2002).
His performance as Leo Frank in the National Tour of Jason Robert Brown's Parade, directed by Harold Prince, earned him the 2001 National Broadway Award (Best Actor in a Musical). He appeared in the Encores! staged concert productions Of Thee I Sing (2007, as the French ambassador); Bells Are Ringing (2010, as Sandor); It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman (2013, as Dr. Abner Sedgwick) and Girl From the North Country at the Public Theater (2018, as Reverend Marlowe). He has also done numerous concerts with Ted Sperling's MasterVoices at City Center and Carnegie Hall.
His film and television credits include Halston (Netflix), Capote vs. The Swans (FX/Hulu), and American Horror Stories (FX).
He is an accomplished narrator of audio books, including Donna Tartt 's Pulitzer Prize winner The Goldfinch,Turits, Meredith. "Audio Book Review" bbook.com, retrieved February 10, 2017 which received two "Audie" Awards: Best Literary Fiction and Best Male Solo Performance, 2014.
Pittu is one of the trustees of the literary estate of George S. Kaufman, along with theater historian and NYU professor Laurence Maslon.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 2025 Atrabilious Dominick Calderon 2023 Sharper David/Lawyer 2017 Submission Bernard Levy 2016 Café Society Roger 2015 True Story Marcus Lickermann 2012 Men in Black 3 Roman the Fabulist 2006 Shortbus Jacuzzi Hunter 2005 King Kong Weston
Television Year Title Role Notes 2024 American Horror Stories Aaron Episode: "Backrooms" 2022 Uncoupled Dennis 2 episodes 2021 Halston Joe Eula 5 episodes 2020 The Plot Against America Irv Simkowitz 2 episodes 2018 Elementary William Bazemore Episode: "Fit to be Tied" 2016 House of Cards Dr. Saxon 3 episodes 2015 The Knick Dr. Phelps 2 episodes 2015 The Following Eldon Episode: "Flesh & Blood" 2013 Person of Interest Derek Fowler Episode: "Booked Solid" 2012 Made in Jersey Vogel 2 episodes 2011–2014 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Linus Tate 6 episodes 2011 Pan Am Paul Gilbert 2 episodes 2011 Damages Jack Shaw 5 episodes 2010–2012 The Good Wife Spencer Roth 2 episodes 2010 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Roy Loftin Episode: "Loyalty" 2009 Rescue Me Charles 3 episodes 2009 Fringe Robert Swift Episode: "Unleashed" 2001 Law & Order Donald Albers Episode: "Phobia"
Videogames Year Title Role 2010 Red Dead Redemption The Local Population 2008 Grand Theft Auto IV The Crowd of Liberty City 2006 Neverwinter Nights 2 Shadow Reaver #1, Brawler #1, Wolf #1, Commoner #2, Mordren 2003 Manhunt Smilie
References
External links
American Theatre Wing Biography David Pittu gets the satirical spotlight in What's That Smell Actors Words, Writers Voice