James Naughton (born December 6, 1945) is an American actor and director. He is a two-time winner of the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his performances as Stone in City of Angels (1990), and Billy Flynn in Chicago (1997). He is one of nine actors to have won the award twice. On television he is best known as astronaut Pete Burke in Planet of the Apes (1974), and as socialite William van der Bilt on Gossip Girl (2009–2012).
Early life Naughton was born in Middletown, Connecticut, the son of Rosemary (née Walsh) and Joseph Naughton, both of whom were teachers. He is the elder brother of actor David Naughton. His family is Irish American. He graduated from Conard High School. Jim began singing during his years at Conard "with the high school band and at parties."
Career Naughton graduated from Brown University and Yale School of Drama. His acting career began when he appeared in a series of Broadway dramas and musicals. He has since become an accomplished actor in both starring and supporting film and television roles.
He won the Theatre World Award for his breakthrough off-Broadway performance in Long Day's Journey into Night in 1971. He starred with Geneviève Bujold in Antigone, later made into a film in 1974. He starred in I Love My Wife in 1977 and in Whose Life is it Anyway? in 1980. He won his first Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical in 1990 for City of Angels. In 1997, he won a second Tony Award with his portrayal of lawyer Billy Flynn in the musical Chicago. He played the role of Willy Brandt in Democracy on its U.S. première in 2004. His films include The Paper Chase and The First Wives Club. In 2006, he appeared in the movie The Devil Wears Prada. In 2006, he played Fuzzy Sedgwick in Factory Girl.
Television and commercials On television, he starred in Faraday & Company with Dan Dailey and Sharon Gless (1973–1974). He also starred with Roddy McDowall and Ron Harper in the 1974 television series Planet of the Apes, a spin-off of the original film. He starred in Making the Grade and Trauma Center in the early 1980s. He starred in the short-lived series Raising Miranda in 1988. From 1991 to 1993, he played Lt. Patrick Monahan on the series Brooklyn Bridge. From 1994 to 1995, he co-starred with Bill Cosby in The Cosby Mysteries. He appeared with Gless 20 years later, this time as her husband in Cagney and Lacey: The Return (1993) and Cagney and Lacey: Together Again (1995). He appeared on Damages with Glenn Close. Naughton had a recurring role on Gossip Girl as William van der Bilt, grandfather of main character Nate Archibald. In 1998 he hosted and narrated the Court TV series The Greatest Trials of All Time.
He has appeared in television commercials promoting the drugs Cialis, Nexium and Nasalcrom. Naughton has also been the official voice of Audi in the U.S. since 2007, heard in its national TV and radio spots. He is also a frequent narrator on television's Nature series.
Director He has directed several plays in New York City, including the 2002 revival of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, starring his friend Paul Newman, filmed for cable TV in 2003. He appears in cabarets in New York City, including Manhattan Theatre Club and Caroline's Comedy Club.
Personal life His family is Irish American. He and his first wife, Pamela Parsons, have two children: Keira and Greg, both actors. Greg is a founding member of the band The Sweet Remains and is married to Broadway actress Kelli O'Hara. Pamela Parsons died from pancreatic cancer in 2013.
Stage credits YearTitleRoleVenueNotesRef.1971Long Day's Journey into NightEdmund TyronePromenade Theatre, New YorkOff-Broadway1972AntigoneHaemon1977–1979I Love My WifeWallyEthel Barrymore Theatre, New YorkBroadway debut, original cast1980Whose Life is it Anyway?Dr. David ScottRoyale Theatre, New YorkOriginal Broadway cast1989–1990City of AngelsStoneVirginia Theatre, New YorkOriginal Broadway cast1992Four Baboons Adoring the SunPhilip McKenzieVivian Beaumont Theater, New YorkOriginal Broadway cast1996–1997ChicagoBilly FlynnRichard Rodgers Theatre, New YorkOriginal Broadway castShubert Theatre, New York1999–2000The Price–Royale Theatre, New YorkDirector, Broadway2002–2003Our Town–Booth Theatre, New YorkDirector, Broadway2004PrymateAvrumLongacre Theatre, New YorkOriginal Broadway cast2004–2005DemocracyWilly BrandtBrooks Atkinson Theatre, New YorkOriginal Broadway cast
Filmography
Film YearFilmRoleNotes1973The Paper Chase Kevin Brooks1976Second Wind RogerDiary of the DeadGeorge1982A Stranger Is Watching Steve Peterson1985Cat's EyeHugh1987The Glass Menagerie The Gentleman Caller (James Delaney "Jim" O'Connor)1988The Good Mother Brian Dunlop1996First KidPresident DavenportThe First Wives ClubGil GriffinThe ProprietorNew York - Texans1999OxygenClark Hannon2000Labor PainsDr. Senior2004FascinationPatrick Doherty2006The Devil Wears PradaStephenFactory GirlFuzzy Sedgwick2007Suburban GirlRobert Eisenberg2008ChildlessHarvey2009Clear Blue TuesdayExecutive2013The WordMike Sheehy2016EquityJohn2017Broadway: The Next GenerationSelfDocumentary film2018The IndependentsOfficer SandersTBDBig Dickie
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1971Great PerformancesHaemonEpisode: "Antigone"1972Look Homeward, AngelBen GantTelevision film1973–1974Faraday and CompanySteve Faraday4 episodes1974F. Scott Fitzgerald and 'the Last of the Belles'Cap. John HainesTelevision filmMannixDr. HansonEpisode: "A Fine Day for Dying"Planet of the ApesPete Burke14 episodes1975The First 36 Hours of Dr. DurantDr. BaxterTelevision film1976Joe ForresterHarryEpisode: "Fire Power"Barnaby JonesDr. Louis ManningEpisode: "Voice in the Night"1977Ryan's HopeDr. George Hoyle (uncredited)Episode: "#1.567"On Our OwnBarry SpauldingEpisode: "Julia in the Dark"1981The BunkerJames P. O'DonnellTelevision film1982My Body, My ChildDr. Dan BerensenTelevision filmParoleAndy DriscollTelevision filmMaking the GradeHarry Barnes6 episodes1983The Fall GuyCutterEpisode: "Trauma"Trauma CenterDr. Michael "Cutter" Royce13 episodes1984Last of the Great SurvivorsRichard WylieTelevision film1985ABC Weekend SpecialsCaptain SawyerEpisode: "The Adventures of Con Sawyer and Hucklemary Finn"Who's the Boss?Michael Bower4 episodesBetween the Darkness and the DawnJack ParrishTelevision film1986Sin of InnocenceAndy ColleranTelevision film1987CBS Summer PlayhouseJohn DockeryEpisode: "Travelin' Man"1988Blown AwayRick LaSalleTelevision filmRaising MirandaDonald Marshak9 episodes1991–1993Brooklyn BridgeLieutenant Patrick Monahan3 episodes1992Designing WomenPhillip Russell StuartEpisode: "Screaming Passages"1994The Cosby MysteriesAdam SullyTelevision film1994–1995The Cosby MysteriesDet. Sully18 episodes1994The Birds II: Land's EndFrankTelevision filmCouplesStevenTelevision filmCagney & Lacey: The ReturnJames BurtonTelevision film1995Cagney & Lacey: Together Again Television filmMixed BlessingsBrad ColemanTelevision film1996Law & OrderBarry TaggertEpisode: "Girlfriends"1997Liberty! The American RevolutionPatrick Henry5 episodes1999–2001Ally McBealGeorge McBeal4 episodes2000–2019NatureNarrator3 episodes2000The Truth About JaneRobertTelevision film2001Big AppleLawrence Stark4 episodes2002100 Centre StreetDetective RowlingsEpisode: "End of the Month"The Education of Max BickfordLyle DumontEpisode: "Murder of the First"Law & Order: Criminal IntentDr. Roger BuckmanEpisode: "Seizure"2005American MastersErnest Hemingway (voice)Episode: "Ernest Hemingway: Rivers to the Sea"2006–2007Law & Order: Special Victims UnitCharlie Moss2 episodes2006Out of PracticeDr. Jack Arbogast2 episodes2008Possible Side EffectsUnknownTelevision film (unreleased)2009–2012Gossip GirlWilliam van der Bilt10 episodes2009DamagesSam Arsenault2 episodesWarehouse 13Gilbert RadburnEpisode: "Elements"2010Blue BloodsChief BellEpisode: "What You See"2013–2014HostagesPresident Paul Kincaid9 episodes2013Golden BoyMarvin DrexlerEpisode: "Just Say No"2014Turks & CaicosFrank ChurchTelevision film2015The BlacklistHayworthEpisode: "Ruslan Denisov (No. 67)"The AffairRodney CallahanEpisode: "#2.9"2016–2017Odd Mom OutLarry Manassian2 episodes2017The TapJudge LinkEpisode: "Pilot"2018The RomanoffsDmitriEpisode: "The Royal We"2020–2022The Accidental WolfUnknownWeb-series; 5 episodes2021–2022And Just Like That...Big's Brother2 episodes2023Command ZJustice Frank RichardsonEpisode: "Preach"Three WomenGay Talese2 episodes
Awards and nominations Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref1971 Theatre World Awards Outstanding DebutLong Day's Journey Into Night 1990 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a MusicalCity of Angels Tony Awards Best Actor in a Musical 1997 Drama Desk Awards Outstanding Actor in a MusicalChicago Tony Awards Best Actor in a Musical References
External links