Nick Westrate is an American actor and director known for his work in theater, television, and film. He is the recipient of a special Drama Desk Award for versatility in Off-Broadway performance.
Early life and education Westrate grew up in southern Michigan and studied acting at the Juilliard School in New York.
Career
Theater Westrate has appeared on Broadway in Bernhardt/Hamlet opposite Janet McTeer, Harvey Fierstein's Casa Valentina, and A Moon for the Misbegotten.
Off-Broadway, he has appeared in Tribes at the Barrow Street Theatre, A Delicate Ship at Playwrights Realm, Galileo and Unnatural Acts at Classic Stage Company, Love's Labor's Lost at the Public Theater, and Ivo van Hove's production of The Little Foxes at New York Theatre Workshop.
In 2023, Westrate played Prior Walter in János Szász's production of Angels in America at Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., for which he received a Helen Hayes Award for Best Ensemble and was nominated for Best Actor.
In summer 2026, Westrate played Iago in Classical Theatre of Harlem's production of Othello at Marcus Garvey Park, directed by Carl Cofield.
Television and film Westrate played Robert Townsend on the AMC series Turn: Washington's Spies for three seasons. He has also appeared in the HBO miniseries Mildred Pierce, directed by Todd Haynes, and The American Guest, directed by Bruno Barreto, as well as the Apple TV+ miniseries Manhunt, in which he played Edwin Booth.
On film, he appeared in Jonathan Demme's Ricki and the Flash opposite Meryl Streep, and in American Insurrection.
The Streetcar Project Westrate co-founded and directs The Streetcar Project with Lucy Owen, a touring production of Tennessee Williams's A Streetcar Named Desire performed with four actors and no sets, costumes, or props, in unconventional venues including barns, warehouses, churches, and airplane hangars. The production has been reviewed by The Washington Post, the San Francisco Chronicle, Local News Matters, and Stage and Cinema.
Selected filmography
Year Title Role Medium Notes 2011 Mildred Pierce Sammy Forrester Television Miniseries 2015–2017 Turn: Washington's Spies Robert Townsend Television 3 seasons 2015 Ricki and the Flash Adam Film Feature film 2021 The American Guest George Perkins Television Television series 2021 American Insurrection David Film Feature film 2024 Manhunt Edwin Booth Television Miniseries
Awards
Year Award Category Work Result 2023 Helen Hayes Award Best Ensemble Angels in America Won 2023 Helen Hayes Award Best Actor Angels in America Nominated 2012 Drama Desk Award Special Award for Versatility Unnatural Acts, Love's Labor's Lost, Galileo Won 2011 St. Clair Bayfield Award Supporting Actor (Shakespeare) Love's Labour's Lost Won 2010 Drama Desk Award Featured Actor in a Play The Boys in the Band Nominated
References
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