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Jon Mullich (born 1961) American actor, playwright, director and
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
historian.


Background

Mullich was born in
Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...
. Mullich played Gloucester in Reza Abdoh's vision of ''
King Lear ''King Lear'' is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare. It is based on the mythological Leir of Britain. King Lear, in preparation for his old age, divides his power and land between two of his daughters. He becomes destitute and insane ...
'' and Abel Drugger in ''
The Alchemist An alchemist is a person who practices alchemy. Alchemist or Alchemyst may also refer to: Books and stories * ''The Alchemist'' (novel), the translated title of a 1988 allegorical novel by Paulo Coelho * ''The Alchemist'' (play), a play by Be ...
'' at the
Globe Playhouse Robert Thaddeus Taylor (1925–2006) was an American producer, director and founder of the Shakespeare Society of America. Taylor Robert Thaddeus Taylor was born August 29, 1925, in Wendell, Idaho. Known as Thad Taylor, he was a founder of the ...
among other roles before achieving recognition for his performance in the title role of
Mark Ringer Mark Ringer (born December 8, 1959) American writer, theater and opera historian, director and actor. Ringer’s books include ''Electra and the Empty Urn: Metatheater and Role Playing in Sophocles'', a critical analysis of theatrical self-awaren ...
's production of ''
Hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...
''. It was praised for its "touches of gallows humor and mocking fatalism", the first theatrical production produced under the
Actors' Equity Association The Actors' Equity Association (AEA), commonly referred to as Actors' Equity or simply Equity, is an American labor union representing those who work in live theatrical performance. Performers appearing in live stage productions without a boo ...
99-seat theater plan. The '' LA Weekly'' described Mullich's Angelo in '' Measure for Measure'': "this staging of
Shakespeare's William Shakespeare ( 26 April 1564 – 23 April 1616) was an English playwright, poet and actor. He is widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's nation ...
tragicomic treatise of sexual politics shines on the merits of the marvelously austere, yet emotionally vulnerable, Jon Mullich". He also played Lord Grizzle in Dennis Gersten's production of ''The Author's Thumb'' (adapted from the works of
Henry Fielding Henry Fielding (22 April 1707 – 8 October 1754) was an English novelist, irony writer, and dramatist known for earthy humour and satire. His comic novel ''Tom Jones'' is still widely appreciated. He and Samuel Richardson are seen as founders ...
), Thomas Diaforus in '' The Imaginary Invalid'',
Demetrius Demetrius is the Latinized form of the Ancient Greek male given name ''Dēmḗtrios'' (), meaning “Demetris” - "devoted to goddess Demeter". Alternate forms include Demetrios, Dimitrios, Dimitris, Dmytro, Dimitri, Dimitrie, Dimitar, Dumi ...
in ''
A Midsummer Night’s Dream ''A Midsummer Night's Dream'' is a comedy written by William Shakespeare 1595 or 1596. The play is set in Athens, and consists of several subplots that revolve around the marriage of Theseus and Hippolyta. One subplot involves a conflict amon ...
'' and
Malvolio Malvolio is a fictional character in William Shakespeare's comedy ''Twelfth Night, or What You Will''. His name means "ill will" in Italian, referencing his disagreeable nature. He is the vain, pompous, authoritarian steward of Olivia's househo ...
in ''
Twelfth Night ''Twelfth Night'', or ''What You Will'' is a romantic comedy by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written around 1601–1602 as a Twelfth Night's entertainment for the close of the Christmas season. The play centres on the twins Vi ...
'', as well as appearances on the television show ''
Totally Hidden Video ''Totally Hidden Video'' is an American hidden-camera television show and game show that aired from 1989 to 1992. It was one of the early shows in the history of the Fox television network and held the highest viewing share for any Fox program at ...
''. When he took on the title role in Shakespeare's '' Richard III'' in 2015, one critic wrote "Jon Mullich is one of the best 'Richards' we have seen, teetering a tight line between portraying madness, histrionics and unbridled ambition. It takes a studied actor to show the human side of Richard without giving in to the buffoonery of his folly and Mullich owns the character both body and soul." Mullich's work as a playwright includes an adaptation of
Carlo Goldoni Carlo is a given name. It is an Italian form of Charles. It can refer to: * Carlo (name) * Monte Carlo * Carlingford, New South Wales, a suburb in north-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia *A satirical song written by Dafydd Iwan about Prince ...
's farce '' A Servant of Two Masters'' which transferred the action of the play to
Prohibition Prohibition is the act or practice of forbidding something by law; more particularly the term refers to the banning of the manufacture, storage (whether in barrels or in bottles), transportation, sale, possession, and consumption of alcohol ...
-era
Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...
. Mullich also played the role of Truffaldino Bottachio as a
Brooklyn Brooklyn () is a borough of New York City, coextensive with Kings County, in the U.S. state of New York. Kings County is the most populous county in the State of New York, and the second-most densely populated county in the United States, be ...
wise guy in the premiere production, a performance that ''
Back Stage West ''Backstage'', also previously written as ''Back Stage'', is an American entertainment industry trade publication. Founded by Allen Zwerdling and Ira Eaker in 1960, it covers the film and performing arts industry from the perspective of performer ...
'' said "keeps the audience roaring with laughter at his shameless mugging". He also wrote ''The Special Award'', a drama about
D.W. Griffith David Wark Griffith (January 22, 1875 – July 23, 1948) was an American film director. Considered one of the most influential figures in the history of the motion picture, he pioneered many aspects of film editing and expanded the art of the na ...
which examines events surrounding the director's lifetime achievement
Oscar Oscar, OSCAR, or The Oscar may refer to: People * Oscar (given name), an Irish- and English-language name also used in other languages; the article includes the names Oskar, Oskari, Oszkár, Óscar, and other forms. * Oscar (Irish mythology) ...
at the 1936
Academy Award The Academy Awards, better known as the Oscars, are awards for artistic and technical merit for the American and international film industry. The awards are regarded by many as the most prestigious, significant awards in the entertainment ind ...
ceremony and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' controversial early role as a labor organization in Hollywood. He writes a weekly humor blog titled "Jonny's Enemies List."


''U.S.S. Pinafore''

Mullich directed and adapted ''U.S.S. Pinafore'' from ''
H.M.S. Pinafore ''H.M.S. Pinafore; or, The Lass That Loved a Sailor'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and a libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It opened at the Opera Comique in London, on 25 May 1878 and ran for 571 performances, whic ...
'' by
Gilbert & Sullivan Gilbert and Sullivan was a Victorian-era theatrical partnership of the dramatist W. S. Gilbert (1836–1911) and the composer Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900), who jointly created fourteen comic operas between 1871 and 1896, of which ''H.M.S. Pina ...
. It took the original operetta's depiction of social climbing on a Victorian sailing vessel and transferred it to an absurdist take on the universe of '' Star Trek''. It included such non-G&S elements as a talking computer, a lizard man, and an alien probe, and also featured Gilbert & Sullivan songs from ''
The Mikado ''The Mikado; or, The Town of Titipu'' is a comic opera in two acts, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert, their ninth of fourteen Gilbert and Sullivan, operatic collaborations. It opened on 14 March 1885, in London, whe ...
'' and ''
The Yeomen of the Guard ''The Yeomen of the Guard; or, The Merryman and His Maid'', is a Savoy Opera, with music by Arthur Sullivan and libretto by W. S. Gilbert. It premiered at the Savoy Theatre on 3 October 1888 and ran for 423 performances. This was the eleventh ...
''.
Kerry O'Quinn Kerry O'Quinn is a writer, magazine publisher, director and producer, most noted for the creation of ''Starlog'', ''Fangoria'', ''Cinemagic'', ''Future Life'', Rock Video, Hard Rock and ''Comics Scene'' magazines. Career O'Quinn was a publisher ...
, founder of Starlog and Fangoria Magazines, wrote "It's rare that such a bold and original concept is so professionally executed." ''
The Huffington Post ''HuffPost'' (formerly ''The Huffington Post'' until 2017 and sometimes abbreviated ''HuffPo'') is an American progressive news website, with localized and international editions. The site offers news, satire, blogs, and original content, and ...
'' added "I don't want to spoil any jokes or gags because they are so lovely and lively and fresh. Suffice to say you don't need to be a fan of both or either genres -- just someone who likes to laugh -- in order enjoy this silly, sexy romp." It was nominated for a 2011 Saturn Award for Best Small Theatre Production by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films.


References


External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Mullich, Jon 1961 births 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights California State University, Northridge alumni American male stage actors Living people Male actors from Los Angeles