Paul McCrane (born January 19, 1961) is an American film, television and theatre actor, as well as a television director and singer. He is known for his portrayal of Montgomery MacNeil in the 1980 film Fame, Frank Berry in the 1984 film The Hotel New Hampshire, Emil Antonowsky in RoboCop, and Robert Romano on the NBC medical drama television series ER.

Paul McCrane
Born (1961-01-19) January 19, 1961 (age 63)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1979–present

Early life

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McCrane was born on January 19, 1961,[1] in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Eileen C. (née Manyak) and James J. McCrane, Jr.[2] His family moved to Richboro, Pennsylvania, where he lived until he moved to New York City after graduating from Holy Ghost Preparatory School in 1978. He studied theatre at HB Studio[3] in New York City.

Career

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An early role, when he was just 18 years of age, is in a short scene in Rocky II, playing a multi-fracture patient who asks for Rocky's autograph on his head cast ("Hey Rocky...sign my head!").

With an abundance of red hair, McCrane portrayed the earnest Montgomery MacNeil in Fame. He was the lead vocalist on three songs in the feature film: "Dogs in the Yard", "Miles from Here" and "Is it Okay if I Call You Mine?" He also had a solo in "I Sing the Body Electric".

Later, he played confused Frank Berry in The Hotel New Hampshire, murderous Emil Antonowsky in RoboCop, followed by astronaut Pete Conrad in From the Earth to the Moon, Guard Trout in The Shawshank Redemption, cancer-absorbing mutant Leonard Betts in The X-Files. After a recurring role as the snarky Dr. Robert "Rocket" Romano on ER, he became a regular cast member (1997–2003) and returned for one episode during its 15th and final season (2008). McCrane guest-starred in 24 Seasons 5 and 6 as Graem Bauer. He has also appeared on Ugly Betty and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.

In 2011, McCrane took on the recurring role of Assistant District Attorney Josh Peyton in the NBC television program Harry's Law, a project of producer David E. Kelley. McCrane won the 2011 Emmy Award for Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his performance in the role.[4] In 2019, he was cast in a recurring role on the CBS TV series All Rise.

Filmography

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Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1979 Rocky II Pete
1980 Fame Montgomery MacNeill Nominated — Young Artist Award for Best Leading Young Actor in a Feature Film
1984 The Hotel New Hampshire Frank
1984 Purple Hearts Brenner
1987 RoboCop Emil Antonowsky
1988 The Blob Deputy Bill Briggs
1994 The Shawshank Redemption Guard Trout
2000 The Last Producer Austin Green
2012 Atlas Shrugged II Wesley Mouch
2017 Take the 10 Carey

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 Nurse George Nicholas 1 episode
1986 Hill Street Blues Albert Sawyer 1 episode
1989 The Equalizer Crocker 1 episode
1989 Wiseguy Johnny Medley 4 episodes
1990 Cop Rock Det. Bob McIntire Main role, 9 episodes
1992 The Adventures of Superboy Chaos 2 episodes
1993 Law & Order James Lee Pawl 1 episode
1993 Sirens Leon 1 episode
1993 The Commish Neil Perry 1 episode
1994 North and South, Book III Klawdell Miniseries, 1 episode
1994–1995 Under Suspicion Detective Patrick Clark Main role, 18 episodes
1996 Chicago Hope Bob Broussard 1 episode
1996 Champs Dr. Herb Barton Main role, 12 episodes
1997 The X-Files Leonard Morris Betts Episode: "Leonard Betts"
1997–2003; 2008 ER Dr. Robert Romano Main role, 107 episodes
Won—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (1999)
Nominated—Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series (2000–01)
1997 Touched by an Angel Grant Abbott 1 episode
1997 Life with Louie Mel Voice role, 1 episode
1997 The Practice Martin Parks 2 episodes
1998 From the Earth to the Moon Pete Conrad Miniseries, 1 episode
2001 Citizen Baines Sherman Bloom 2 episodes
2005 Unscripted Support Group Leader 1 episode
2006–2007 24 Graem Bauer Recurring role, 9 episodes
2008 Ugly Betty District Attorney Weitz 1 episode
2010 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Phil Carpenter 1 episode
2011 Harry's Law Josh Peyton Recurring role, 7 episodes
Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
2013 Major Crimes Agent Mark Evans 1 episode
2015 Under the Dome Patrick Walters 2 episodes
2019–2022 All Rise Judge Jonas Laski Recurring role, 14 episodes
2022 The Offer Jack Ballard Miniseries, 5 episodes
2022 The Terminal List Mike Tedesco 3 episodes
2023 Barry Mark Episode: "it takes a psycho"

Discography

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  • Fame (soundtrack), 1980 soundtrack album to the musical film Fame. Vocals on: "Is It Okay If I Call You Mine?", "Dogs in the Yard", and "I Sing the Body Electric"

References

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  1. ^ Rose, Mike (January 19, 2023). "Today's famous birthdays list for January 19, 2023 includes celebrities Dolly Parton, Jodie Sweetin". The Plain Dealer. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "Paul McCrane Biography". Yahoo!. Archived from the original on September 11, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2023.
  3. ^ HB Studio Alumni
  4. ^ Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series, 2011 at Emmys.com
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