Matthew Cowles (September 28, 1944 – May 22, 2014) was an American actor and playwright.
Matthew Cowles | |
|---|---|
 Cowles and Jennifer West in the play Malcolm in 1966. | |
| Born | September 28, 1944 New York City, U.S. |
| Died | May 22, 2014 (aged 69) New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1969–2014 |
| Spouses | |
| Children | 2, including Lily Cowles |
| Parent | Chandler Cowles (father) |
Early life edit
The son of actor and theatre producer Chandler Cowles, he was born in New York City.[1]
Career edit
In 1966 Cowles played the title role in Edward Albee's short-lived adaptation of James Purdy's comic novel Malcolm on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre.[2]
In 1968, he appeared with Al Pacino and John Cazale in Israel Horovitz's The Indian Wants the Bronx.[3]
In 1983, Cowles joined The Mirror Theater Ltd's Mirror Repertory Company for their first repertory season, performing in Paradise Lost, Rain, Inheritors, and The Hasty Heart.[4]
Cowles' first television part was Joe Czernak in the series NYPD in 1969. He was nominated for a Daytime Emmy as Outstanding Actor in a Daytime Drama Series in 1978 and as Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Daytime Drama Series in 1981, both for his part as Billy Clyde Tuggle in All My Children, a role that he created and wrote.[5]
Cowles' first film was the comedy drama Me, Natalie (1969) in which he played Harvey Belman. Al Pacino also made his debut in this film.
In 2010, Cowles played a supporting role in Martin Scorsese's film Shutter Island.
Cowles also starred in three short plays for the public radio show and podcast Playing on Air.[6][7][8][9]
Personal life edit
In 1983, he married actress Christine Baranski with whom he had two daughters, Isabel (born 1984) and Lily (born 1987). In a New York Times profile of his wife, he was described as "the black sheep member of a family with ties to Cowles publishing and Drexel banking".[10] He was an enthusiastic motorcycle rider.[5]
Cowles was a devout Catholic[11] and taught religious education at the Church of the Nativity.[12]
Death edit
Matthew Cowles died from congestive heart failure on May 22, 2014.[13]
Filmography edit
Film edit
- Me, Natalie (1969) as Harvey Belman
- The Friends of Eddie Coyle (1973) as Pete
- The Happy Hooker (1975) as Albert Ruffleson
- Slap Shot (1977) as Charlie
- The World According to Garp (1982) as O. Fecteau
- Eddie Macon's Run (1983) as Ray Banes
- The Money Pit (1986) as Marty
- Stars and Bars (1988) as Beckman Gage
- White Fang 2: Myth of the White Wolf (1994) as Lloyd Halverson
- The Cowboy Way (1994) as Popfly
- The Juror (1996) as Rodney
- Nurse Betty (2000) as Merle
- Shutter Island (2010) as Ferry Boat Captain
Television edit
- All My Children (1977–1980, 1984, 1989–1990, 2011[14] ) as Billy Clyde Tuggle
- As the World Turns (1983) as Lonnie
- Love on the Run (1985) as Yancy
- Loving (1986–1987) as Eban Japes
- Lonesome Dove (1989) as Monkey John
- Asylum, a 1991 episode of Law & Order as Christian 'Lemonhead' Tatum
- The Bold and the Beautiful (1997) as Curtis Love
- Oz (2003) as Willy Brandt
- Life on Mars (2008–2009) as Cowboy Dan
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (2007 Season 9 episode 15) as Cyrus Wert
Stage credits edit
- Malcolm (1966) Broadway as Malcolm.[2]
- The Indian Wants the Bronx (1968), Astor Place Theatre
- The Time of Your Life (1969) as Dudley[2]
- Sweet Bird of Youth (1975–1976) as Tom Junior[2]
- Dirty Jokes (1976) at the Academy Festival Theatre in Chicago, Illinois
Bibliography edit
Plays edit
References edit
- ^ Simonson, Robert (May 27, 2014). "Matthew Cowles, Actor and Husband of Christine Baranski, Dies". Playbill. Retrieved June 3, 2020.
- ^ a b c d League, The Broadway. "Matthew Cowles – Broadway Cast & Staff – IBDB". www.ibdb.com.
- ^ Lortel Archives
- ^ Gussow, Mel (March 11, 1984). "THEATER: MIRROR REP, IN A REVIVAL OF 'RAIN'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ a b c d e '2004 Speaker Biographies'. Samuel Dorsky Symposium on Public Monuments (2004) Archived January 29, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ PlayingOnAir (December 8, 2014). "Matthew Cowles". Playing On Air. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ PlayingOnAir (September 28, 2015). "New Podcast! GETTING IN by Frank Gilroy". Playing On Air. Archived from the original on July 1, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ "Matthew Cowles". Playing On Air. Retrieved February 24, 2020.
- ^ PlayingOnAir (February 21, 2016). "New Podcast! The Strangest Kind of Romance by Tennessee Williams". Playing On Air. Archived from the original on August 8, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ^ Horyn, Cathy (April 15, 2011). "Christine Baranski: 'I Was Never Beautiful'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved January 20, 2023.
- ^ Salfen, Ronald P. (February 20, 2008). "An Interview with Christine Baranski". Faith in Films.
- ^ "Matthew Cowles was not like his evil soap character – Archives". archives.rep-am.com. June 8, 2014.
- ^ "Actor Matthew Cowles Passes Away". Broadway World. Retrieved May 24, 2014.
- ^ "SUPER VILLAIN 'BILLY CLYDE TUGGLE' RETURNS TO THE BELOVED DRAMA 'ALL MY CHILDREN'" (PDF). Retrieved May 8, 2013.[permanent dead link]