# John Rubinstein

John Rubinstein (born December 8, 1946) is an American actor, composer and director.

## Early life

Rubinstein is the son of Polish parents. His mother, Aniela (née Młynarska), a dancer and writer, was a Roman Catholic native of Warsaw, the daughter of conductor Emil Młynarski. His father was Polish-Jewish concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein. He attended El Rodeo Public School in Beverly Hills (K–2), Cours La Cascade in Paris, France (1954), and St. Bernard's School (3–8) and Collegiate School (New York City) (9–12) in New York City. He studied theater and music at the University of California, Los Angeles (1964–1967), and later composition at the Juilliard School in New York.

## Career
### Theater

He made his Broadway acting debut in 1972 and received a Theatre World Award for creating the title role in the musical Pippin, directed by Bob Fosse. In 1980 he won the Tony, Drama Desk, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, and Drama-Logue Awards for his portrayal of James Leeds in Mark Medoff's Children of a Lesser God, directed by Gordon Davidson.
Other Broadway appearances were in Neil Simon's Fools, directed by Mike Nichols, and Herman Wouk's The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, which earned him a Drama Desk nomination; he replaced William Hurt as Eddie in David Rabe's Hurlyburly, replaced David Dukes in David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly, and starred in Getting Away with Murder, by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, directed by Jack O'Brien, and Ragtime, by Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty, and Lynn Ahrens. In 2014, he joined the Broadway cast of the hit revival of Pippin, directed by Diane Paulus, this time playing Pippin's father, Charlemagne; and subsequently repeated that role on the national tour throughout the United States and Japan in 2014–15.
In 2016, it was announced that he would join fellow Tony-winner Christian Borle in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as Grandpa Joe, directed by Jack O'Brien.
In 2023 Rubenstein starred in the one man biographical show Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground debuting Off-Broadway at the St. Clemens Theatre in New York City and subsequently touring around the US. The show portrays the former president at his home in retirement, working on his 2nd autobiography, reminiscing about his life and musing about his popularity and how he will be remembered.
He taught a course in musical theater audition techniques at the University of Southern California, and directed their spring musicals.

### Film and television

Rubinstein's feature films include 21 Grams, Red Dragon, Mercy, Another Stakeout, Someone to Watch Over Me, Daniel, The Boys from Brazil, Rome & Jewel, Jekyll, Kid Cop, Getting Straight, Zachariah, The Trouble with Girls, and The Car. He appears in the film Being the Ricardos as Jess Oppenheimer.

## Acting credits
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1969 | The Trouble with Girls | Princeton | |
| 1970 | Getting Straight | Herbert | |
| 1971 | Zachariah | Zachariah | |
| 1971 | The Sandpit Generals | Professor | |
| 1977 | The Car | John Morris | |
| 1978 | The Boys from Brazil | David Bennett | |
| 1979 | In Search of Historic Jesus | Jesus | |
| 1983 | Daniel | Robert Lewin | |
| 1987 | Someone to Watch Over Me | Neil Steinhart | |
| 1993 | Another Stakeout | Thomas Hassrick, Las Vegas District Attorney | |
| 1995 | Mercy | Frank Kramer | |
| 1996 | Kid Cop | Stan Dwerkin | Direct-to-video |
| 2002 | Red Dragon | Dinner Guest | |
| 2003 | 21 Grams | Gynecologist | |
| 2006 | Rome & Jewel | Major Capps | |
| 2007 | Sublime | Dr. Lichterhand | Direct-to-video |
| 2007 | Choose Connor | Cary Evor | |
| 2012 | Atlas Shrugged | Dr. Floyd Ferris | |
| 2015 | The Atticus Institute | Marcus Wheeler | |
| 2021 | Being the Ricardos | Older Jess Oppenheimer | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1967 | Dragnet | Paul Whidden | Episode: "The Grenade" |
| 1967 | The Virginian | Billy Simmons | Episode: "The Deadly Past" |
| 1967 | Ironside | 2nd Hippie | Episode: "The Leaf in the Forest" |
| 1969 | Room 222 | Martin Kaufman | Episode: "The Flu" |
| 1970 | The Bold Ones: The Protectors | Private Kelley | Episode: "A Thing Not of God" |
| 1970 | The Young Lawyers | Dan Fulton | Episode: "We May Be Better Strangers" |
| 1970 | The Psychiatrist: God Bless the Children | Teddy | Television film |
| 1971 | Matt Lincoln | Christopher | Episode: "Christopher" |
| 1971 | Men at Law | Ron Martin | Episode: "Hostage" |
| 1971 | Nichols | Fred Buckerman | Episode: "Paper Badge" |
| 1971 | The Psychiatrist | Randell File | Episode: "Ex-Sgt. Randell File, U.S.A." |
| 1971 | The Mod Squad | Larry Wheeler | Episode: "Survival" |
| 1971 | A Howling in the Woods | Justin Conway | Television film |
| 1972 | Something Evil | Ernest Lincoln | Television film |
| 1972 | Cannon | Larry Bolinger | Episode: "A Deadly Quiet Town" |
| 1972 | The Mary Tyler Moore Show | Matt, Jr. | Episode: "You Certainly Are a Big Boy" |
| 1972, 1977 | The Streets of San Francisco | Lindy/Walter J. Young | 2 episodes |
| 1972, 1977 | Hawaii Five-O | Harold/Joey Kalima | 2 episodes |
| 1975 | All Together Now | Bill Lindsay | Television film |
| 1975 | Police Woman | Tommy Donlevy | Episode: "Glitter with a Bullet" |
| 1975 | Mr. & Ms. and the Magic Studio Mystery | David | Television film |
| 1975 | Wide World Mystery | David | Episode: "Mr. & Mrs. and the Bandstand Mystery" |
| 1975 | Movin' On | Gershon Simenov | Episode: "Stowaway" |
| 1975–1976 | Harry O | Jack Dawes/Richard Trask | 2 episodes |
| 1975–1976 | Barnaby Jones | Chris Garrison/Larry Christopher | 2 episodes |
| 1976 | The Quest: The Longest Drive | Wakely | Television film |
| 1976 | Barbary Coast | Garrison | Episode: "The Dawson Marker" |
| 1976 | The Rookies | Dr. Richard Komansky | Episode: "The Mugging" |
| 1976 | The Quest | Wakely | 2 episodes |
| 1976–1980 | Family | Jeff Maitland | 12 episodes |
| 1977 | Corey: For the People | Dan Corey | Television film |
| 1977 | Lou Grant | Andrew Martin | Episode: "Hostages" |
| 1977 | What Really Happened to the Class of '65? | Jaik | Episode: "The Girl Nobody Knew" |
| 1977 | Wonder Woman | Major Dexter | Episode: "The Deadly Toys" |
| 1978 | Happily Ever After | Richy | Television film |
| 1978–1987 | The Love Boat | George Allison/Jack Forbes/Allan Davis | 4 episodes |
| 1979 | Vega$ | Vance Spilroy | Episode: "Best Friends" |
| 1979 | Roots: The Next Generations | Lieutenant Hamilton Ten Eyck | Miniseries |
| 1979 | The French Atlantic Affair | Herb Kleinfeld | Miniseries |
| 1979 | She's Dressed to Kill | Alan Lenz | Television film |
| 1979, 1984 | Fantasy Island | Johnny Court/Donald King | 2 episodes |
| 1980 | Make Me an Offer | Dr. Max Westcott | Television film |
| 1980 | The Silent Lovers | Irving Thalberg | Television film |
| 1981 | Killjoy | Dr. Paul Trenton | Television film |
| 1981 | Skokie | Herb Lewisohn | Television film |
| 1982 | Freedom to Speak | William Lloyd Garrison/Patrick Henry/Charles Lindbergh/Rabbi Stephen Wise | Miniseries |
| 1982 | Quincy M.E. | Dr. Walter Ross | Episode: "Unreasonable Doubt" |
| 1983 | I Take These Men | David Koenig | Television film |
| 1983 | Trapper John, M.D. | Hank Palmer | Episode: "Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow" |
| 1983 | M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk Drivers | Steve White | Television film |
| 1983 | Emerald Point N.A.S. | Lt. Cmdr. Edwards | 3 episodes |
| 1984 | The Paper Chase | Professor Wendell Peterson | Episode: "Judgement Day" |
| 1984–1986 | Crazy Like a Fox | Harrison Fox | 35 episodes |
| 1987 | The Two Mrs. Grenvilles | Bratsie Bleeker | Television film |
| 1987 | Still Crazy Like a Fox | Harrison Fox, Jr. | Television film |
| 1987 | Jake and the Fatman | Brent Moore | Episode: "Happy Days Are Here Again" |
| 1988 | Highway to Heaven | Matthew | Episode: "Time in a Bottle" |
| 1988 | Hotel | Cliff Phillips | Episode: "Aftershocks" |
| 1988 | Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the Sun | Arthur Kane | Television film |
| 1988 | Sam Found Out: A Triple Play | Johnny | Television film |
| 1988 | Liberace | Jamie | Television film |
| 1988 | Matlock | Carl Benedict/Dr.Douglas Clark | 4 episodes |
| 1990 | Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi Chase | Norman De Roin | Miniseries |
| 1991 | Father Dowling Mysteries | Tim | Episode: "The Prodigal Son Mystery" |
| 1992 | In My Daughter's Name | Ban Worrall | Television film |
| 1992 | Murder, She Wrote | George Foster | Episode: "The Classic Murder" |
| 1993 | The American Clock | Moe Baumler | Television film |
| 1993 | Frasier | Phillip Hayson | Episode: "The Crucible" |
| 1993 | Against the Grain | Mr. O’Brien | Episode: "E Pluribus Unum" |
| 1994 | RoboCop | Chip Chayken | 4 episodes |
| 1994 | NYPD Blue | Mr. Bernstein | Episode: "Double Abandando" |
| 1994, 1996 | Diagnosis: Murder | Thomas Taylor/Peter Trent | 2 episodes |
| 1994, 1997 | Party of Five | Walter Alcott | 2 episodes |
| 1995 | Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman | Emmet Vale | Episode: "Metallo" |
| 1995 | Star Trek: Voyager | John Evansville | Episode: "The 37s" |
| 1996 | Norma Jean & Marilyn | Darryl F. Zanuck | Television film |
| 1996 | Superman: The Animated Series | Peterson (voice) | Episode: "A Little Piece of Home" |
| 1996 | Early Edition | Marcus | Episode: "The Choice" |
| 1997 | ER | Dr. Kenner | Episode: "Night Shift" |
| 1997 | The Sleepwalker Killing | Dr. Frank Corrigan | Television film |
| 1998 | The Practice | Judge Joseph Papp | 3 episodes |
| 2000 | Perfect Murder, Perfect Town | Rev. Hoverstock | Television film |
| 2000 | Family Law | Garwicz | Episode: "Family Values" |
| 2001 | Boston Public | Judge Joseph Papp | Episode: "Chapter Thirteen" |
| 2001 | The West Wing | Sen. Andy Ritter | Episode: "18th and Potomac" |
| 2001 | Gideon's Crossing | Larry Palmer | Episode: "Clinical Enigma" |
| 2001–2002 | Angel | Linwood Murrow | 6 episodes |
| 2002 | Judging Amy | James Pierpoint | Episode: "Can They Do That with Vegetables?" |
| 2002 | The District | George Wilson | Episode: "Wasteland" |
| 2002 | She Spies | Senator Thomas Jefferson Mitchell | Episode: "First Episode" |
| 2002 | The Guardian | Sen. Nathan Caldwell | 4 episodes |
| 2002, 2004 | Star Trek: Enterprise | Mazarite Captain, Minister Kuvak | 3 episodes |
| 2003 | Without a Trace | Dr. Feldman | Episode: "Underground Railroad" |
| 2003 | Kôkaku kidôtai: Stand Alone Complex | Ernest Serano (voice) | Episode: "Stand Alone Complex" |
| 2003 | Charmed | Dr. Berenson | Episode: "Cat House" |
| 2003 | 24 | Secretary of State | 2 episodes |
| 2003 | The Division | Doctor Bertman | Episode: "Diagnosis" |
| 2003 | The Lyon's Den | Mr. Woodard | Episode: "The Other Side of Caution" |
| 2003 | Strong Medicine | Lyle LaCouer | Episode: "Prescriptions" |
| 2003 | NCIS | CIA Director Bob | Episode: "Marine Down" |
| 2004 | Becker | Dickie | Episode: "Subway Story" |
| 2004 | The Parkers | Jonathan | Episode: "She's Positive" |
| 2004 | Friends | The Doctor | 2 episodes |
| 2005 | Amber Frey: Witness for the Prosecution | Mark Geragos | Television film |
| 2005 | The Closer | Dr. Brown | Episode: "Pilot" |
| 2005 | Jane Doe: The Wrong Face | Phil Raphaelson | Television film |
| 2005 | Mrs. Harris | Tarnower's Best Friend | Television film |
| 2005 | Barbershop | Nicholas Kane | 3 episodes |
| 2005 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Judge Schuyler | Episode: "Raw" |
| 2005 | House M.D. | Dr. Ayersman | Episode: "The Mistake" |
| 2006 | Law & Order | Mr. Thurber | Episode: "Heart of Darkness" |
| 2006 | Related | Dr. Shapiro | Episode: "The Godmother" |
| 2006 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Judge Crawford | Episode: "The Unusual Suspect" |
| 2006 | Cold Case | Rafe Gray | Episode: "Willkommen" |
| 2006 | Criminal Minds | Hayden Rawlings | Episode: "P911" |
| 2006 | Shark | Lance Horning | Episode: "Russo" |
| 2006 | Girlfriends | Dr. Wulfberg | 3 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | Day Break | Barry Colburn | 5 episodes |
| 2007 | Jekyll | Daniel Carew | Miniseries |
| 2008 | Sweet Nothing in My Ear | Dr. Flynt | Television film; uncredited |
| 2008 | Eli Stone | Damon Smalls | Episode: "The Humanitarian" |
| 2008 | Dirty Sexy Money | Dr. Zwerling | 3 episodes |
| 2009 | Supernatural | Charlie | Episode: "Criss Angel Is a Douche Bag" |
| 2009 | Brothers & Sisters | Dr. Marc Wilson | Episode: "Owning It" |
| 2009 | Numb3rs | Gene Evans | Episode: "Disturbed" |
| 2009 | Hawthorne | Dr. Lee | Episode: "No Guts, No Glory" |
| 2009 | Greek | Dr. Larsen | 2 episodes |
| 2009–2010 | The Young and the Restless | Dr. Charles Taylor | 12 episodes |
| 2009–2012 | Desperate Housewives | Principal Hobson | 7 episodes |
| 2011 | Wizards of Waverly Place | Gorog | 4 episodes |
| 2012 | Electric City | Richard "Dick" Jacobs | Web series |
| 2013 | Bones | Mick Warren | Episode: "The Twist in the Plot" |
| 2014 | Jessie | Ivan | Episode: "Spaced Out" |
| 2016 | Legends of Tomorrow | Albert Einstein | Episode: "Out of Time" |
| 2017 | Feud: Bette and Joan | George Cukor | 2 episodes |
| 2018 | Chilling Adventures of Sabrina | Daniel Webster | Episode: "The Trial of Sabrina Spellman" |
| 2018 | Dirty John | Old William | Episode: "Lord High Executioner" |
| 2018 | Mom | Professor Addison | Episode: "Pre-Washed Lettuce and a Mime" |
| 2018 | The Orville | Prefect | Episode: "All the World is Birthday Cake" |
| 2019 | Proven Innocent | Clifford | Episode: "SEAL Team Deep Six" |
| 2019 | For All Mankind | Dr. Marsden | Episode: "Rupture" |
| 2019 | Pearson | Allan Steiner | Episode: "The Donor" |
| 2019 | Young Sheldon | Rabbi Schneiderman | Episode: "Albert Einstein and the Story of Another Mary" |
| 2020 | AJ and the Queen | Doctor | Episode: "Baton Rouge" |
| 2021–2022 | Claws | Baron Axel von Reichler | 6 episodes |

### Theatre

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1967 | Camelot | Mordred | Melodyland Theatre |
| 1972 | Pippin | Pippin | Kennedy Center |
| 1972-1974 | Pippin | Pippin | Broadway |
| 1980-1982 | Children of a Lesser God | James Leeds | Broadway |
| 1983 | The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial | Lt. Barney Greenwald | Broadway |
| 1985 | Merrily We Roll Along | Franklin Shepard | La Jolla Playhouse |
| 1989-1990 | M. Butterfly | René Gallimard | Broadway |
| 1989 | Love Letters | Andrew Makepeace Ladd III | Broadway |
| 1990 | Kiss of the Spider Woman | Molina | The PepsiCo Theatre |
| 1995 | Camelot | King Arthur | The Muny |
| 1995 | The Doctor is Out | Martin Chisholm | Old Globe Theatre |
| 1996 | Getting Away With Murder | Martin Chisholm | Broadway |
| 1996-1997 | Into the Woods | The Baker | Interact Theatre Company |
| 1997-1998 | Ragtime | Tateh | Shubert Theatre |
| 1998 | Ragtime | Tateh | Meridian Arts Centre |
| 1998-1999 | Ragtime | Tateh | Broadway |
| 2000 | Enigma Variations | Erik Larsen | Royal Alexandra Theatre |
| 2001 | A Little Night Music | Fredrik Egerman | Interact Theatre Company |
| 2006 | Urinetown | Caldwell B. Cladwell | Interact Theatre Company |
| 2007-2008 | Wicked | The Wonderful Wizard of Oz | Hollywood Pantages Theatre |
| 2009 | The Torch-Bearers | Frederick Ritter | Williamstown Theatre Festival |
| 2010 | Our Town | Dr. Gibbs | Williamstown Theatre Festival |
| 2014 | Pippin | King Charlemagne / Charles | Broadway |
| 2014-2016 | Pippin | King Charlemagne / Charles | US Tour |
| 2017-2018 | Charlie and the Chocolate Factory | Grandpa Joe | Broadway |
| 2019 | Cabaret | Herr Schultz | Ogunquit Playhouse |
| 2022 | Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground | Eisenhower | Los Angeles |
| 2023-2024 | Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground | Eisenhower | New York/Maryland |

### Video games

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 2006 | Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops | Commander | |

### Voice Work

Rubinstein has also performed in 150 Audio Books, mostly in the genres of Mystery Thriller & Suspense (94) or science fiction/fantasy (18) genres, either as a character but usually narrating the entire text. He also read the part of Captain Kirk in the talking book version of Harlan Ellison's original teleplay for The City on the Edge of Forever.