# Michael Patrick Thornton

Michael Patrick Thornton is an American actor and theater director. He played the character of Dr. Gabriel Fife in the ABC drama series Private Practice. He is also known for his performances on Broadway including as Lennox in the Sam Gold revival of Macbeth (2022), and Dr. Rank in the Jamie Lloyd revival of A Doll's House (2023).

## Early life and education

Thornton is from Jefferson Park, a neighborhood on Chicago's northwest side. He is a graduate of The School at Steppenwolf, The Second City Conservatory, and The Second City Directing Program. At 24, Thornton had two spinal strokes which paralysed him. Since then he has used a wheelchair.

## Career

Thornton is artistic director and co-founder of The Gift Theatre. He acted in productions including Richard III at Steppenwolf, where he became the first actor to act onstage while wearing a robotic exoskeleton. He has also portrayed Iago in Othello at The Gift Theatre and in Actors Theatre of Louisville’s 50th anniversary production of Our Town. Thornton received a Jeff Nomination for his performance in The Gift's premiere of ensemble member Andrew Hinderaker's Suicide, Incorporated. In 2005, he won the Jeff Award for Best Actor in a Solo Performance for his role in The Good Thief at The Gift Theatre.
Thornton also directs at The Gift, including the world premiere of David Rabe's Good For Otto, War of the Worlds, the Chicago Premiere of Will Eno's Oh, The Humanity (and other exclamations). As a writer, his plays have been workshopped in New York through Young Playwrights, Inc. and in Chicago through Second City.
Thornton has appeared in episodes of Elementary (CBS), The Exorcist (FOX), Private Practice, The Chicago Code, Ron Howard's The Dilemma, and the independent feature film The View From Tall.

## Selected filmography
### Feature films

| Year | Film | Role | Other notes |
| 2003 | Shut-Eye | Mac | |
| 2007 | Counting Backwards | Joe's Father | voice |
| 2011 | The Dilemma | B & V Worker | |
| 2016 | The View from Tall | Douglas | |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Other notes |
| 2009–2011 | Private Practice | Dr. Gabriel Fife | 14 episodes (season 3–4) |
| 2011 | The Chicago Code | Kent Eschelman (CPD Union Rep) | "St. Valentine's Day Massacre" |
| 2016 | The Jamz | Stanton | 4 Episodes |
| 2016 | The Exorcist | Dr. John Rexroth | "Chapter Six: Star of the Morning" |
| 2017 | Elementary | Eli Kotite | "Wrong Side of the Road" |
| 2019 | Counterpart | Brody | "Shadow Puppets" |
| 2019 | The Red Line | Jim Evans | Main role |
| 2019 | Magnum P.I. | Charlie Owens | "Payback for Beginners" |
| 2019 | Madam Secretary | Captain Evan Moore | 4 episodes |
| 2020 | All Rise | Paul Gordon | "Prelude to a Fish" |
| 2020 | Away | Dr. Putney | Recurring role, 5 episodes |
| 2019 | The Good Doctor | Dr. Clay Porter | Recurring role |
| 2021 | A Million Little Things | Russ | Recurring role (season 4) |
| 2022 | 61st Street | Judge Fitzpatrick | 4 episodes |
| 2022 | Let the Right One In | Father Sean | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Chicago Party Aunt | Stewart | Voice, 3 episodes |
| 2023 | NCIS (TV series) | Jeremy Brighton | Old Wounds |
| 2022-2023 | The Good Doctor | Dr Clay Porter | Recurring role, 5 episodes |

### Theater

| Year | Title | Role | Playwright | Notes |
| 2016 | Richard III | Richard III | William Shakespeare | Steppenwolf Garage Space, Chicago |
| 2022 | Macbeth | Lennox | William Shakespeare | Broadway revival at the Longacre Theatre |
| 2023 | A Doll's House | Dr. Rank | Henrik Ibsen | Broadway revival at the Hudson Theatre |