Michael Patrick Thornton

Michael Patrick Thornton is an American actor and theater director. He recently played the character of Dr. Gabriel Fife in the ABC drama series Private Practice. He's 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).

Michael Patrick Thornton
Occupation(s)Actor, director

Early life and education

Thornton is a native of 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.

Career

Thornton is artistic director and co-founder of The Gift Theatre.[1] He has 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.

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. He is the theater's artistic director.[2]

Thornton has appeared in episodes of television's 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

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 The Red Line Jim Evans Main role
2019 Madam Secretary Captain Evan Moore 4 episodes
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)
2023 NCIS (TV series) Jeremy Brighton Old Wounds
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

References
  1. http://stagedoorchicago.wordpress.com/
  2. "Unconventional Gifts: Michael Patrick Thornton's surprising journey from paralysis to artistic director of a theater company | Newcity Stage". 2 March 2009.
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