Alan Rosenberg
Encyclopedia
Alan Rosenberg is an American actor of both stage and screen. From 2005 to 2009, he was president of the Screen Actors Guild
, the principal motion picture industry on-screen performers' union.
. Alan's late brother, Mark
, was a political activist in the 1960s, later a film producer; while his first cousin is musician Donald Fagen
.
Alan's parents gave him money to apply to graduate school. Rosenberg said on graduating in 1972 from Case Western Reserve University
, that he found another passion, poker, and had gambled away most of the money his parents sent him, and could only afford one application to Yale School of Drama
. Rosenberg dropped out halfway through his second year, after his heart was broken by classmate Meryl Streep
.
and the popular L.A. Law
. In 1979, he appeared in the move "The Wanderers, as Turkey. He is also well known for his character Ira Woodbine in the sitcom Cybill
. More recently he was seen in the legal drama The Guardian
as Alvin Masterson.
Rosenberg supplied the voice of the bounty hunter Boba Fett
on NPR
's adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. Rosenberg is also known for his appearance as the crazed "Mad Bomber" in the 1986 cult-classic Stewardess School
and Paul Bartel
's screwball comedy Not for Publication
opposite Nancy Allen
(1984).
In 1995, he received an Emmy Award
nomination for a guest-starring role in the hit drama ER
. He starred in the Temptations miniseries
in 1998, as long-time manager Shelly Berger.
In 1999, he began a recurring role as the hospital legal counsel, Stuart Brickman, on Chicago Hope
. Halfway through their final season he was added to the opening titles as a series regular.
He appeared on Broadway in What's Wrong With This Picture and Lost In Yonkers, and off-Broadway in Isn't It Romantic, A Prayer For My Daughter, and Kid Champion. He most recently starred at the Delaware Theatre Company production of Partners, written by Allan Katz
.
He was elected the 24th president of Screen Actors Guild
(SAG) on September 23, 2005. Rosenberg succeeded Melissa Gilbert
, who served as president since 2001 and chose not to run for a third two-year term. Rosenberg received 39.99 percent (10,748 total votes) of the nationwide vote of the Guild’s general membership, defeating Morgan Fairchild
and Robert Conrad
.
In 2005, he appeared as shady defense attorney Adam Novak in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
co-starring alongside his real life wife Marg Helgenberger
. Novak was portrayed as a womanizer who encountered Catherine (Helgenberger) in a bar and later became the prime suspect in two homicides. He appeared once again in the 2007 episode "Leaving Las Vegas" as a lawyer defending a client who turned out to be guilty of two separate crimes, and yet the evidence failed to pin him down, resulting in a not guilty verdict which annoyed Catherine so much that she began to undergo further investigation.
In 2006, he appeared in a very small part as Bruce Steinerman, the divorce attorney of James Wilson in the TV-series House, M.D., adding yet another legal character to his CV.
In 2007, he started hosting a Public Television program, Life: Part 2, produced in St. Paul, Minnesota. He moderates panel discussions about issues that baby boomers face as they age.
, Rosenberg met Marg Helgenberger
in New York
in 1984, while guest-starring on her soap Ryan's Hope
. The two became friends and started dating in 1986. They married in 1989 and have one son, Hugh Howard Rosenberg (born October 21, 1990). On December 1, 2008, Rosenberg and Helgenberger announced their separation.
On March 25, 2009, Helgenberger filed for divorce.
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
, the principal motion picture industry on-screen performers' union.
Early life
Rosenberg was born and raised in Passaic, New JerseyPassaic, New Jersey
Passaic is a city in Passaic County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 69,781, maintaining its status as the 15th largest municipality in New Jersey with an increase of 1,920 residents from the 2000 Census population of 67,861...
. Alan's late brother, Mark
Mark Rosenberg
Mark Rosenberg was an American film producer whose works included The Killing Fields and Presumed Innocent, who was the President of Worldwide Theatrical Production at Warner Bros. in the 1980s....
, was a political activist in the 1960s, later a film producer; while his first cousin is musician Donald Fagen
Donald Fagen
Donald Jay Fagen is an American musician and songwriter, best known as the co-founder, lead singer, and the principal songwriter of the rock band Steely Dan ....
.
Alan's parents gave him money to apply to graduate school. Rosenberg said on graduating in 1972 from Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University
Case Western Reserve University is a private research university located in Cleveland, Ohio, USA...
, that he found another passion, poker, and had gambled away most of the money his parents sent him, and could only afford one application to Yale School of Drama
Yale School of Drama
The Yale School of Drama is a graduate professional school of Yale University providing training in every discipline of the theatre: acting, design , directing, dramaturgy and dramatic criticism, playwriting, stage management, sound design, technical design and production, and theater...
. Rosenberg dropped out halfway through his second year, after his heart was broken by classmate Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
.
Career
Rosenberg is perhaps best known for his character Eli Levinson which appeared in both the series Civil WarsCivil Wars (TV series)
Civil Wars is an American legal drama that aired on ABC from November 1991 to March 1993. The series was produced by Steven Bochco, known for his work on NYPD Blue, L.A. Law, and Hill Street Blues.-Synopsis:...
and the popular L.A. Law
L.A. Law
L.A. Law is a US television legal drama that ran on NBC from September 15, 1986 to May 19, 1994. L.A. Law reflected the social and cultural ideologies of the 1980s and early 1990s and many of the cases featured on the show dealt with hot topic issues such as abortion, racism, gay rights,...
. In 1979, he appeared in the move "The Wanderers, as Turkey. He is also well known for his character Ira Woodbine in the sitcom Cybill
Cybill
Cybill is an American television sitcom created by Chuck Lorre, which aired on CBS from January 2, 1995 to July 13, 1998. Starring Cybill Shepherd, the series revolves around Cybill Sheridan, a twice-divorced single mother of two and struggling actress in her 40s, who has never gotten her show...
. More recently he was seen in the legal drama The Guardian
The Guardian (TV series)
The Guardian is an American drama series which aired on CBS from September 25, 2001 to May 4, 2004. It is currently showing in re-runs on the Sleuth Channel in the US. The Guardian has also aired in the United Kingdom on the Hallmark Channel, ABC1 and more recently five USA and as of August...
as Alvin Masterson.
Rosenberg supplied the voice of the bounty hunter Boba Fett
Boba Fett
Boba Fett is a character in Star Wars. A bounty hunter hired by Darth Vader to find the Millennium Falcon, he is a minor villain in both Star Wars Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back and Star Wars Episode VI: Return of the Jedi....
on NPR
NPR
NPR, formerly National Public Radio, is a privately and publicly funded non-profit membership media organization that serves as a national syndicator to a network of 900 public radio stations in the United States. NPR was created in 1970, following congressional passage of the Public Broadcasting...
's adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back. Rosenberg is also known for his appearance as the crazed "Mad Bomber" in the 1986 cult-classic Stewardess School
Stewardess School
Stewardess School is a 1986 American comedy film starring Brett Cullen and Don Most. It is also known for being one of voice veteran Rob Paulsen's very few onscreen roles, and up until the early 2000's, one of the most played films on the American cable channel Comedy Central.-Plot:When frat boys...
and Paul Bartel
Paul Bartel
Paul Bartel was an American actor, writer and director. Bartel was perhaps most known for his 1982 hit black comedy Eating Raoul, which he wrote, starred in and directed.-Life and career:...
's screwball comedy Not for Publication
Not for Publication
Not for Publication is an American screwball comedy film directed by Paul Bartel and starring Nancy Allen. It premiered at the 1985 Sundance Film Festival before being acquired for distribution by Thorn EMI....
opposite Nancy Allen
Nancy Allen (actress)
Nancy Anne Allen is a Golden Globe nominated American actress and cancer activist.Allen began an acting and modelling career as a child, and from the mid-1970s appeared in small film roles, most notably the anchor of Robert Zemeckis's ensemble comedy I Wanna Hold Your Hand...
(1984).
In 1995, he received an Emmy Award
Emmy Award
An Emmy Award, often referred to simply as the Emmy, is a television production award, similar in nature to the Peabody Awards but more focused on entertainment, and is considered the television equivalent to the Academy Awards and the Grammy Awards .A majority of Emmys are presented in various...
nomination for a guest-starring role in the hit drama ER
ER (TV series)
ER is an American medical drama television series created by novelist Michael Crichton that aired on NBC from September 19, 1994 to April 2, 2009. It was produced by Constant c Productions and Amblin Entertainment, in association with Warner Bros. Television...
. He starred in the Temptations miniseries
The Temptations
The Temptations is an American vocal group having achieved fame as one of the most successful acts to record for Motown Records. The group's repertoire has included, at various times during its five-decade career, R&B, doo-wop, funk, disco, soul, and adult contemporary music.Formed in Detroit,...
in 1998, as long-time manager Shelly Berger.
In 1999, he began a recurring role as the hospital legal counsel, Stuart Brickman, on Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope
Chicago Hope is an American medical drama series created by David E. Kelley that ran from September 18, 1994, to May 5, 2000. It takes place in a fictional private charity hospital.-Premise:The show stars Mandy Patinkin as Dr...
. Halfway through their final season he was added to the opening titles as a series regular.
He appeared on Broadway in What's Wrong With This Picture and Lost In Yonkers, and off-Broadway in Isn't It Romantic, A Prayer For My Daughter, and Kid Champion. He most recently starred at the Delaware Theatre Company production of Partners, written by Allan Katz
Allan Katz
Allan Katz, born in Chicago, is a writer, producer, actor, and director.He began his writing career as an advertising copywriter. In 1970 he created the original award-winning campaign for the popcorn snack Screaming Yellow Zonkers which was the first major product to be packaged in a predominantly...
.
He was elected the 24th president of Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
(SAG) on September 23, 2005. Rosenberg succeeded Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Ellen Gilbert is an American actress, writer, and producer, primarily in movies and television. Gilbert is best known as a child actress who co-starred as Charles Ingalls's second daughter, Laura Ingalls Wilder, on the dramatic television series Little House on the Prairie...
, who served as president since 2001 and chose not to run for a third two-year term. Rosenberg received 39.99 percent (10,748 total votes) of the nationwide vote of the Guild’s general membership, defeating Morgan Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild
Morgan Fairchild is an American actress. She achieved prominence during the late 1970s and early 1980s with continuing roles in several television series, in which she usually conveyed a glamorous image. Fairchild has also performed in live theater and played guest roles in television comedies...
and Robert Conrad
Robert Conrad
Robert Conrad is an American actor. He is best known for his role in the 1965 CBS television series The Wild Wild West, in which he played the sophisticated Secret Service agent James T. West, and his portrayal of World War II ace Pappy Boyington in the television series Baa Baa Black Sheep...
.
In 2005, he appeared as shady defense attorney Adam Novak in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation is an American crime drama television series, which premiered on CBS on October 6, 2000. The show was created by Anthony E. Zuiker and produced by Jerry Bruckheimer...
co-starring alongside his real life wife Marg Helgenberger
Marg Helgenberger
Mary Marg Helgenberger is an American film and television actress known for her roles as Catherine Willows in the CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and as K.C...
. Novak was portrayed as a womanizer who encountered Catherine (Helgenberger) in a bar and later became the prime suspect in two homicides. He appeared once again in the 2007 episode "Leaving Las Vegas" as a lawyer defending a client who turned out to be guilty of two separate crimes, and yet the evidence failed to pin him down, resulting in a not guilty verdict which annoyed Catherine so much that she began to undergo further investigation.
In 2006, he appeared in a very small part as Bruce Steinerman, the divorce attorney of James Wilson in the TV-series House, M.D., adding yet another legal character to his CV.
In 2007, he started hosting a Public Television program, Life: Part 2, produced in St. Paul, Minnesota. He moderates panel discussions about issues that baby boomers face as they age.
Personal life
Originally married to actress Robin BartlettRobin Bartlett
Robin Bartlett is an American actress who grew up in Switzerland.She was formerly married to the actor Alan Rosenberg....
, Rosenberg met Marg Helgenberger
Marg Helgenberger
Mary Marg Helgenberger is an American film and television actress known for her roles as Catherine Willows in the CBS drama CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and as K.C...
in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
in 1984, while guest-starring on her soap Ryan's Hope
Ryan's Hope
Ryan's Hope is an American soap opera, revolving around 13 years of trials and tribulations within a large Irish American family in the Riverside district of New York City. It aired from July 7, 1975 to January 13, 1989 on ABC...
. The two became friends and started dating in 1986. They married in 1989 and have one son, Hugh Howard Rosenberg (born October 21, 1990). On December 1, 2008, Rosenberg and Helgenberger announced their separation.
On March 25, 2009, Helgenberger filed for divorce.