This article is about the actor. For the musician, see Brad Whitford.
Bradley Whitford (born October 10, 1959 in Madison, Wisconsin) is an Emmy Award-winning American actor.
Whitford majored in English and Theater at Wesleyan University and then went on to receive a fine arts degree from The Juilliard School.
Whitford is best known for his role as Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman on the NBC television drama The West Wing, which he began with the show's premiere in 1999. For that role, he won an Emmy in 2001 for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama Series. Whitford also wrote two episodes of the series ("Faith Based Initiative" in the sixth season and "Internal Displacement" in the seventh).
Whitford is also popular for his role as the evil businessman Eric Gordon in the 1995 smash comedy Billy Madison. He made his Broadway theatre debut playing Lt. Daniel Kaffee, succeeding Tom Hulce, in A Few Good Men. Whitford also made a memorable guest appearance on ER in the award-winning episode "Love's Labor Lost."
Since The West Wing ended in May 2006, Whitford has appeared in West Wing creator Aaron Sorkin's later series Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip playing the role of Danny Tripp.
He is married to actress Jane Kaczmarek, best known for her role as Lois on Malcolm in the Middle. They live in San Marino, California with their three children, Frances, George, and Mary Louisa.
He is politically liberal and has appeared several times on Real Time with Bill Maher espousing a progressive point of view. He also once co-hosted The Majority Report on Air America Radio alongside Janeane Garofalo.
Whitford and Kaczmarek run The Clothes Off Our Back Foundation, an organization that hosts charity auctions showcasing celebrity attire. Items are put up for bid to the public with proceeds going to benefit children's charities. They are also vocal supporters and spokespeople for Heifer International.
Whitford was the keynote speaker for Class Day at Princeton University in June 2007.
