He played traveling salesman "Professor" Harold Hill in the Broadway revival of Meredith Willson's The Music Man (it opened on April 27, 2000). He was later nominated for a Tony for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical that same year.
He studied journalism at Boston University and studied at the School of Speech at Northwestern University in 1986. NU alumi include NRA President Charlton Heston.
Given title "Sexiest Broadway Star" from People Magazine. [November 2000]
Was originally cast as Chandler in "Friends." Turned down the role.
Was nominated for Broadway's 2000 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for a revival of "The Music Man."
Gained a good deal of muscle and bulk to play the huge boxer Max Baer in 'Cinderella Man' (2005).
In early 1990s, frequented West Hollywood's celebrity friendly "Martin Henry Fitness Studio" with good buddy Helen Hunt and took Nelson Aspen's "Step" aerobics class.
Craig Bierko Detailed Biography
Craig Bierko is remembered for his successful Broadway run starring in Meredith Wilson's The Music Man. Craig's debut on Broadway as the legendary Harold Hill garnered critical acclaim and attention; he was nominated for the prestigious Tony Award, Drama Desk Award, Outer Critics Circle Award, The Drama League Award and was the recipient of The Theater World Award. Just prior, Bierko appeared in a staged workshop of The Boys from Syracuse at The Roundabout Theatre.
Born in Westchester, New York, he made his stage debut at the age of 10 as a newsboy in Gypsy, in a local community theater run by his parents. Bierko later went on to study at Northwestern University.
Bierko has enjoyed a diverse group of film roles, ranging from the villain in Renny Harlin's The Long Kiss Goodnight, opposite Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson, to the comedic turn in Larry David's Sour Grapes and in the virtual reality thriller The Thirteenth Floor. Additional film credits include Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, The Suburbans and Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, written by Fred Wolf and David Spade, directed by Sam Weisman
Television credits include memorable guest appearances on Sex and the City, Ally McBeal and as Paul Reiser's prospective agent on Mad About You.
Bierko most recently starred on Broadway in Daniel Goldfarb's comedy Modern Orthodox, also starring Molly Ringwald and Jason Biggs.
