Richard Schiff Biography | Marriage, Wife and Tv shows

<< Back

Edit Mode: Richard Schiff

Email *

If we need to contact you, we will contact you on this email.

Full Name *

Your name please so that we can credit your work.

Main Text *

<p>Richard Schiff is an American <a href="/biography/richard-schiff">actor</a> and comedian best known for his role as <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toby_Ziegler">Toby Ziegler</a> on the critically acclaimed political drama series <i>The West Wing</i>.</p>

<h2>Early Life and Education</h2>

<p>Richard Schiff was born on May 27, 1955, in Bethesda, Maryland, the second of three children. His mother, Charlotte, worked in television and distribution, while his father, Edward Schiff, was a real estate lawyer. His parents divorced when he was 12 years old. Schiff has Austrian and French heritage—his father was a second-generation <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austrian_Americans">Austrian-American</a>, and his mother has French roots.</p>

<p>Although he dropped out of high school, Schiff later pursued higher education. In 1973, he briefly attended The City College of New York but did not graduate. He then moved to Colorado, where he worked various labor jobs, including chopping firewood. In 1975, Schiff returned to New York to study acting and enrolled in the theater program at City College.</p>

<h2>Career and Breakthrough with <i>The West Wing</i></h2>

<p>Originally drawn to directing, Schiff directed several off-Broadway productions in the early 1980s. Notably, he directed a 1983 production of <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigone">Antigone</a></i> featuring a young <a href="/biography/angela-bassett">Angela Bassett</a>, who would later become a prominent figure in American cinema known for her performances in films such as <i>Waiting to Exhale</i>.</p>

<p>By the mid-1980s, Schiff shifted his focus to acting. He secured several television roles, and his breakout opportunity came after being noticed by <a href="/biography/steven-spielberg">Steven Spielberg</a> in an episode of the television drama <i>High Incident</i>. This led to Schiff being cast in the 1997 blockbuster <i>The Lost World: Jurassic Park</i>. The high-profile role increased his visibility and opened doors to more significant projects.</p>

<p>Schiff achieved widespread recognition for his portrayal of White House <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toby_Ziegler">Communications Director</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toby_Ziegler">Toby Ziegler</a> on <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aaron_Sorkin">Aaron Sorkin</a>’s Emmy Award-winning series <i>The West Wing</i>. His nuanced and introspective performance gained critical acclaim and helped establish him as a respected figure in television acting. Known for his distinctive, understated style and strong work ethic, Schiff became one of the show's standout talents.</p>

<h2>Recent Work on <i>The Good Doctor</i></h2>

<p>In 2017, Schiff began playing Dr. Aaron Glassman on the ABC medical drama <i>The Good Doctor</i>. The show premiered to strong ratings and positive reviews. By September 2019, the third season had debuted, with Schiff continuing in his supporting role as a mentor figure and friend to the lead character, contributing to the series' sustained success.</p>

<h2>Personal Life and Family</h2>

<p>Richard Schiff is married to <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Kelley_(American_actress)">actress</a> <a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheila_Kelley_(American_actress)">Sheila Kelley</a>. The two met in 1983 during auditions for the play <i><a href="https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Antigone">Antigone</a></i>. After a long-term relationship, they married on August 31, 1996. The couple has two children—a son named Gus Schiff and a daughter, Ruby Schiff.</p>

Source *

Source you received the information from. eg. personal experiences, acquaintances, web-links, etc

Comment *

Briefly describe the changes you made.

Warning! All fields are required. Empty fields won't allow the form to be submitted and your changes will be lost.
Once the changes are submitted they cannot be edited again until your submission is reviewed.