Richard Schiff is an American actor and comedian best known for his role as Toby Ziegler on the critically acclaimed political drama series The West Wing.
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 Austrian-American, and his mother has French roots.
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.
Originally drawn to directing, Schiff directed several off-Broadway productions in the early 1980s. Notably, he directed a 1983 production of Antigone featuring a young Angela Bassett, who would later become a prominent figure in American cinema known for her performances in films such as Waiting to Exhale.
By the mid-1980s, Schiff shifted his focus to acting. He secured several television roles, and his breakout opportunity came after being noticed by Steven Spielberg in an episode of the television drama High Incident. This led to Schiff being cast in the 1997 blockbuster The Lost World: Jurassic Park. The high-profile role increased his visibility and opened doors to more significant projects.
Schiff achieved widespread recognition for his portrayal of White House Communications Director Toby Ziegler on Aaron Sorkin’s Emmy Award-winning series The West Wing. 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.
In 2017, Schiff began playing Dr. Aaron Glassman on the ABC medical drama The Good Doctor. 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.
Richard Schiff is married to actress Sheila Kelley. The two met in 1983 during auditions for the play Antigone. 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.
| Birth Date: | 27 May, 1955 |
| Age: | 65 yrs |
| Occupations: | Actor Stage actor Television actor Film actor |
| Citizenship: | United States of America |
| Birth Place: | Bethesda |
| Education: | City College of New York William Esper Studio |
| Gender: | Male |
| Description: | American actor and director |
| Spouse: | Sheila Kelley [M. 1996] |
| Net Worth 2021: | 5 million |
