Actor Jeffrey Tambor: biography, filmography, personal life and interesting facts

The main secret of the success of this actor, famous for his roles in the cult American sitcoms "Larry Sanders Show" and "Delay in Development", many critics and commentators explain his special approach to the profession: Jeffrey Tambor plays a comedy as seriously as a drama or a tragedy. For his characters, what happens in a comedy is as important as the events in Chekhov's play or in Shakespeare's tragedies. And today, at the age of 70, he is very much in demand and, like never before, is awarded the most prestigious awards.

From a conservative family

He was born in 1944 in a Jewish family with very conservative convictions. His parents - construction contractor Michael Bernard Tambor and housewife Eileen Salzberg - had ancestors of immigrants from Hungary and Ukraine.

The first interest in the dramatic art of Jeffrey Tambor, whose filmography today includes more than 60 works for the big screen and more than 100 television series and shows, showed at the age of ten, participating in school productions. Gradually, he is determined with his vocation and, responsibly approaching the study of the basics of the future profession, first receives a bachelor's degree in "acting" at the University of San Francisco, and then becomes a master after completing a course at the University of Wayne in Detroit.

In his biography, a special place was taken by teaching in his alma mater - Wayne State University of Michigan. Subsequently, he often played along with his former students in the television series and on the big screen: his pupil was, for example, Jason Bateman, with whom they together play in "Slowed Development."

Carier start

He made his debut in 1976 as a stage actor in Broadway productions and in the repertory theater. Perhaps the fact that he successfully performed on the stage for 15 years, became the key to today's attitude towards him from the direction of directors, colleagues and critics, convinced that Geoffrey Tambor is a professional of the highest class. Critics noted his magnificent theatrical work in the play "Measure for Measure" by Shakespeare and the role of Trigorin in Chekhov's "Seagull".

His first films were episodes in the detective series "Kodzhak" (1977), "Starski and Hutch" (1978) and in the comedy "Taxi" (1979). On the big screen, Tambor made his debut in the film with Al Pacino's "Justice for All" (1979). An important moment in the development of his acting career was the participation in the sitcom "The Family of Roper" (1979-1980). He was only one season (28 short series), but the actor received the necessary experience, useful to him in the future.

Decade of episodes

From 1981 to 1991, there were a number of serials, in the credits of which Jeffrey Tambor appeared. The filmography of that period contains several serials that have become a notable phenomenon in films and on television. Among them: "Three are a company" (1981-1982), "MESH" (1982), "Mister Mom" (1983), "The Twilight Zone" (1985-1986), "She wrote the murder" (1988), " Who is the boss here "(1990)," City dudes "(1991).

In these works, he acquired from the audience the popularity of the performer of roles of a certain role. Most of his characters were unpleasant types with repulsive features, but possessed a certain negative charm. Tambor's reputation as a skilful professional for directors and producers was getting stronger, and soon a real breakthrough took place in the actor's career.

"The Larry Sanders Show"

In 1991, Jeffrey Tambor took part in the sitcom shootings, which tells of a fictional television night talk show. He plays producer Hank Kingsley, the friend of the lead show host Larry. In the free and easy atmosphere of a parody of the stamps of the then television and show business, the actor felt extremely comfortable. This was quickly appreciated by viewers and critics, the contribution of Tambor to the success of the series was significant.

HBO Studio produced the "Larry Sanders Show" from 1991 to 1996. Subsequently, he entered the "100 best TV shows of all time" lists, and the creators of the series were awarded the most prestigious individual awards. Several nominations for "Emmy" in the category "Best Actor of the Second Plan in the comedy series "was also given to Tambor, although he was destined to get the coveted statuette much later - nine years later.

"Delay in development"

In 2003, Jeffrey Tambor was invited to the role of George Blutt, a millionaire who was imprisoned, the head of the family, whose weekdays he told the series "Delay in development." According to the original plans, the actor was supposed to participate only in the pilot series, but as a result his character took an active part in the events during 68 series, and the actor had to play and the twin brother of his first hero. After 2006, there was a break in the series, and from 2013 it was resumed, having the status of one of the best American sitcoms.

In 2004, Jeffrey Tambor, the films with which he has repeatedly received the highest awards of cinema and television critics, receives the first significant individual prize. For his role in the series "Delay in Development" he was awarded the "Golden Satellite" award, and the nominations for "Emmy" again do not end with a victory.

"Obvious"

To date, the actor has been involved in several Hollywood hits: "Grinch - the thief of Christmas", "Bachelor Party in Vegas", "Penguins of Mr. Popper", "Hellboy - the hero of the heat." Jeffrey Tambor has sounded a lot of animated films, including "Sponge Bob Square Pants", "Monsters vs. Aliens", "Rapunzel - a confusing story", etc.

In 2014, he finally wins the nomination for "Emmy Prime Time" for Best Actor in the comedy series. This was the result of his participation in the filming of 20 episodes of the series Transparent, which was translated into Russian as "Obvious". For this work he was awarded a whole lot of prizes, among which there is the most prestigious "Golden Globe" (2015), and the Screen Actors Guild Award (2016).

The role that brought the actor the most significant success in his career, is very exotic and demanded from him a real courage. He plays a 70-year-old man, the father of several children who makes a camping out-announces the incompatibility of his biological sex with the psychic and decides to continue life as a woman.

Personal life

In December 2004, Tambor once again became a father (he has five children, including two twin sons) and the first grandfather - his daughter Molly gave birth to a son. On his third wife, he has been married for 15 years.

At one time, the yellow press tried to declare the actor a Scientologist - an adherent of a sect whose dogmas and views, even in tolerant America, are considered destructive and dangerous. But Tambor expressed concern about the existence of such rumors about himself and dissociated himself from this movement.

Everything, with which Jeffrey Tambor came to his 70th birthday - biography, filmography, numerous prizes and awards, love of relatives and respect of colleagues - speaks of him as a man who has achieved real success in life. But he is still in great demand now and is in the prime of his life.