John Rubinstein (born December 8, 1946) is an American actor, composer and director.
Early life Rubinstein is the son of Polish parents. His mother, Aniela (née Młynarska), a dancer and writer, was a Roman Catholic native of Warsaw, the daughter of conductor Emil Młynarski. His father was Polish-Jewish concert pianist Arthur Rubinstein. He attended El Rodeo Public School in Beverly Hills (K–2), Cours La Cascade in Paris, France (1954), and St. Bernard's School (3–8) and Collegiate School (New York City) (9–12) in New York City. He studied theater and music at the University of California, Los Angeles (1964–1967), and later composition at the Juilliard School in New York.
Career Theater Rubinstein made his Broadway acting debut in 1972 and received a Theatre World Award for creating the title role in the musical Pippin, directed by Bob Fosse. In 1980 he won the Tony, Drama Desk, Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle, and Drama-Logue Awards for his portrayal of James Leeds in Mark Medoff's Children of a Lesser God, directed by Gordon Davidson.
Other Broadway appearances were in Neil Simon's Fools, directed by Mike Nichols, and Herman Wouk's The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial, which earned him a Drama Desk nomination; he replaced William Hurt as Eddie in David Rabe's Hurlyburly, replaced David Dukes in David Henry Hwang's M. Butterfly, and starred in Getting Away with Murder, by Stephen Sondheim and George Furth, directed by Jack O'Brien, and Ragtime, by Terrence McNally, Stephen Flaherty, and Lynn Ahrens. In 2014, he joined the Broadway cast of the hit revival of Pippin, directed by Diane Paulus, this time playing Pippin's father, Charlemagne; and subsequently repeated that role on the national tour throughout the United States and Japan in 2014–15.
In 2016, it was announced that Rubinstein would join fellow Tony-winner Christian Borle in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory as Grandpa Joe, directed by Jack O'Brien.
In 2023 he starred in the one man biographical show Eisenhower: This Piece of Ground debuting Off-Broadway at the St. Clemens Theatre in New York City and subsequently touring around the US. The show portrays the former president at his home in retirement, working on his second autobiography, reminiscing about his life and musing about his popularity and how he will be remembered.
He taught a course in musical theater audition techniques at the University of Southern California, and directed their spring musicals.
Film and television Rubinstein's feature films include 21 Grams, Red Dragon, Mercy, Another Stakeout, Someone to Watch Over Me, Daniel, The Boys from Brazil, Rome & Jewel, Jekyll, Kid Cop, Getting Straight, Zachariah, The Trouble with Girls, and The Car. He appears in the film Being the Ricardos as Jess Oppenheimer. On television he starred in Crazy Like a Fox from 1984-1986.
Acting credits
Film Year Title Role Notes1969 The Trouble with Girls Princeton1970Getting StraightHerbert1971ZachariahZachariah1971The Sandpit GeneralsProfessor1977The CarJohn Morris1978The Boys from BrazilDavid Bennett1979In Search of Historic JesusJesus1983DanielRobert Lewin1987Someone to Watch Over MeNeil Steinhart1993Another StakeoutThomas Hassrick, Las Vegas District Attorney1995MercyFrank Kramer1996Kid CopStan DwerkinDirect-to-video2002Red DragonDinner Guest200321 GramsGynecologist2006Rome & JewelMajor Capps2007SublimeDr. LichterhandDirect-to-video2007Choose ConnorCary Evor2012Atlas ShruggedDr. Floyd Ferris2015The Atticus InstituteMarcus Wheeler2021Being the RicardosOlder Jess Oppenheimer
Television Year Title Role Notes1967 Dragnet Paul Whidden Episode: "The Grenade" The Virginian Billy Simmons Episode: "The Deadly Past" Ironside 2nd Hippie Episode: "The Leaf in the Forest"1969Room 222Martin KaufmanEpisode: "The Flu"1970The Bold Ones: The ProtectorsPrivate KelleyEpisode: "A Thing Not of God"1970The Young LawyersDan FultonEpisode: "We May Be Better Strangers"1970The Psychiatrist: God Bless the ChildrenTeddyTelevision film1971Matt LincolnChristopherEpisode: "Christopher"1971Men at LawRon MartinEpisode: "Hostage"1971NicholsFred BuckermanEpisode: "Paper Badge"1971The PsychiatristRandell FileEpisode: "Ex-Sgt. Randell File, U.S.A."1971The Mod SquadLarry WheelerEpisode: "Survival"A Howling in the WoodsJustin ConwayTelevision film1972Something EvilErnest LincolnTelevision filmCannonLarry BolingerEpisode: "A Deadly Quiet Town"The Mary Tyler Moore ShowMatt, Jr.Episode: "You Certainly Are a Big Boy"1972, 1977The Streets of San FranciscoLindy/Walter J. Young2 episodesHawaii Five-OHarold/Joey Kalima2 episodes1975All Together NowBill LindsayTelevision filmPolice WomanTommy DonlevyEpisode: "Glitter with a Bullet"Mr. & Ms. and the Magic Studio MysteryDavidTelevision filmWide World MysteryDavidEpisode: "Mr. & Mrs. and the Bandstand Mystery"Movin' OnGershon SimenovEpisode: "Stowaway"1975–1976Harry OJack Dawes/Richard Trask2 episodesBarnaby JonesChris Garrison/Larry Christopher2 episodes1976The Quest: The Longest DriveWakelyTelevision filmBarbary CoastGarrisonEpisode: "The Dawson Marker"The RookiesDr. Richard KomanskyEpisode: "The Mugging"The QuestWakely2 episodes1976–1980FamilyJeff Maitland12 episodes1977Corey: For the PeopleDan CoreyTelevision filmLou GrantAndrew MartinEpisode: "Hostages"What Really Happened to the Class of '65?JaikEpisode: "The Girl Nobody Knew"Wonder WomanMajor DexterEpisode: "The Deadly Toys"1978Happily Ever AfterRichyTelevision film1978–1987The Love BoatGeorge Allison/Jack Forbes/Allan Davis4 episodes1979Vega$Vance SpilroyEpisode: "Best Friends"Roots: The Next GenerationsLieutenant Hamilton Ten EyckMiniseriesThe French Atlantic AffairHerb KleinfeldMiniseriesShe's Dressed to KillAlan LenzTelevision film1979, 1984Fantasy IslandJohnny Court/Donald King2 episodes1980Make Me an OfferDr. Max WestcottTelevision filmThe Silent LoversIrving ThalbergTelevision film1981KilljoyDr. Paul TrentonTelevision filmSkokieHerb LewisohnTelevision film1982Freedom to SpeakWilliam Lloyd Garrison/Patrick Henry/Charles Lindbergh/Rabbi Stephen WiseMiniseriesQuincy M.E.Dr. Walter RossEpisode: "Unreasonable Doubt"1983I Take These MenDavid KoenigTelevision filmTrapper John, M.D.Hank PalmerEpisode: "Hear Today, Gone Tomorrow"M.A.D.D.: Mothers Against Drunk DriversSteve WhiteTelevision filmEmerald Point N.A.S.Lt. Cmdr. Edwards3 episodes1984The Paper ChaseProfessor Wendell PetersonEpisode: "Judgement Day"1984–1986Crazy Like a FoxHarrison Fox35 episodes1987The Two Mrs. GrenvillesBratsie BleekerTelevision filmStill Crazy Like a FoxHarrison Fox, Jr.Television filmJake and the FatmanBrent MooreEpisode: "Happy Days Are Here Again"1988Highway to HeavenMatthewEpisode: "Time in a Bottle"HotelCliff PhillipsEpisode: "Aftershocks"Beryl Markham: A Shadow on the SunArthur KaneTelevision filmSam Found Out: A Triple PlayJohnnyTelevision filmLiberaceJamieTelevision filmMatlockCarl Benedict/Dr.Douglas Clark4 episodes1990Voices Within: The Lives of Truddi ChaseNorman De RoinMiniseries1991Father Dowling MysteriesTimEpisode: "The Prodigal Son Mystery"1992In My Daughter's NameBan WorrallTelevision filmMurder, She WroteGeorge FosterEpisode: "The Classic Murder"1993The American ClockMoe BaumlerTelevision filmFrasierPhillip HaysonEpisode: "The Crucible"Against the GrainMr. O’BrienEpisode: "E Pluribus Unum"1994RoboCopChip Chayken4 episodesNYPD BlueMr. BernsteinEpisode: "Double Abandando"1994, 1996Diagnosis: MurderThomas Taylor/Peter Trent2 episodes1994, 1997Party of FiveWalter Alcott2 episodes1995Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of SupermanEmmet ValeEpisode: "Metallo"Star Trek: VoyagerJohn EvansvilleEpisode: "The 37s"1996Norma Jean & MarilynDarryl F. ZanuckTelevision filmSuperman: The Animated SeriesPeterson (voice)Episode: "A Little Piece of Home" A green check mark indicates that a role has been confirmed using a screenshot (or collage of screenshots) of a title's list of voice actors and their respective characters found in its credits or other reliable sources of information.Early EditionMarcusEpisode: "The Choice"1997ERDr. KennerEpisode: "Night Shift"The Sleepwalker KillingDr. Frank CorriganTelevision film1998The PracticeJudge Joseph Papp3 episodes2000Perfect Murder, Perfect TownRev. HoverstockTelevision filmFamily LawGarwiczEpisode: "Family Values"2001Boston PublicJudge Joseph PappEpisode: "Chapter Thirteen"The West WingSen. Andy RitterEpisode: "18th and Potomac"Gideon's CrossingLarry PalmerEpisode: "Clinical Enigma"2001–2002AngelLinwood Murrow6 episodes2002Judging AmyJames PierpointEpisode: "Can They Do That with Vegetables?"The DistrictGeorge WilsonEpisode: "Wasteland"She SpiesSenator Thomas Jefferson MitchellEpisode: "First Episode"The GuardianSen. Nathan Caldwell4 episodes2002, 2004Star Trek: EnterpriseMazarite Captain, Minister Kuvak3 episodes2003Without a TraceDr. FeldmanEpisode: "Underground Railroad"Kôkaku kidôtai: Stand Alone ComplexErnest Serano (voice)Episode: "Stand Alone Complex"CharmedDr. BerensonEpisode: "Cat House"24Secretary of State2 episodesThe DivisionDoctor BertmanEpisode: "Diagnosis"The Lyon's DenMr. WoodardEpisode: "The Other Side of Caution"Strong MedicineLyle LaCouerEpisode: "Prescriptions"NCISCIA Director BobEpisode: "Marine Down"2004BeckerDickieEpisode: "Subway Story"The ParkersJonathanEpisode: "She's Positive"FriendsThe Doctor2 episodes2005Amber Frey: Witness for the ProsecutionMark GeragosTelevision filmThe CloserDr. BrownEpisode: "Pilot"Jane Doe: The Wrong FacePhil RaphaelsonTelevision filmMrs. HarrisTarnower's Best FriendTelevision filmBarbershopNicholas Kane3 episodesLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitJudge SchuylerEpisode: "Raw"House M.D.Dr. AyersmanEpisode: "The Mistake"2006Law & OrderMr. ThurberEpisode: "Heart of Darkness"RelatedDr. ShapiroEpisode: "The Godmother"CSI: Crime Scene InvestigationJudge CrawfordEpisode: "The Unusual Suspect"Cold CaseRafe GrayEpisode: "Willkommen"Criminal MindsHayden RawlingsEpisode: "P911"SharkLance HorningEpisode: "Russo"GirlfriendsDr. Wulfberg3 episodes2006–2007Day BreakBarry Colburn5 episodes2007JekyllDaniel CarewMiniseries2008Sweet Nothing in My EarDr. FlyntTelevision film; uncredited2008Eli StoneDamon SmallsEpisode: "The Humanitarian"2008Dirty Sexy MoneyDr. Zwerling3 episodes2009SupernaturalCharlieEpisode: "Criss Angel Is a Douche Bag"Brothers & SistersDr. Marc WilsonEpisode: "Owning It"Numb3rsGene EvansEpisode: "Disturbed"HawthorneDr. LeeEpisode: "No Guts, No Glory"GreekDr. Larsen2 episodes2009–2010The Young and the RestlessDr. Charles Taylor12 episodes2009–2012Desperate HousewivesPrincipal Hobson7 episodes2011Wizards of Waverly PlaceGorog4 episodes2012Electric CityRichard "Dick" JacobsWeb series2013BonesMick WarrenEpisode: "The Twist in the Plot"2014JessieIvanEpisode: "Spaced Out"2016Legends of TomorrowAlbert EinsteinEpisode: "Out of Time"2017Feud: Bette and JoanGeorge Cukor2 episodes2018Chilling Adventures of SabrinaDaniel WebsterEpisode: "The Trial of Sabrina Spellman"Dirty JohnOld WilliamEpisode: "Lord High Executioner"MomProfessor AddisonEpisode: "Pre-Washed Lettuce and a Mime"The OrvillePrefectEpisode: "All the World is Birthday Cake"2019Proven InnocentCliffordEpisode: "SEAL Team Deep Six"For All MankindDr. MarsdenEpisode: "Rupture"PearsonAllan SteinerEpisode: "The Donor"Young SheldonRabbi SchneidermanEpisode: "Albert Einstein and the Story of Another Mary"2020AJ and the QueenDoctorEpisode: "Baton Rouge"2021–2022ClawsBaron Axel von Reichler6 episodes2025Sub/liminal
Theatre