Mandy Patinkin

American actor, singer, and Broadway star Mandy Patinkin was born on November 30, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois. He’s best known for his iconic portrayal of expert swordsman Iñigo Montoya in the adventure film “The Princess Bride.” Some of his other notable films include “Dick Tracy” and “Yentl.” A Broadway veteran, he’s also headlined “Evita” and Stephen Sondheim’s “Sunday in the Park with George.” Patinkin also made waves on T.V., raking in nominations and awards for shows like “Criminal Minds,” “Chicago Hope,” and “Homeland.”

Fast Facts

Full Name:

Mandel Bruce Patinkin

Nickname:

Mandy Patinkin

Birth date:

November 30, 1952

Age:

71

Zodiac Sign:

Sagittarius

Height:

5' 11.6"

Relationship Status:

Married

Net Worth:

$12 million

Mandel's Social Media:

Background

Mandel Bruce Patinkin, known more famously as Mandy Patinkin, was born on November 30, 1952, in Chicago, Illinois. His father, Lester Don Patinkin, owned the Scrap Corporation of America and People’s Iron & Metal, two large Chicago metal factories. His mother, Doralee Sinton, was a homemaker. He was raised in an upper-class Jewish home, attending Jewish summer camps as well as singing in synagogue choirs. He also studied in Jewish schools such as South Shore High School, Harvard St. George School, and Kenwood High School. After finishing high school in 1970, he first went to the University of Kansas. Later on, he moved to Juilliard School to study drama. He was classmates with another future T.V. star, Kelsey Grammer.

Patinkin landed his first professional acting role on stage as Ché Guevarra in the 1979 original Broadway production of “Evita.” After that award-winning musical, he set his sights on movies, appearing in “Ragtime” and the 1983 Barabara Streisand film, “Yentl.” In 1984, he went back to the theater and starred as George Seurat in the Stephen Sondheim musical “Sunday in the Park with George.” He also received a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture for a Musical or Comedy for the movie “Yentl.” One of his most notable roles came next in the film “The Princess Bride.” Further appearances in “Alien Nation” in 1998 and “Dick Tracy” in 1990 followed. He also released two solo albums. The self-titled “Mandy Patinkin” came out in 1989. “Dress Casual,” a collection of show and film music from Stephen Sondheim’s “Evening Primrose,” was released in 1990. By 1991, Patinkin was on Broadway again in “The Secret Garden.” In 1994, he joined the cast of “Chicago Hope” as Dr. Jeffrey Geiger for its first successful season. A crossover episode had Patinkin’s doctor character guest on “Picket Fences” that same year. To honor his Jewish roots, he produced “Mamaloshen,” a musical featuring only Yiddish songs in 1998. He was Broadway-bound once again in 2000 when he joined the cast of “The Wild Party.” Showcasing his versatility, he put out “Kidults,” an album full of children’s songs for adults in 2001. Back on the small screen, he appeared in the U.S. comedy-drama series “Dead Like Me” about grim reapers in 2003. He also had guest roles on T.V. such as “Boston Public” and “Law and Order.” Patinkin was cast as F.B.I. profiler Jason Gideon in the series “Criminal Minds” in 2005, which he would leave after two seasons. After a concert in 2010 with Patti LuPone, he went back to T.V. in the series “Homelander.” His performance earned him four Primetime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2013, 2014, 2017, and 2018.

Patinkin has been married to actress Kathryn Gordy since April 15, 1980. They met a year earlier when they were both cast in an off-Broadway drama called “Split.” They share two sons, Isaac and Gideon. The latter has helped grow his father’s social media channels, which they use to educate followers on different social causes and charities.

Career timeline

1980
The First Tony Award

Patinkin wins the Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as Ché Guevarra in the Broadway musical “Evita”.

1987
The Role of Iñigo Montoya

In Rob Reiner’s “The Princess Bride,” Patinkin plays Iñigo Montoya, the best swordsman in the country looking to avenge his father’s death.

1994
The Role in a Hospital Drama

In C.B.S.’s hospital drama “Chicago Hope,” Patinkin takes on the role of Dr. Jeffrey Geiger.

2011 to 2020
The Role on “Homeland”

Together with Clarie Danes, Patinkin co-stars as counterterrorism operative Saul Berenson in the Showtime series “Homeland.”

Why We Love Mandy Patinkin

  1. He uses his social media positively

    Patinkin’s son Gideon started documenting his parents’ daily lives on his dad’s Twitter account in 2020, and then later on his dad’s other social media platforms. Patinkin used these channels and their reach as a vehicle for change, such as asking their followers to vote in the last U.S. elections.

  2. He’s proud of his Jewish heritage

    Patinkin sang in Yiddish on his album “Mamaloshen.” He wrote introductions to two books that celebrate Jewish culture. He celebrates his heritage.

  3. He supports loads of charities

    Patinkin is very vocal about urging his fans to help others. He’s actively involved with Doctors Without Borders, Americans for Peace Now, The September 11th Fund, Crohn's Colitis Foundation of America, and Gilda's Club.

5 Surprising Facts

  1. He collects model trains

    As a model railroader, Patinkin assembles and collects Lionel trains.

  2. He contributed to a children’s book

    “Dewey Doo-it Helps Owlie Fly Again: A Musical Storybook,” an award-winning book inspired by Christopher Reeve, came with an audio C.D. in which Patinkin sings and reads the story with Bernadette Peters.

  3. He had two corneal transplants

    In the mid-1990s, Patinkin suffered from keratoconus and had transplants done on his right eye in 1997 and his left in 1998.

  4. His mom is a cookbook author

    Doralee wrote “Grandma Doralee Patinkin's Jewish Family Cookbook,” published in 1997.

  5. He fought back cancer

    Patinkin recovered from prostate cancer.

Mandy Patinkin FAQs

What is Mandy Patinkin’s net worth?

Patinkin’s net worth is around $12 million.

Why did Joe Mantegna replace Mandy Patinkin?

Patinkin asked producers to release him from his contract on the hit “Criminal Minds” show after only two seasons citing creative differences. He was bothered by the habitual violence depicted in the series.

Why did Mandy Patinkin leave “Chicago Hope?”

Patinkin was unhappy about spending a lot of time away from his wife and sons.

Mandy Patinkin’s birthday dates

YearDateDay
2024November 30Saturday
2025November 30Sunday
2026November 30Monday
2027November 30Tuesday
2028November 30Thursday

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