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| Total Fan   Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,116
| Robert Sean Leonard Appreciation #1 - Because he deserves to be appreciated Welcome to the 1st Robert Sean Leonard appreciation thread!  Robert Date of Birth 28 February 1969, Westwood, New Jersey, USA Birth Name Robert Lawrence Leonard Nickname Bobby Height 6' (1.83 m) Mini Biography One actor who has deserved much acknowledgment and fame, and has had to do without it on a number of occasions, is Robert Sean Leonard, known by most as Dr. James Wilson on "House M.D." (2004). But his career has spanned a number of classic films, alongside such greats as Daniel Day-Lewis, Christian Bale, Paul Newman, and Denzel Washington. Born Robert Lawrence Leonard in Westland, New Jersey, he attended first Fordham University and then Columbia University. Afterwards, he was accepted into the Screen Actor's Guild, changing his middle name to 'Sean'. Leonard's first acting role was My Two Loves (1986) (TV) where he was cast in a small role. That same year, he was also in The Manhattan Project (1986). The film is a comedy starring John Lithgow, and is about a science experiment taken too far. Leonard continued on from these firsts and landed a role in Bluffing It (1987) (TV), and then acted in another teen comedy: My Best Friend Is a Vampire (1988). His next role is easily one of his most memorable. He took the second billing in Dead Poets Society (1989) opposite Robin Williams and Ethan Hawke. His character of Neil Perry is a young student whose passion for acting is smothered in fear of his father's wrath, and his parents' domination of his life. While Robin Williams earned himself an Oscar nomination, Leonard gave a truly Oscar-worthy performance. The 20-year old actor was well on his way now, and he proceeded to act in another Oscar-nominated film: Mr. & Mrs. Bridge (1990) starring Paul Newman. Leonard resumed the rebellious youth act from "Dead Poets" as he played on of the children caught between their father's conservative ways and their own ideas. Leonard followed up with the not-so successful Married to It (1991). Two years after that, Leonard found massive success in three different films. Firstly, he acted in Kenneth Branagh's Much Ado About Nothing (1993). Pulling in 60 million on an 8 million dollar budget, it remains one of the most successful films based off of a play by Shakespeare. Leonard was surrounded by other talents apart from Branagh, such as Keanu Reeves, Denzel Washington, Michael Keaton, and Emma Thompson. Leonard played the character of Claudio, and was sadly criticized by several critics for his acting. In the same year, Leonard took the lead in Swing Kids (1993), which also starred Christian Bale, Frank Whaley, Barbara Hershey and Kenneth Branagh who rather than upstage Leonard, Bale, and Whaley, refuse any credit in the film. The film, another success for Leonard, told the story of a group of friends in the Hitler Youth attempting to hold onto something they love- the Lindy hop. Also that year, Leonard took a smaller role in Martin Scorsese's elaborate and artistic film The Age of Innocence (1993) starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Winona Ryder, and Michelle Pfeiffer. The film is about the aristocrat who must choose between two women and risk scandal. The film earned Ryder an Oscar nomination, and a win for Best Costume. After these three great films, Leonard's career slowed down. Despite acting in three different films in 1996 (the Oliver Stone-produced _Killer: A Journal of Murder (1996)_ starring 'James Woods', the light-hearted The Boys Next Door (1996) (TV), and the romantic I Love You, I Love You Not (1996)) none were as successful as those he made in 1993. Leonard moved onwards to act in (among other things) The Last Days of Disco (1998) and the thriller Ground Control (1998) opposite Kiefer Sutherland, Henry Winkler, and Bruce McGill. Leonard's work changed as the new millennium began. He turned to television as well as continuing film. He acted in the series "Outer Limits" and "Wasteland" as well as making movies such as the dramatic film Tape (2001) by Richard Linklater, A Glimpse of Hell (2001) (TV) opposite James Caan, and the box office bomb Driven (2001) starring Sylvester Stallone and Burt Reynolds. After a few more films, Leonard was cast in the series that gave him much fame. "House M.D." (2004) is a drama series about a cynical, antisocial, crippled doctor who is almost always correct in his solutions to medical problems. Leonard, the first actor to be cast in the series, plays the character of Dr. Wilson, the only person that House considers a friend. Wilson is a much more humane person than House, which leads to many debates between himself and House, though he is plagued by his own problems. It is the best known face that Leonard has ever portrayed in his career, and hopefully he will take on other fantastic roles and obtain the honours he so richly deserves. IMDb Mini Biography By: Bob Stage Trade Mark Frequently played youths trying to break away from older ideals. Trivia Attended the Columbia University school of General Studies and Continuing Education. Took his brother's first name (Sean) as his middle name. To this day, is still close with Dead Poets Society (1989) co-star Ethan Hawke. Grew up on the same block as actor Casper Van Dien. They raced each other in go-carts. Received the 2001 Tony Award as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for his portrayal as A.E. Housman in Tom Stoppard's "The Invention of Love." Nominated in the same category two other times: in 1993, for a revival of George Bernard Shaw's "Candida," and in 2003 for a revival of "Long Day's Journey into Night" by Eugene O'Neill. He co-founded a theater company called Malaparte with Ethan Hawke, Frank Whaley, and Steve Zahn. Is very good friends with "House M.D." (2004) co-star Hugh Laurie. Is engaged to marry Gabriella Salick, a professional horse racer who is Executive Director of the West Coast Active Riders, in August 2008. Was the first actor to be cast in "House M.D." (2004). Says that when House MD (2004-) ends he hopes to move back to New York, start doing more plays and hopefully start a family. Won a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play (2001) for The Invention of Love. Personal Quotes I didn't want to be the lead guy. That's too much work. But I thought that it might be fun to be the lead guy's friend. I'd have days off, and still get a paycheck every week. Hugh Laurie, who plays House, is remarkable. I lean in the door and say, 'Hey, what do you think about egg salad [for lunch]?' Then I have two days in a row off. It's a great gig. [on his experience acting on "House M.D." (2004)] When I was 16, I was cast by [Stephen] Sondheim for a six-week workshop of Into the Woods. One day, Sondheim came in, with [the just-written song] 'Giants in the Sky.' He pointed to me, and said, 'This is for Bobby.' I pretty much could have died. Where Are They Now (April 2003) In "Long Day's Journey Into Night" on Broadway portraying the role of Edmund. (November 2003) In "The Violet Hour" on Broadway portraying the role of John Pace Seavering. (December 2004) Co-starring as "Dr. James Wilson" in the popular medical drama "House M.D." (2004). Robert Pics Robert Fanart Robert Icons Robert Links Robert Sean Leonard [RSL.ORG] Celebrating 10 Years Online! The OP is a work in progress, still. If you have anything to add to it, please post in the thread, or PM the thread starter. __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. Last edited by SnarkySarcastic; 12-26-2008 at 12:45 PM. | |||
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| #2 | |||
| Moderator Manager  Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 117,429
| Thanks for the thread. Love him.  | |||
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| #3 | |||
| Total Fan Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,116
| Quote:
Where have you seen him so far? __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. | |||
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| #4 | |||
| Moderator Manager Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 117,429
| Well currently he's my fave on House. Him and the House/Wilson relationship is my favorite part of the show. But, I've loved him in all his movies. | |||
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| #5 | |||
| Total Fan Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,116
| Quote:
 I've seen him in some movies, though I haven't seen him anywhere in a while...I might have to do some rewatching  __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. | |||
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| #6 | |||
| Absolute Fan  Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 6,211
| Great idea! Thanks for opening the thread. __________________ | |||
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| #7 | |||
| Total Fan Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,116
| Quote:
__________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. | |||
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| #8 | |||
| Elite Fan   | Thank you for this! I love Wilson!  | |||
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| #9 | |||
| Passionate Fan  Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 3,683
| Loved him as Neil in Dead Poets Society! Safe Passage was great and he was a really good Claudio in Much Ado About Nothing, but Neil has to be my favorite role of his. My Best Friend Is A Vampire is cute, but I may be biased since I love anything and everything with vampires.  Thanks for opening a thread for him. He's a great actor! I haven't seen him in House, though. *ducks*  __________________ Adam Lambert: MY American Idol! (icon by Me) | |||
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| #10 | |||
| Total Fan Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,116
| Glad people like this. You really should watch House  __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. | |||
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| #11 | |||
| The Creative Designer  | Aaaaww he's amazing! He is so amazing as Wilson on House, and I agree you really should watch him on House __________________ | |||
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| #12 | |||
| Total Fan Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,116
| Quote:
RSL is __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. | |||
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| #13 | |||
| Fan Forum's Finest  | Oh! I loooooove Robert. | |||
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| #14 | |||
| Total Fan Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 7,116
| Quote:
RSL interview. Q&A: Robert Sean Leonard __________________ Never attribute to malice that which can be adequately explained by stupidity. | |||
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| #15 | |||
| Moderator Manager Joined: Mar 2000
Posts: 117,429
| Welcome everyone.  Thanks for the interview. And yes, I loved him in Dead Poets Society. | |||
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