5. Nathan Lane
Born Joseph Lane in 1956, Nathan has had a career that spans the total spectrum of the performing arts, from theater to film to television to stand-up comedy and has succeeded at them all. His career began in several off-Broadway productions before he made his Broadway debut in a revival of Present Laughter which earned him a Drama Desk nomination. His other stage performances include Merlin, Guys and Dolls, Lips Together, Teeth Apart, The Lisbon Traviata, Bad Habits, Love! Velour! Compassion!, Dedication, Laughter on the 23
rd Floor, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Wise Guys, The Birdcage, The Man Who Came to Dinner, The Producers, The Odd Couple, November and Waiting for Godot. Crossing over to film, Lane appeared in Ironweed, Joe Versus the Volcano, Frankie and Johnny, Addams Family Values, Life with Mike, The Birdcage, The Boys Next Door, Mousehunt, At First Sight, Isn’t She Great, Trixie, Nicholas Nicely, Austin Powers in Goldmember, Win a Date with Tad Hamilton, The Producers, Swing Vote, The Lion King, Stuart Little, Titan A.E.; as well as televisions in One of the Boys, The Man Who Came to Dinner, Miami Vice, Mad About You, *** and the City, Frasier, Saturday Night Live, The Last Mile, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Absolutely Fabulous and 30 Rock. Nathan Lane has been honored by The Human Rights Campaign, Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation and The Trevor Project for his humanitarian work.