- Born
- Nickname
- Slang
- Height5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
- Stephen Lang is a distinguished and award-winning actor who commands considerable respect, and is equally at home on the Broadway stage, on television, and in film.
Though he is arguably most well-known for his acclaimed performance in James Cameron's Avatar (2009), Lang began his career in theater. Broadway roles include his Tony-nominated performance as Lou in "The Speed of Darkness", Happy in the Dustin Hoffman revival of "Death of a Salesman", Colonel Nathan Jessep in "A Few Good Men", and Mike Tallman alongside Quentin Tarantino and Marisa Tomei in "Wait Until Dark".
Off-Broadway credits include John Patrick Shanley's "Defiance", Anne Nelson's "The Guys", Arthur Miller's "Finishing the Picture" and his own play, "Beyond Glory", for which he received numerous accolades. The play premiered in Washington, D.C. and has played the Goodman Theatre in Chicago, the Roundabout in New York City and a USO tour to various military bases and battleships around the world. In the fall of 2010, Lang received the Patriot Award from the Medal of Honor Society in honor of his theatrical and charitable works for the United States military.
Television and film credits include celebrated performances as Babe Ruth in Babe Ruth (1991), Stonewall Jackson in Gods and Generals (2003) as well as acclaimed performances in Last Exit to Brooklyn (1989), Tombstone (1993), Gettysburg (1993), Public Enemies (2009), The Men Who Stare at Goats (2009), Michael Mann's hit TV show Crime Story (1986) , the NBC revival of The Fugitive (2000), featuring Tim Daly, and Fox's sci-fi epic Terra Nova (2011).
He has been nominated for and won numerous awards including the Grace Prize, Outer Critics Circle, Drama Desk, Helen Hayes, and Tony Awards, as well as acting prizes at 2010's VisionFest and the Buffalo Niagara Film Festival.
Stephen was born in New York City, New York, to Theresa (Volmer) and Eugene Lang, a prominent businessperson and philanthropist. He is of Hungarian Jewish-German Jewish (father) and Irish-German Catholic (mother) descent. He is married to Kristina Watson, a costume designer and teacher, with whom he has four children.- IMDb Mini Biography By: Innovative Artists
- SpouseKristina Watson(June 1, 1980 - present) (4 children)
- ChildrenNoah LangGrace LangLucy LangDan Lang
- ParentsTheresa Lang (Volmer)
- Usually plays villains.
- His father Eugene Lang is a prominent New York City philanthropist who made millions in technology development. He has given away much of it through his acclaimed "I Have a Dream" foundation. Eugene Lang College at the New School for Liberal Arts in Manhattan is named after him.
- While many Gettysburg (1993) cast members reprised their roles in the prequel Gods and Generals (2003), Lang was one of several actors (and the most prominent one) to play two different characters. He played George Pickett in "Gettysburg" and General Stonewall Jackson in "Gods and Generals". Even more, he appeared as the keynote speaker at the 2011 ceremonial rededication of Gettsyburg National Cemetery.
- Gave special performances of his one-man show "Beyond Glory" which deals with America's greatest war heroes who were awarded the Medal of Honor, for both the U.S. Senate in Washington and the U.S. troops in the Persian Gulf. The show was backed by the National Endowment for the Arts.
- Has narrated numerous audiobooks and was recently awarded the Audiofile Earphone award.
- [about his role as Stonewall Jackson] It's not about flag waving to me, it's about showing a real American hero.
- [on reasons for his role in White Irish Drinkers (2010)]: One, I really liked the title, that's how shallow I am. But the main reason was, I was afraid of it. You kind of heave a sigh and go, "Oh God, I'm going to have to go there?".
- Acting can be a very reactive profession. Acting is a fantastic thing, and it's my life, but writing is also part of me too, so I did it and in so doing took responsibility for my own life. And it was very directly and specifically because of "Beyond Glory" that Jim Cameron cast me in Avatar (2009). And Avatar is responsible for the good fortune I've had over the last few years.
- ...My dad had gone to Swarthmore. He is New York Jewish and my mom is New York Irish Catholic. You put them together and you get me. I consider myself quite ethnically Jewish, without being particularly religious (laughs). Although, I can leave that door open for the future, if I need it.
Contribute to this page
Suggest an edit or add missing content