Patti LuPone is one of the most highly acclaimed performers in contemporary musical theater. She has received numerous Tony and Olivier Awards and has appeared in successful Broadway productions like “Three Sisters,” “The Robber Bridegroom,” “Evita,” “Les Misérables,” as well as revivals of “Gypsy” and “Company.”
LuPone’s extensive resume also includes notable roles in television series like “Life Goes On,” “Pose,” and “Penny Dreadful,” and films such as “Summer of Sam,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” and “State and Main.”
Early Life & Education
On April 21, 1949, in Northport, New York, Patti LuPone was born to Italian-American parents Angela and Orlando. Her parents both worked in academic administration at Long Island University and Walt Whitman High School.
LuPone’s older brother, Robert, was also a well-known Broadway actor. She pursued her higher education at the Juilliard School, where she was a member of the first graduating class from the Drama Division.
Patti Lupone’s Career
Following her graduation from Juilliard in 1972, LuPone became a founding member of John Houseman’s touring theater company, the Acting Company. She remained with the group until 1976 and performed in various productions including “The Cradle Will Rock,” “Women Beware Women,” “The Beggar’s Opera,” “The Lower Depths,” and “Edward II.”
At the same time, LuPone’s Broadway career began in 1973 with her first appearance in a stage production of Chekhov’s “Three Sisters.” She then landed a role in the original run of the musical “The Robber Bridegroom” in 1975, which brought her first nomination for a Tony Award.
As the decade progressed, LuPone became a fixture in David Mamet’s works, starting with “The Woods,” and also took on the lead role of Eva Perón in the musical “Evita.” Despite facing difficulties in the role, she ultimately won her first Tony Award for her performance.
In 1993, LuPone returned to London to debut as the main character, Norma Desmond, in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Sunset Boulevard.” Upon her return to Broadway in 1995, she headlined her solo performance.
She later joined the cast of Terrence McNally’s play “Master Class,” and also appeared in productions such as “Pal Joey,” “The Old Neighborhood,” and “Annie Get Your Gun” throughout the 90s.
Patti LuPone debuted as Lucia in the 2010 Broadway premiere of “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown,” a musical adaptation of the Pedro Almodóvar movie. Her performance garnered a Tony nomination. The following year, she also made her first appearance with the New York City Ballet in “The Seven Deadly Sins.”
LuPone’s most significant role was on the ABC show “Life Goes On,” which aired from 1989 to 1993. In the series, she portrayed Libby Thatcher, a suburban Chicago mother who raises her children with her husband Drew. Later on, LuPone landed leading roles in “Penny Dreadful” and the miniseries “Hollywood.”
Throughout her career, Patti LuPone has played several recurring characters, such as in the last installment of “Oz,” the third installment of “American Horror Story,” and the second installment of “Pose.” She has also provided her voice to various animated shows, including “BoJack Horseman,” “Steven Universe,” “The Simpsons,” “F is for Family,” and “Vampirina.”
Patti LuPone’s debut on the big screen was in the 1979 historical war comedy “1941,” directed by Steven Spielberg, where she portrayed Lydia Hedberg.
Throughout the 80s, she appeared in several films such as “Fighting Back,” “Witness,” “Wise Guys,” and the Academy Award-winning “Driving Miss Daisy.” In the following decade, LuPone was credited in films like “Family Prayers,” “The 24 Hour Woman,” and Spike Lee’s “Summer of Sam.”
Personal Life
LuPone married cameraman Matthew Johnston in 1988 after meeting him on the set of the TV movie “LBJ: The Early Years.” The couple has a child named Joshua Luke Johnston.
Net Worth
Throughout her illustrious acting career, Patti LuPone has collaborated with esteemed figures and has gained a distinguished reputation for her invaluable contributions to the world of theater. As a result, her net worth has significantly risen from $7 million in 2018 to an impressive $12 million in 2024.
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