Evan Handler Biography
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Evan Handler began his acting career in his late teens and has been working extensively since then on Broadway, in films and in television. One of his most recognizable credits is from the classic television series Sex and the City, where he portrayed Charlotte's (Kristin Davis) divorce lawyer-turned-husband, Harry Goldenblatt.
Handler's big screen successes include his appearance as one of the kidnappers in Ron Howard's film, "Ransom," as well as leading roles in "Cash Crop," Taps," "Sweet Lorraine" and "Dear Mr. Wonderful." He also had featured roles in Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers" and "The Chosen."
In addition to the network comedies "Sibs," "Woops" and one ill-fated, never-seen pilot starring O.J. Simpson, Handler spent two seasons playing "Shrug," the angst-ridden multi-millionaire on "It's Like, You Know..." for ABC. Other television appearances include roles on "24," "Without a Trace," "The West Wing" and "Six Feet Under," as well as a critically-acclaimed performance as Larry Fine in the ABC television movie, "The Three Stooges."
Prior to his film and TV work, Handler played leading roles in seven Broadway productions, including "Six Degrees of Separation" (the original Broadway cast), "I Hate Hamlet," "Broadway Bound," "Brighton Beach Memoirs," "Solomon's Child" and the national touring company of "Master Harold and the Boys." He has also made numerous appearances off-Broadway, including the world premieres of "Big Al" and "Slam" at Ensemble Studio Theatre; the world premieres of Donald Margulies' "Found a Peanut" at the Public Theatre; "What's Wrong With This Picture?" at the Manhattan Theatre Club; and starring roles in world and American premieres at top-flight regional theatres like Seattle Repertory, Steppenwolf Theater and the Mark Taper Forum.
In addition to being an actor, Handler is also an author and screenwriter. His first book, Time on Fire, adapted from his successful off-Broadway play of the same name, was published to overwhelming critical response by Little, Brown and Company in January 1996, and again in paperback by Henry Holt in 1997. He attended the prestigious Sundance Institute Screenwriters' Lab in 1998 with his screenplay adaptation, and received a coveted invitation back to workshop the film, under his own direction, at the Sundance Institute Filmmaker's Lab.
Handler has also written several magazine articles in recent years for Elle, Mirabella, The New Yorker, USA Weekend and O, the Oprah Magazine. He is currently working on his second book, a collection of autobiographical essays entitled It's Only Temporary... The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive, to be published by Simon & Schuster in 2006.
In 2003 Handler married Italian born medical researcher Elisa Atti at Ouest Restaurant in Manhattan. They both enjoy international travel -- including trips to see Elisa's hometown and family near Bologna, Italy -- plus cooking and exploring local restaurants wherever they happen to be. Handler continues to study Italian in the hope of someday being able to communicate with his in-laws.
PERSONAL INFORMATION:
HOMETOWN Croton-on-Hudson, NY
BIRTHDATE January 10
(coutesy of ABC)
The bald and slightly diminutive, affable character actor Evan Handler began his career in big-screen features with a handful of memorable portrayals in films such as the military actioner Taps (1981); the gentle, underrated coming-of-age dramedy Sweet Lorraine (1987); and Oliver Stone's gonzo anti-media orgy Natural Born Killers (1994). After 1996, Handler focused almost exclusively on television, with both guest and recurring roles on popular programs (Friends, 24, Lost) and short-lived series (Hot Properties, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip). He is perhaps best-known for his recurring role on Sex and the City (in seasons five and six) as Charlotte's divorce lawyer, Harry Goldenblatt, who ultimately won her heart and became her husband. In 2007, Handler joined David Duchovny and Natascha McElhone with a regular role as Hank Moody's (Duchovny) agent and best friend, Charlie, on the quirky Showtime series comedy Californication.
Off-camera, Handler remains active in the theater; he essayed respectable performances in such New York-based stage productions as +I Hate Hamlet (1991), +Big Al (1992), and +Time on Fire (1993). Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
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