Richard Kind

{{Infobox person

| name = Richard Kind

| image = RichardKind-byPhilipRomano.jpg

| caption = Kind in 2024

| birth_name = Richard Bruce Kind

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1956|11|22}}

| birth_place = Trenton, New Jersey, U.S.

| education = Northwestern University (BA)

| occupation = {{flatlist|

Actor
comedian}}

| yearsactive = 1978–present

| notable_works = Richard Kind filmography

| spouse = {{marriage|Dana Stanley|1999|2018|end=div}}

| children = 3

}}

Richard Bruce Kind (born November 22, 1956) is an American actor and comedian. His television roles include Carol & Company (1990–1991), Dr. Mark Devanow in Mad About You (1992–1999, 2019), Paul Lassiter in Spin City (1996–2002), Andy in Curb Your Enthusiasm (2002–2021), Captain Stan Yenko in East New York (2022–2023), and Vince Fish in Only Murders in the Building (2024). He appeared in the films Johns (1996), Confessions of a Dangerous Mind (2002), I Want Someone to Eat Cheese With (2006), Big Stan (2007), A Serious Man (2009), The Angriest Man in Brooklyn (2014), All We Had (2016), Rifkin's Festival (2020), Tick, Tick... Boom! (2021), and The Out-Laws (2023). Kind is currently the announcer and sidekick on the Netflix live talk show Everybody's Live with John Mulaney.

Kind's voice performances in various Pixar films include Molt in A Bug's Life (1998), Van in the first two films of the Cars franchise (2006–2011), Bookworm in Toy Story 3 (2010), and Bing Bong in Inside Out (2015). He voices Marty Glouberman in the Netflix animated series Big Mouth (2017–present). Kind was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance as Marcus Hoff in the 2013 Broadway production of The Big Knife.

Early life

Kind was born in the New Jersey capital of Trenton. He is the son of Alice, a homemaker, and Samuel Kind, a jeweler who formerly owned La Vake's Jewelry in Princeton. His family is of Russian Jewish origin and his ancestors lived in the Pale of Settlement region of the Russian Empire. His great grandfather Hyman Berson immigrated to the Lower East Side of Manhattan, New York City and worked as a peddler before running a crayon factory. Berson was murdered in 1933.{{cite web | url=https://www.today.com/popculture/tv/richard-kind-ancestor-murdered-finding-your-roots-rcna70514 | title=Richard Kind Learns Chilling Family Secret on 'Finding Your Roots' | date=February 15, 2023 }} When Kind was in the fourth grade, he moved with his family to Yardley, Pennsylvania, where he grew up alongside his younger sister, Joanne.{{cite magazine|last=Iannucci|first=Lisa|date=December 2009|title=Spotlight: Richard Kind|url=https://www.suburbanlifemagazine.com/article/161/Spotlight-Richard-Kind|magazine=Suburban Life|publisher=Del Val Media|access-date=October 30, 2024}} He attended Pennsbury High School in Fairless Hills with fellow actor Robert Curtis Brown, graduating in 1974.{{cite news|last=Beavers|first=Cary|title=Tony Award-nominee Richard Kind returns to Pennsbury High School to accept honor, reminisce|url=https://www.thereporteronline.com/2013/05/09/tony-award-nominee-richard-kind-returns-to-pennsbury-high-school-to-accept-honor-reminisce/ |newspaper=Bucks Local News|date=June 21, 2013 |access-date=June 21, 2022}} In 1978, he graduated from Northwestern University, where he was in the fraternity Sigma Alpha Epsilon. He is also an alumnus of The Second City in Chicago.{{cite web|title=Richard Kind|url=https://www.secondcity.com/people/richard-kind|work=secondcity.com|access-date=October 30, 2024}}

Career

=Television=

Kind was an ensemble member in Carol Burnett’s short lived variety show, Carol & Company (1990-1991). Richard then portrayed Dr. Mark Devanow on Mad About You (1992-99),{{Cite web|title= Richard Kind Credits |url= https://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/richard-kind/credits/3030146894/ |work= tvguide.com |access-date=January 23, 2023}} throughout the show's run, and played the role of Paul Lassiter on Spin City (1996-2002). Kind and Michael Boatman were the only two actors to appear in every episode of Spin City. Kind reprised his role in the 2019 revival of Mad About You.{{Cite web|last=Andreeva|first=Nellie|date=August 26, 2019|title='Mad About You': John Pankow & Richard Kind To Reprise Roles In Revival Limited Series For Spectrum Originals|url=https://deadline.com/2019/08/mad-about-you-john-pankow-richard-kind-to-reprise-roles-revival-limited-series-spectrum-originals-1202704341/|access-date=October 4, 2021|website=Deadline|language=en-US}}

He appeared in eight episodes of Larry David's Curb Your Enthusiasm, between 2002 and 2021 as Larry's cousin Andy. In 2006, he guest starred as Lucius Lavin in Stargate Atlantis, in the episodes "Irresistible" and "Irresponsible."

File:Richard Kind at the 2010 Independent Spirit Awards.jpg in Los Angeles, California in 2010]]

Kind had a recurring role in Scrubs, as Harvey Corman, an annoying hypochondriac, who claimed that having the same name as Harvey Korman did not "get [him] as much action as you may think". He also played a role on USA's crime comedy Psych as Hugo, an astronomer who killed a partner for credit for the discovery of a planet ("From the Earth to the Starbucks"), and later on Law & Order: Criminal Intent as a wealthy philanthropist who kills his sister-in-law and niece to protect the money he uses to fund his philanthropic work ("Privilege"). Kind guest-starred on the Disney Channel series Even Stevens, where he played the surly Uncle Chuck. He appeared in an episode of CBS' Two and a Half Men with former Spin City co-star Charlie Sheen on November 12, 2007. He also played a small role on TNT's hit show Leverage playing the part of a corrupt mayor in the second season two-part finale. Kind guest-starred episode "The Worst", playing the corrupt DEA officer Special Agent Schwartz in the Netflix series Disjointed.

He played the role of burnt spy Jesse's ex-boss Marv in three episodes of season 4 of Burn Notice. In 2011, Kind guest-starred in an episode of the ABC sitcom Mr. Sunshine as Rod the Bod. He starred in the HBO series Luck until its cancellation, and he is also the spokesman for On-Cor frozen foods. In February 2013, he made a guest appearance on Kroll Show.

In 2015, he played the GED instructor on Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt and Mayor Aubrey James in Gotham.

In 2022, Kind starred as police captain Stan Yenko on the CBS police procedural crime drama East New York, which was cancelled after its first season.{{cite news|last=Chai|first=Barbara|title=Richard Kind on His Tony Nomination for "The Big Knife"|url= https://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2013/05/30/richard-kind-on-his-tony-nomination-for-the-big-knife/ |newspaper=The Wall Street Journal |date=May 30, 2013 |access-date=July 5, 2013}} In 2023, he played Saint Peter in Mel Brooks' History of the World, Part II.

=Film=

Kind had a minor role as Gary Meyers, an archaeologist who translated the symbols on the Stargate prior to James Spader's character's involvement in the 1994 movie Stargate. He appeared in the film National Lampoon's Bag Boy in 2007. Kind played David's father in the Prime series "Red Oaks".

In 2007, Kind played a short role in the indie film The Visitor, as Richard Jenkins's neighbor, Jacob. Kind starred in the independent black comedy feature, The Understudy in 2008. In 2008, Kind performed the role of Voltaire in the New York City Opera production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide. Kind played the major supporting role of Arthur Gopnik in the Coen brothers' dark comedy film A Serious Man. He had a small role in Clint Eastwood's Hereafter as Christos Andryo, in 2010. In 2011, he played a supporting dramatic role as Mr. Camp in the feature film Fancypants. In 2012, he was featured in Divorce Invitation.

Actor/director George Clooney is a close friend, and was best man at Kind's wedding to Dana Stanley in 1999.{{Cite web|last=Cardoza |first=Riley|date=April 29, 2019|title= George Clooney's Friend Richard Kind Says He's a 'Great Dad' to Twins|url=https://www.usmagazine.com/celebrity-moms/news/richard-kind-george-clooney-is-a-great-great-dad/|access-date=October 4, 2021|website=Us Weekly|language=en-US}} Kind later went on to play the part of a casting director in Clooney's directorial debut Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. Kind also played himself in the short-lived HBO series Unscripted, which Clooney executive produced and directed with Grant Heslov, and played a small role in the film Argo, as screenwriter Max Klein, which was produced by both Clooney and Heslov. He also had a supporting role in Ari Aster's horror film Beau Is Afraid (2023).

=Theater=

Kind created the role of Addison Mizner in Stephen Sondheim's Bounce, and has appeared on Broadway in The Tale of the Allergist's Wife (2000), The Producers (2002), and Sly Fox (2004). He also appeared as the "Jury Foreman" in the film The Producers (2005) and played the lead role of Max Bialystock in a Hollywood Bowl production during July 27–29, 2012. He played Pseudolus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum at the Sondheim Center for the Performing Arts in Fairfield, Iowa. Kind received a Tony Award nomination for his role in the 2013 Broadway production of The Big Knife. Kind has performed in radio/audio plays for the LA Theatre Works and the Hollywood Theater of the Ear.

=Voice work=

His voice credits include Tom in Tom and Jerry: The Movie, Molt in Disney/Pixar's A Bug's Life, Van in Disney/Pixar's Cars, and Cars 2, Bookworm in Toy Story 3, the narrator for Disney's Go Baby, and Larry the Anaconda in The Wild. In 2000 he did the voice of Mr. Dobbins in Tom Sawyer. In 2001–2002, he voiced the character of Pongo in five episodes of the animated series Oswald. He had a recurring role on the Disney Channel series Kim Possible as the villain Frugal Lucre. He guest starred in The Penguins of Madagascar as Roger the Alligator in the episodes "Haunted Habitat", "Roger Dodger", "Gator Watch", "April Fools", "The All Nighter Before Christmas", and "Operation: Neighbor Swap". He also played the role of Gumbo in an episode of Chowder on Cartoon Network. Kind guest-starred in Phineas and Ferb in the episode "Perry the Actorpus" as the Totally Tools executive. For audio drama, he appeared in three episodes of Around the Sun.{{Cite web |last=Wild |first=Stephi |title=Listen: Adassa and Richard Kind Kick Off New Season of Brad Forenza's AROUND THE SUN |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/off-off-broadway/article/Listen-Adassa-and-Richard-Kind-Kick-Off-New-Season-of-Brad-Forenzas-AROUND-THE-SUN-20221026 |access-date=February 10, 2023 |website=BroadwayWorld.com |language=en}} In 2021, he narrated several commercials for Freestyle Libre, a device for diabetes patients to monitor their glucose levels.

Kind voiced Riley's imaginary friend Bing Bong in Pixar's Inside Out.{{cite news |last1=Truitt |first1=Brian |title=How Bing Bong kind of steals 'Inside Out' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/life/movies/2015/06/23/richard-kind-bing-bong-inside-out-exclusive/29127401/ |newspaper=USA Today |date=June 23, 2015 |access-date=July 11, 2015}}{{cite magazine |last1=Terrero |first1=Nina |title= How Richard Kind turned Bing Bong into the summer's heartbreaking imaginary best friend|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|url= https://www.ew.com/article/2015/06/28/richard-kind-bing-bong|date=June 28, 2015|access-date=July 11, 2015}} He provides the voice of Olly and Saraline's dad Harvey Timbers in Welcome to the Wayne. In 2021, he voiced the Doopler on Star Trek: Lower Decks.

Personal life

Kind was married to Dana Stanley from 1999 to 2018.{{cite news|first=Joanne|last=Kaufman |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/06/02/realestate/the-perfect-apartment-from-memory.amp.html|title=The Perfect Apartment, From Memory|newspaper=The New York Times|date=May 30, 2013|access-date=September 4, 2020}} They have three children: a son, Max, and two daughters, Samantha and Skylar.{{cite news|first=Esther|last=Zuckerman|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/08/16/arts/richard-kind-only-murders-in-the-building.html|title=Richard Kind Is Still Waiting for His Big Break|newspaper=The New York Times|date=August 16, 2024|access-date=January 13, 2025}}{{cite news|first=Micki |last=Siegel|url=https://nypost.com/2013/05/02/one-of-a-kind/|title=One of a Kind|newspaper=The New York Post|date=May 2, 2013|access-date=January 13, 2025}}

Kind resides on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City.{{cite web |last=Katz |first=Eileen |title=Why Richard Kind Lives on the Upper West Side |url=https://www.westsiderag.com/2016/04/04/why-richard-kind-lives-on-the-upper-west-side |website=West Side Rag |date=April 4, 2016}}

He was inducted into the Pennsbury High School Hall of Fame in the inaugural class on October 13, 2022.{{Cite web |last=Ciliberti |date=May 30, 2013 |title=Actor, Ex-Eagle Top First Class Inducted Into Pennsbury Hall Of Fame |url=https://patch.com/pennsylvania/levittown/actor-ex-eagle-top-first-class-inducted-pennsbury-hall-fame |access-date=October 13, 2022 |website=Levittown, PA Patch |language=en}}

Prior to landing his role on ER, George Clooney stayed at Kind’s apartment in Los Angeles. While living there, Clooney played numerous pranks on Kind including one culminating with Clooney defecating in Kind's cat's litter box. Clooney also duped Kind into thinking he was both a Jeopardy expert and an aspiring painter.https://www.audible.com/podcast/George-Clooney/B099XC3C4J

Filmography

Discography

Bounce: Original Cast Recording (2004){{cite web |last1=Simonson |first1=Robert |title=Bounce Original Cast Recording to Be Released on April 27 |url=https://playbill.com/article/bounce-original-cast-recording-to-be-released-on-april-27-com-118120 |website=Playbill |access-date=January 5, 2023 |date=February 24, 2004}}
Original Cast Album: Co-Op (Lakeshore Records, 2019)

Awards and nominations

Year ! Award ! Category ! Nominated work ! Result ! Ref.
class="wikitable"
1995	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series	Mad About You	{{nom}}	rowspan=4\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0454236/awards?ref_=nm_awd\|title= Richard Kind - Awards \|website= IMDb (index source only)\|access-date= April 1, 2020}}
rowspan="2" \|2009	Gotham Awards	Best Ensemble Performance \| rowspan="3" \|A Serious Man	{{nom}}
Boston Society of Film Critics	Best Ensemble Cast	{{nom}}
2010	Independent Spirit Awards	Robert Altman Award	{{win}}
rowspan="3" \|2013	Tony Awards	rowspan="3" \| Best Featured Actor in a Play	rowspan=3\|The Big Knife	{{nom}}	rowspan=3\|{{cite web\|url=http://www.playbill.com/person/richard-kind-vault-0000107612\|title= Richard Kind\|website= Playbill\|access-date= April 1, 2020}}
Drama Desk Award	{{won}}
Outer Critics Circle Award	{{nom}}
2025	Screen Actors Guild Award	Outstanding Ensemble in a Comedy Series	Only Murders in the Building	{{won}}	rowspan=4\|{{cite web\|url=https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0454236/awards?ref_=nm_awd\|title= Richard Kind - Awards \|website= IMDb (index source only)\|access-date= April 1, 2020}}