Jerome Herbert "Chip" Zien (born March 20, 1947) is an American actor. He is best known for originating the lead role of the Baker in the original Broadway production of the musical Into the Woods by Stephen Sondheim. He appeared in all of the "Marvin Trilogy" musicals by William Finn: as Marvin in In Trousers, and as Dr. Mendel in March of the Falsettos, Falsettoland and Falsettos. In 2023, he returned to Broadway to critical acclaim in the lead role of Rabbi Josef Roman Cycowski in Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman’s Harmony.
In 1989, he starred as Otto Kringelein in Grand Hotel and in 2007, he played Mssr. Thénardier in Les Misérables, both on Broadway. He also created the role of Mr. Bungee in the original production of A New Brain. On the screen, he portrayed Mark Rothenberg in the film United 93. He is also known for providing the voice of the titular character in the film Howard the Duck. In 2012, he returned to Into the Woods at the Delacorte Theater portraying the Mysterious Man, the father of the Baker.
Early life Zien was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, and graduated from Whitefish Bay High School and later from the University of Pennsylvania. He is Jewish.https://www.app.com/story/entertainment/theater/2024/02/02/harmony-star-chip-zien-feels-pride-anger-as-broadway-judaism-collide/72119685007/ There, he was the chairman of the Mask and Wig Club, a historic collegiate musical comedy troupe.
Career Young Zien started in local theatrical productions. One of his early roles was as a child in a production of South Pacific at the Melody Top summer outdoor theatre in Milwaukee."Chip Zien: A Happy Irony," Damien Jacques, The Milwaukee Journal, Sunday December 27, 1981, Part 5, pages 1 and 2, accessed May 11, 2013
Stage Zien's first major role was in 1977 at the Manhattan Theatre Club in the musical The Redemption Center (by Ron Cowen, Seth Glassman, and Sandy Naishtat), opposite Alice Playten as the young couple. Later, Chip received acclaim in the role of Marvin in William Finn's first musical, In Trousers, which ran Off-Broadway in 1979.In Trousers lortel.org, retrieved December 9, 2017 In its sequels, March of the Falsettos (1981)March of the Falsettos lortel.org, accessed December 9, 2017 and Falsettoland,Falsettoland playwrightshorizons.org, accessed May 23, 2015 this role was played by Michael Rupert, while Zien played Mendel, a role he reprised when these two one-act musicals were joined together and played Broadway as Falsettos in 1992.Falsettos Internet Broadway Database, accessed May 22, 2015 In 1998 Zien was featured in another Finn musical when he played a children's show host called Mr. Bungee, dressed as a frog, in A New Brain Off-Broadway at the Lincoln Center Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater.Brantley, Ben. "Theater Review; A Romp Through the Valley of Death" The New York Times, June 19, 1998 He received a 1999 Drama Desk Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for this role.
He appeared in the Off-Broadway play Isn't It Romantic by Wendy Wasserstein in a Playwrights Horizons production at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, opening in June 1984. He was nominated for the 1984 Drama Desk Award, Featured Actor in a Play.Isn't It Romantic lortel.org, accessed May 23, 2015 He originated the role of the Baker in Into the Woods in 1986 at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and on Broadway in 1987.Into the Woods sondheimguide.com, accessed May 22, 2015
Zien starred on Broadway in Ride the Winds (as Inari) (1974), The Suicide (as Victor Victorovich) (1980), Grand Hotel (as Otto Kringelein) (1989) and The Boys from Syracuse (as Dromio of Ephesus) (2002)."Chip Zien" playbill.com, accessed April 8, 2022 He appeared in the City Center Encores! staged concert production of Applause as Buzz Richards in 2008.Gans, Andrew. "Welcome to the Theatre": City Center Encores! Begins New Season with Applause " playbill.com, February 7, 2008
In 2005, Zien played the part of Goran in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Broadway." Chitty Chitty Bang Bang Listing, 2005" playbillvault.com, accessed May 22, 2015
In 2007, Zien was a replacement in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables in the role of Monsieur Thénardier.
From April 1 to June 19, 2011, Zien appeared in the Roundabout Theatre Company's production of The People in the Picture, which played at Studio 54 on Broadway." The People in the Picture Listing" playbillvault.com, accessed May 20, 2015
Zien appeared in a revival of Into the Woods at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park from August 9 to September 1, 2012. He played the Mysterious Man, the father of the character he had originated in the original production 26 years prior.Into the Woods lortel.org, accessed May 22, 2015
Zien appeared in the Broadway musical It Shoulda Been You at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre as Murray with music by Barbara Anselmi, book and lyrics by Brian Hargrove. The show, marking the directorial debut of David Hyde Pierce, starred Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, Sierra Boggess, and David Burtka, and opened in previews March 17, 2015, and officially on April 14.Playbill Staff. "The Verdict: Read Reviews for New Musical It Shoulda Been You On Broadway" playbill.com, April 14, 2015
Zien originated the role of Older Rabbi Josef Roman Cycowski of the famous Comedian Harmonists both Off-Broadway and on Broadway in the musical Harmony at both the Museum of Jewish Heritage at the National Theater Folksbiene (where he was nominated for a Drama Desk Award) and the Ethel Barrymore Theatre in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Film and television In 1973, Zien made his television debut on an episode of Love, American Style. More guest roles in television followed, and in the early 1980s, he began a stream of regular TV roles. In 1981, he appeared on Ryan's Hope as Daniel Thorne, the producer of the fictional Proud and the Passionate soap opera on the series in which the character Barbara Wilde (Judith Barcroft) was starring. Later that year, he began a two-year run in the freshman NBC sitcom Love, Sidney as Jason Stoller, the young, hot-shot ad agency director who was Sidney Shorr's (Tony Randall) boss. Immediately after Love, Sidney'''s cancellation, Zien was cast in a similar role on the ABC sitcom Reggie, an American adaptation of the British series The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin. He played C.J. Wilcox, the overbearing young boss of Richard Mulligan's Reggie Potter. The series aired as a summer replacement during August and September 1983, but was not renewed by ABC after the tryout run. In 1986, he provided the voice of the title character in Marvel Comics' Howard the Duck." Howard the Duck Cast and Crew" tcm.com, accessed May 22, 2015 Zien later starred on the short-lived CBS drama Shell Game in 1987." Shell Game Cast" tv.com, accessed May 23, 2015.
In the 1990s, Zien was part of the ensemble cast of the CBS sitcom Almost Perfect (1995–96), playing neurotic screenwriter Gary Karp."Chip Zien Biography" filmreference.com, accessed May 22, 2015 Almost Perfect was cancelled shortly into its second season, but the series sustained its loyal following via reruns on USA Network not long after. Zien would return to regular roles in daytime drama, first on Guiding Light in early 1999, and by that summer, as newspaper reporter Donald Steele on All My Children, a role that would last until 2001.
From 1999 to 2000, Zien had a recurring guest role on the CBS primetime drama Now and Again as Gerald Misenbach." Now and Again Cast" tv.com, accessed May 22, 2015 He has appeared repeatedly as Attorney Cromwell on Law & Order.
During the 2002–03 season, Zien was the announcer on daytime's The Caroline Rhea Show, which was based in New York (on the former Rosie O'Donnell Show set). In 2006, he appeared in the critically acclaimed film United 93 as Mark Rothenberg." United 93 Cast and Crew" tcm.com, accessed May 22, 2015 He played Dr. Marsh in the vampire comedy film Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead''.
Personal life Zien is married to former dancer and dancing instructor Susan Pilarre; the couple have two children.
Filmography Film YearTitleRole Notes1979 The RoseReporter1981 So Fine Wise Guy In Disco1984 The House of GodEddie1984 Grace QuigleyDr. Herman1986 Howard the DuckHoward T. Duck (voice)1987 Hello AgainReporter #41994 Mrs. Parker and the Vicious CircleFranklin P. Adams1995 The Real ShlemielTreitel, The Donkey (voices)1998 Snake Eyes Mickey Alter, Tyler's Lawyer1998 The SiegeChief of Staff1999 Breakfast of ChampionsAndy Wojeckowzski1999 Brooklyn Thrill KillersHarry LiebermanShort2006 United 93 Mark Rothenberg2009 Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are UndeadDr. Marsh2012 CommentaryClifford Blowman2013 That's News to MeDr. HenschelShort2017 Approaching a Breakthrough Short2017 Little EvilStepdad Therapist2022 Simchas and SorrowsMortimer
Television YearTitleRole Notes1973 Love, American StyleLeoSegment: "Love and the Generation Gasp"1977 Off CampusJoshTV movie1978 CHiPsDaveyEpisode: "The Grudge"1978 Fix-it CityIrvingTV movie19803-2-1 ContactEinstein2 episodes1981 Ryan's Hope Daniel Thorne6 episodes1981–1983 Love, SidneyJason Stoller29 episodes1982 NBC Special TreatJakeEpisode: "Oh, Boy! Babies!"1983 Reggie C.J. Wilcox6 episodes1985, 1995 As the World Turns Roastmaster / Arthur Howell3 episodes1986 Cheers Jeff WarrenEpisode: "The Peterson Principle"1987 Shell GameBert Luna6 episodes1989 Newhart Mr. JenkinsEpisode: "Cupcake in a Cage"1990 ThirtysomethingDr. VernyEpisode: "Post-Op"1990–2002 Law & OrderAttorney Steven Cromwell / Mr. Green4 episodes1991 American Playhouse The BakerEpisode: "Into the Woods"1992 Quiet KillerDr. Lionel KatzTV movie1995 The Wright VerdictsAssistant District Attorney Fred KellerEpisode: "Ex-Corpus Delicti"1995 Cagney & Lacey: The View Through the Glass CeilingAssistant District Attorney Douglas TrayneTV movie1995–1997 Almost PerfectGary Karp34 episodes1996 Cagney & Lacey: True ConvictionsAssistant District Attorney TrayneTV movie1997 Wings Bippy, The ClownEpisode: "Oedipus Wrecks"1997 Profiler Episode: "Ambition in the Blood"1998–2001 All My Children Donald Steele8 episodes1999 Guiding Light Aidan HeathUnknown episodes1999 Now and Again Gerald Misenbach4 episodes1999 CosbyMaxEpisode: "One for the Books"2000 Judging Amy Dr. Ken BakerEpisode: "Gray vs. Gray"2000 Madigan MenMr. WolfeEpisode: "Meet the Wolfes"2000–2001 Deadline Sammy Klein9 episodes2001 Son of the BeachLarry Big Episode: "Area 69"2003 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation LawyerEpisode: "Coming of Rage"2006 InseparableLenTV movie2008 The VerdictTV movie2008 Lipstick JungleAndrewEpisode: "Chapter Fifteen: The Sisterhood of the Traveling Prada"2009 Rescue MeArthur FrostEpisode: "Control"2009 The Good WifeJudge Lee SutmanEpisode: "Fixed"2010 Ugly BettyFrankEpisode: "Blackout!"2016 Chicago P.D.Judge LurmanEpisode: "Justice"2016 The Night OfDr. Katz2 episodes2016 Mozart in the Jungle Larry, The Night WatchmanEpisode: "Circles Within Circles"2018 BullProfessor Jameson3 episodes2018 House of Cards Dr. Charles Rosen3 episodes2019 City on a HillAdam CorsoEpisode: "From Injustice Came the Way to Describe Justice"2020HuntersLevi LibsteinEpisode: "While Visions of Safta Danced in His Head"2021 Zoey's Extraordinary PlaylistAlan Episode: "Zoey's Extraordinary Trip"2023 GhostsLenny LefkowitzEpisode: "Trevor's Body"
Theatre