AnthonyHeald.com: Anthony Heald Tribute Website

Anthony Heald was born Philip Anthony Mair Heald on August 25, 1944 in New Rochelle, NY. He graduated from Massapequa High School on Long Island, NY in 1962, and from Michigan State University in 1970. Anthony acted in plays throughout high school and college, and spent 15 years working in regional theater repertory companies before settling in New York.

He quickly established himself, playing Tom in a 1980 Off-Broadway production of "The Glass Menagerie", and two years later made his Broadway debut alongside Holly Hunter in Beth Henley's "The Wake of Jamey Foster". Since his debut, Anthony's theater work has been both extensive and acclaimed. His performances in "Anything Goes" and "Love! Valour! Compassion!" both earned him Tony Award nominations, and he was recognized with an Obie Award for his work in the productions of "The Foreigner", "Digby", "Henry V" and "Quartemaine's Terms".

Anthony first got his foot in the Hollywood door in 1983 when he appeared in the Meryl Streep film "Silkwood", though his first prominent role was not until 1987's "Outrageous Fortune", where he appeared as Weldon, the government agent posing as an acting student. Of his more than twenty big screen performances, Anthony is probably best known to film audiences for his portrayal of Dr. Frederick Chilton in the 1991 Academy Award winning film "Silence of the Lambs". Some of Anthony's other film appearances include three film adaptations of John Grisham novels ("The Pelican Brief", "The Client", and "A Time to Kill"), as well as the films "Kiss of Death", "Searching for Bobby Fischer", "Postcards from the Edge", "8MM", "Proof of Life", "Red Dragon", and, most recently, "Accepted".

Anthony's television work has included appearances as a guest performer on many of television's top rated programs, including "The Practice", "Frasier", "Law & Order", "The X-Files", "Miami Vice", "Murder, She Wrote", and "Cheers". His most prominent, long running role was that of high school vice principal Scott Guber on "Boston Public", a role written specifically for him by series creator David E. Kelley. He also has a recurring role as Judge Cooper on the series "Boston Legal", and most recently appeared on TNT's award winning series "The Closer".

In addition to his work on stage, screen and film, Anthony is one of the most prolific readers in the field of audio books/books on tape. He has recorded over sixty titles to date, including works as varied as the classic tale "Where the Red Fern Grows", NY Times bestsellers such as "The Pelican Brief", "Jurassic Park" and "Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil", as well as a sizable number of titles in the Star Wars audio book library.

Anthony currently resides in Ashland, Oregon with his family, where he is a member of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival acting company.

Biography information compiled from the following sources: Internet Movie Database * Mail Tribune News * Michigan State University Alumni Magazine * Guardian Unlimited Film * Hollywood.com