Judd Hirsch

Judd Seymore Hirsch was born on March 15, 1935, in The Bronx, New York City. His early life involved moving between the Bronx and Brooklyn. He received his secondary education at DeWitt Clinton High School, graduating in 1952. Hirsch then pursued tertiary education at the City College of New York, where he earned a degree in physics. Following his college graduation, he served in the United States Army. He then worked as an engineer for Westinghouse Electric Corporation before deciding to pursue an acting career, studying at HB Studio and graduating from the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in 1962. Hirsch commenced his acting career with theatrical roles, making his Broadway debut in Neil Simon’s “Barefoot in the Park.”

Hirsch achieved significant success in television, notably with his starring role as Alex Reiger in the sitcom “Taxi” (1978–1983). For this portrayal, he won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series twice, in 1981 and 1983. He also garnered a Golden Globe Award in 1988 for his lead role as John Lacey in the sitcom “Dear John” (1988–1992). In film, Hirsch received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “Ordinary People” (1980). Other notable film credits include “Independence Day” (1996) and its sequel “Independence Day: Resurgence” (2016), and “A Beautiful Mind” (2001). His stage career has also been highly decorated, including two Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Play for “I’m Not Rappaport” (1986) and “Conversations with My Father” (1992).

In recent years, Hirsch has continued to work consistently across various mediums. He co-starred as Alan Eppes in the police procedural series “Numb3rs” (2005–2010) for 114 episodes. He also made memorable guest appearances on popular shows like “The Big Bang Theory” in 2016, playing Dr. Alfred Hofstadter, and “Hunters” (2020-2023) as Simon Wiesenthal. In 2022, at 87 years old, he received his second Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Steven Spielberg’s “The Fabelmans,” setting a record for the longest gap between Oscar nominations. His career exemplifies versatility and sustained excellence in the performing arts.