Timeline: Nathan Lane

Feb 3, 1956

His birth

He was originally born Joesph Lane in Jersey City, New Jersey. https://www.britannica.com/biography/Nathan-Lane

1967

The death of his father

His father, Daniel Joseph Lane, was a truck driver and an aspiring tenor who died in 1967 from alcoholism when Lane was 11. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Lane

1974

Voted Best Actor by his High School

Lane attended Catholic schools in Jersey City, including Jesuit-run St. Peter's Preparatory School, where he was voted Best Actor in 1974 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Lane

1977

Coming out to his family

When he was 21 and came out to his mother about his homosexuality, her reaction was, ''I would rather you were dead.'' Lane responded, ''I knew you'd understand.'' https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/02/magazine/this-is-it-as-happy-as-i-get-baby-nathan-lane.html

1978

Post Secondary education

Accepted to Saint Joseph's University in Philadelphia on a drama scholarship https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Lane

1978

Unable to attend University

Discovering that the scholarship would not cover enough of his expenses, he decided to leave, and work for a year to earn some money. His brother said, "I remember him saying to me, 'College is for people who don't know what they want to do' https://www.nytimes.com/2001/09/02/magazine/this-is-it-as-happy-as-i-get-baby-nathan-lane.html

1978

Name Change

Born Joseph Lane, he had to change his first name in order to join Actors Equity because there was already another actor named Joseph Lane. He chose the name Nathan after the character Nathan Detroit from the Broadway musical "Guys and Dolls". Coincidentally, he later played that role in the hugely successful 1992 revival of "Guys and Dolls" on Broadway. https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001447/bio/

1978

Professional Debut

Lane made his professional theatre debut in 1978 in an off-Broadway production of A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Lane

Jul 15, 1982

Broadway Debut

Lane made his broadway debut when he opened in Present Laughter, where he played a character named "Roland Maule" https://www.playbill.com/person/nathan-lane-vault-0000027060

Feb 13, 1983

Second Broadway Appearance

A musical Merlin, starring Chita Rivera and magician Doug Henning. https://www.playbill.com/person/nathan-lane-vault-0000027060

1992

Obie Award

In 1992 he won an Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Performance. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Lane

1996

Broadway success

He starred in the hit revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. For his performance he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical as well as the Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Lane

2001

The Start of a Friendship

In 2001, he starred as Max Bialystock in the blockbuster musical version of Mel Brooks's The Producers. He acted alongside Matthew Broderick. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Lane#1994%E2%80%932009:_Breakthrough_and_acclaim

Apr 19, 2001

Short Notice

That same year he replaced Richard Dreyfuss in The Producers in the West End. Dreyfuss was let go just a week before the show's first preview at London's Theatre Royal Drury Lane. https://www.playbill.com/person/nathan-lane-vault-0000027060

Dec 29, 2001

Olivier Awards

Lane went on to win the Olivier Award as Best Actor in a Musical from the play he took on one week notice. The Olivier Awards are recognized internationally as the highest honor in British theatre. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Lane#:~:text=He%20was%20a%202008%20American,Absolutely%20Fabulous%2C%20and%2030%20Rock.

Jan 9, 2006

Hollywood Walk of Fame

Lane and Broderick received adjacent stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in a joint ceremony on January 9, 2006. https://walkoffame.com/nathan-lane/

2008

American Theater Hall of Fame

In 2008 Nathan Lane was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Nathan-Lane/

Feb 9, 2023

25 Broadway credits

Since his Broadway Debut in 1982 Nathan Lane has earned 25 Broadway Credits, making him without a doubt among the greatest https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nathan_Lane#1994%E2%80%932009:_Breakthrough_and_acclaim

Jan 1, 2024

Career Awards

13 Awards and 31 Nominations
Tony Awards 3 Wins 6 Nominations
Drama Desk Awards 6 Win 11 Nominations
Primetime Emmy Awards 1 Wins 7 Nominations
Daytime Emmy Awards 2 Wins 3 Nominations
Golden Globe Awards 0 Wins 2 Nominations
Screen Actors Guild Awards 1 Win 2 Nominations

Feb 6, 2024