Oliver Platt

Birth Date:

January 12, 1960

Birth Name:

Oliver James Platt

Birth Place:

Windsor, Ontario, Canada

Nick Name:

Unconfirmed

Film Debut:

Married to the Mob 1988

Breakthrough Film:

Flatliners 1990

Biography

Oliver Platt is an American actor known for his work in film, television, and theatre. He was born on January 12, 1960, in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, to American parents Sheila Maynard and Nicholas Platt, a career diplomat. His birth name is Oliver James Platt. He grew up in Washington, D.C., in Asia and the Middle East due to his father’s diplomatic career. Platt attended Tufts University, graduating in 1983 with a degree in drama. He then developed his acting skills through regional and Off-Broadway theatre. No widely documented official nickname is associated with Platt. His long career has included major productions, award nominations, and memorable supporting performances throughout his long career.

Platt made his film debut in Married to the Mob (1988), directed by Jonathan Demme, playing FBI agent Ed Benitez. His opportunity came after he had established himself on the New York theatre scene, including work at the Manhattan Punch Line Theater. Actor Bill Murray saw Platt perform and recommended him to Demme, who subsequently cast him in the film. That year, he also appeared in Working Girl. His early film work also included Flatliners and Diggstown. Flatliners (1990), a thriller starring Kiefer Sutherland, Julia Roberts, Kevin Bacon, William Baldwin, and Platt, served as an early breakout film, bringing him wider attention.

Platt continued building a reputation as a dependable character actor, appearing in films such as Benny & Joon, The Three Musketeers, A Time to Kill, Executive Decision, Bulworth, and Doctor Dolittle. He later appeared in Lake Placid, Frost/Nixon, 2012, and The Tale of the Princess Kaguya. On television, he became widely recognized for roles in The West Wing, Huff, The Big C, and Chicago Med, among others. He made his Broadway debut in Shining City in 2006, earning a Tony Award nomination. Platt has since established himself as a highly experienced performer whose work spans comedy, drama, action, and television, while maintaining a strong connection to theatre.