Bradley Whitford Movies
An actor whose well-scrubbed Midwestern good looks have served him well in a wide variety of roles, Bradley Whitford was born in Madison, WI, on October 10, 1959. Whitford developed an interest in acting while in high school, and after graduating in 1977, he attended Wesleyan University, where he majored in English and Theater. After completing his studies at Wesleyan, he went on to receive a master's degree in Theater from the Juilliard Theater Center, and began pursuing an acting career in New York. Whitford made his screen debut in 1985 in a low-budget thriller called Dead As a Doorman, but received a good bit more attention for a supporting role in a 1986 TV movie, C.A.T. Squad, directed by William Friedkin. In 1987, Whitford appeared in both the New York and Los Angeles productions of Sam Shepard's drama Curse of the Starving Class; while in L.A. with the play, Whitford was cast as Jack Ford in the TV movie The Betty Ford Story. After returning to New York, Whitford continued to alternate stage roles with film assignments, and by the early '90s was appearing in a steady stream of supporting roles in such films as Presumed Innocent, A Perfect World, and Philadelphia. However, Whitford soon began scoring more substantial roles on television, including a recurring role as Norman Gardner on the series NYPD Blue and a memorable turn as a distraught father-to-be on the Emmy-award winning "Love's Labor's Lost" episode of E.R. In 1999, Whitford's finally scored the role that made him famous when he was cast as Deputy Chief of Staff Josh Lyman on the TV series The West Wing (created by Aaron Sorkin, whose play A Few Good Men had featured Whitford in its Broadway cast). Whitford's work on the series eventually earned him an Emmy Award in 2001; the same year, he was also recognized as part of the show's ensemble cast by the Screen Actor's Guild Awards (also honored with Whitford was John Spencer, who had appeared with him in the movie Presumed Innocent). ~ All Movie Guide
Teenager Chris Parker (Elisabeth Shue) would rather party with her boyfriend, but when her beau breaks their date she reluctantly accepts a babysitting job. It isn't all TV and icebox-raiding when Chris' best friend Brenda (Penelope Ann Miller) calls her to announce that she's stranded at the bus station. With her youthful charges in tow (one of whom, 15-year-old Brad (Keith Coogan), has a hopeless crush on the babysitter), Chris heads into downtown Chicago to go to Brenda's rescue. Thus begins a roller coaster ride of comic mishaps, unexpected perils and hairbreadth escapes. IN one bit, blues singer Albert Collins refuses to allow Chris and company to leave the nightclub they've wandered into until they agree to sing along with a song borrowed from, of all things the 1939 B-picture Nancy Drew, Reporter! . Screenwriter and Steven Spielberg protégé Chris Columbus made his directorial debut with Adventures in Babysitting. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Elisabeth Shue, Maia Brewton, (more)
William Friedkin, a product of television, returned to the small screen to direct the made-for-TV feature C.A.T. Squad. The titular acronym stands for Counter Assault Tactical. The heroes and heroines are fitted out with state-of-the-art hardware and weaponry that would make the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles pale with envy. Captained by Joe Cortese, the squad is assigned to an anti-terrorist mission, the goal of which is to protect a top-secret laser project. Filmed in Canada and Mexico, C.A.T. Squad was plagued by a tiny budget that grew tinier with each passing day. Friedkin had hoped to include an elaborate car chase in the manner of his earlier French Connection, but the money ran out before the vehicles could gas up. First telecast August 27, 1986, C.A.T Squad was followed by a TV movie sequel, C.A.T. Squad: Python Wolf. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- 1985
In this clean, low-key thriller, Terry Reilly (Bradley Whitford) is a doorman for an apartment building whose life becomes endangered when he starts looking a killers who is targeting doormen, having already murdered three recently. After the three men died, each with their neck broken, Terry is listed as a witness in the newspaper reports of the crimes -- a big mistake that draws the attention of the killers. Now a target, Terry joins up with the daughter of one of the victims and they start to connect the murders to the delivery of packages to new residents in the apartment buildings. Now the two amateur investigators have to gather evidence and stay alive at the same time. ~ Eleanor Mannikka, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Sharon Schlarth, Bradley Whitford, (more)
