Harry Groener
Birth dateSeptember 10, 1951 (age 75)
Birth placeAugsburg, Bavaria, West Germany
EducationUniversity of Washington (BFA)
OccupationActor, dancer
AwardsTheatre World Award winner
3 time Tony Award nominee

Harry Groener (born September 10, 1951) is an American actor and dancer, perhaps best known for playing Mayor Wilkins in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (seasons 3, 4 and 7).

Early life

Groener was born in Augsburg, Bavaria, West Germany, to an opera singer mother and a father who worked as a concert pianist, office clerk, and composer.[1] He immigrated to the United States with his family at the age of two. As a teenager, Groener was apprenticed at the San Francisco Ballet; he went on to attend the University of Washington's School of Drama, graduating in 1976.[2]

Career

Groener's reputation in New York City rests almost entirely on his work in musical theater. However, the bulk of his roles outside New York have been in classical drama or contemporary plays like Eastern Standard. His Broadway credits include Is There Life After High School?, Will Parker in Oklahoma! (Tony Award nomination, Theatre World Award), Munkustrap in Cats (Tony Award nomination), Georges/George in Sunday in the Park with George, and Bobby Child in Crazy for You (Tony Award and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations).

In 1999, he performed off-Broadway with Twiggy at the Lucille Lortel Theater in If Love Were All, a musical revue based on the friendship of Noël Coward and Gertrude Lawrence. He has performed in regional theatres across the country, including the San Diego Old Globe Theatre (where he is an associate artist), Mark Taper Forum, Westwood Playhouse, South Coast Repertory, Pasadena Playhouse, Long Wharf Theater, A.C.T., and the Williamstown Theater Festival.

Groener has performed regularly on TV, including guest appearances on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1990), Star Trek: Voyager (1996), Star Trek: Enterprise (2005) and several dozen other series; he was also a series regular on the sitcom Dear John. In 1998-99, he portrayed Richard Wilkins, the evil mayor of Sunnydale on the third season of cult TV series Buffy the Vampire Slayer and reprised the role in cameo appearances in Buffy's 4th and 7th seasons.

From 2003 to 2006, he appeared as the chef Gunther on the TV series Las Vegas. Notable film work includes Road to Perdition and About Schmidt. He also appeared in two episodes of The West Wing as the Secretary of Agriculture and the Bones episode "The Woman at the Airport" as a plastic surgeon, Henry Atlas. In 2009, Groener appeared in the second season episode of Breaking Bad, "Bit by a Dead Bee", as protagonist Walter White's psychiatrist. He also portrayed Clint, Ted's stepdad, in How I Met Your Mother. In January 2018, Groener appeared in an episode of Young Sheldon.

He was a regular vocalist for the Varèse Sarabande label, performing on such recordings as Shakespeare on Broadway, Cole Porter: A Musical Toast, and various installments of the Unsung Broadway and Lost in Boston series. He played King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot during 2006. In 2010, he appeared as the title role in the Antaeus Company's production of King Lear.[3] He won the L.A. Drama Critics Circle Award for this performance. In 2012, he starred in the debut of Christopher Hampton's play Appomattox at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, playing a dual role as both U.S. presidents Abraham Lincoln in 1865 and Lyndon B. Johnson in 1965.[4] As of 2023, he serves as an honorary board member at the Alpine Theater Project in Whitefish, MT.[5]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1980BrubakerDr. Campbell
1997AmistadTecora Captain
1998Dance with MeMichael
1998Patch AdamsDr. Prack
1999Buddy BoyFather Gillespie
2002Road to PerditionMr. McDougal
2002About SchmidtJohn Rusk
2002Manna from HeavenTony
2006The Last TimeCustomer at Conference
2008Beautiful LoserRonald Riley
2015The Atticus InstituteLawrence Henault
2016A Cure for WellnessPembroke
2018A Futile and Stupid GestureHarry Kenney
2018DeliriumPsychiatrist
2023OppenheimerGale W. McGee

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1982The Country GirlPaul UngerTV movie
1984George WashingtonPatrick HenryEpisode #1.1
1985Kane & AbelLowell KaneEpisode #1.2
1985Remington SteelePreston HayesEpisode: "Corn Fed Steele"
1987St. ElsewhereKlaus BrinkmannEpisode: "Schwarzwald"
1987Jack and MikeJohnsonEpisode: "Dreamland"
1987Leg WorkSteve AmatiEpisode: "Life Itself"
1988Spenser: For HireGeorge LynnwoodEpisode: "Substantial Justice"
1988MatlockRod GreenwoodEpisode: "The Magician"
1988–1991Dear JohnRalph Drang68 episodes
1989Studio 5-BUnknownEpisode: "Pilot"
1990Star Trek: The Next GenerationTam ElbrunEpisode: "Tin Man"
1991Quantum LeapDetective WardEpisode: "Permanent Wave - June 2, 1983"
1995Law & OrderTerrence DwyerEpisode: "Wannabe"
1996Star Trek: VoyagerThe MagistrateEpisode: "Sacred Ground"
1996Caroline in the CityHenryEpisode: "Caroline and the Freight King"
1996–1997Mad About YouLance Brockwell4 episodes
1997Home ImprovementFredEpisode: "Totally Tool Time"
1997George and LeoUnknownEpisode: "The Cameo Episode"
1997Just Shoot Me!Headmaster ReillyEpisode: "Twice Burned"
1997Murphy BrownConcert MasterEpisode: "I Hear a Symphony"
1997–1998SleepwalkersThe Smiling Man2 episodes
1998–2003Buffy the Vampire SlayerMayor Richard Wilkins III14 episodes
1998WorkingAlan NormanEpisode: "The Breakfast"
1998Buddy FaroMiles MarengoEpisode: "The Curse of the Faro"
1998CupidMichael BennettEpisode: "Heaven... He's in Heaven"
1999Mercy PointStenneth Lock2 episodes
1999Family LawUnknownEpisode: "Decisions"
2000ProfilerVincent CapobiancoEpisode: "The Long Way Home"
2000Time of Your LifeAlanEpisode: "The Time They Got E-Rotic"
2000CharmedFather ThomasEpisode: "Primrose Empath"
2000Judging AmyMike HolcombeEpisode: "Dog Days"
2000City of AngelsUnknownEpisode: "Saving Faces"
2000–2003The West WingSecretary of Agriculture Roger Tribbey2 episodes
20013rd Rock from the SunDr. BreenEpisode: "Dick Digs"
200118 Wheels of JusticeTravis JordanEpisode: "Slight of Mind"
2001Boston PublicMr. JacobsEpisode: "Chapter Seventeen"
2001King of the HillDr. Tate / Larry (voice)Episode: "Hank's Back Story"
2001The Drew Carey ShowDr. Hershlag2 episodes
2001The Day the World EndedSheriff KenTV movie
2001The GuardianFulton TroutEpisode: "The Funnies"
2001Dead LastDr. Casey HendersonEpisode: "To Live and Amulet Die"
2002Malcolm in the MiddleRudyEpisode: "Poker"
2002Watching EllieRobertEpisode: "Tango"
2002RoswellDr. Burton WeissEpisode: "Who Died and Made You King?"
2002PhillyDabney CooperEpisode: "Tall Tales"
2003The MayorDick WinterhalterTV movie
2003–2006Las VegasChef Gunther6 episodes
2004I'm with HerPrincipal Marvin TalbotEpisode: "Eight Simple Rules for Dating a Celebrity"
2004Dr. VegasHank Harold2 episodes
2004Less than PerfectDr. Lars SkaarsgardEpisode: "From the Chair to the Couch"
2004HuffMr. WayneEpisode: "Assault & Pepper"
2005MonkJohn RiccaEpisode: "Mr. Monk vs. the Cobra"
2005Jack & BobbyAdult Warren FeideEpisode: "Stand by Me"
2005Star Trek: EnterpriseNathan Samuels2 episodes
2005MediumJoe's Boss2 episodes
2006The Bernie Mac ShowDr. LyonsEpisode: "Exercise in Fertility: Part 2"
2006BonesDr. Henry AtlasEpisode: "The Woman at the Airport"
2006–2013How I Met Your MotherClint3 episodes
2007'Peyton TallmanEpisode: "Monster in the Box"
2009Breaking BadDr. ChavezEpisode: "Bit by a Dead Bee"
2010Nolan Knows BestFrenchyTV movie
2011Law & Order: LAAttorney SpicerEpisode: "El Sereno"
2011The MiddleGeneEpisode: "The Play"
2011Once Upon a TimeMartinEpisode: "That Still Small Voice"
2012SupernaturalProfessor MorrisonEpisode: "The Slice Girls"
2013The MentalistFrancisco NavarroEpisode: "Red Letter Day"
2014Major CrimesMr. KleinerEpisode: "Frozen Assets"
2015Kittens in a CageJudge DoddEpisode: "Ain't Even Got a Mustache"
2017GhostedStafford YatesEpisode: "The Machine"
2018Young SheldonElliot DouglasEpisode: "An Eagle Feather, a String Bean, and an Eskimo"
2018DisjointedJudge Nelson2 episodes
2018Criminal MindsLeonard HaglandEpisode: "Ex Parte"
2018Modern FamilyJoel L.L. LoganEpisode: "Clash of Swords"
2018The RookieMr. WalkerEpisode: "The Roundup"
2018The ResidentBartholomew McGainnEpisode: "The Dance"
20229-1-1: Lone StarJoe2 episodes
2023White House PlumbersSenator Philip HartEpisode: "Please Destroy This, Huh?"

Stage

YearTitleRole(s)NotesRef.
1976The Best ManReporter[6]
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?Nick[7]
1978Much Ado About NothingBenedick[8]
Journey's EndRaleigh[6][9]
1979Oklahoma!Will ParkerBroadway debut[6][10]
1981Oh, Brother!Western MousadaBroadway[10]
1982Is There Life After High School?Performer[10]
CatsMunkustrap[10]
1985Harrigan 'N HartEdward Harrigan[10]
1985Sunday in the Park with GeorgeGeorges Seurat / George[10]
1987Sleight of HandPaul[10]
1988Eastern StandardStephen Wheeler[11]
1989Sunday in the Park with GeorgeGeorges Seurat / George[12]
1991You Never KnowBaron Rommer[13]
1992Crazy for YouBobby ChildBroadway[10]
1995Twelve DreamsCharles Hatrick[14]
Picasso at the Lapin AgileFreddy[15]
1996Arms and the ManCaptain Bluntschli[16]
1999If Love Were AllNoël Coward[17]
2001Twelfth NightFeste[18]
2002Imaginary FriendsThe ManBroadway[10]
2004The BearGrigory Stepanovitch Smirnov[19]
2005Pera PalasAdalet / Bedia Older / Orhan Older[20]
2006SpamalotKing ArthurBroadway[10]
The Best Little Whorehouse in TexasGovernor[21]
2007Regrets OnlyHank[22]
2009The FantasticksBellomy[23]
Putting It TogetherPerformer[24]
EquivocationRichard[25]
2010King LearLear[26]
The Train DriverRoelf Visagie[27]
2011The Madness of George IIIKing George III[28]
2012MarchWilliam Tecumseh Sherman[29]
The ExorcistBurke Dennings[25]
AppomattoxLincoln / Johnson[30]
2013Cyrano de BergeracCyrano de BergeracChicago Shakespeare Theater[31]
2014Love, Noël: The Letters and Songs of Noël CowardNoël Coward[32]
2015The Second Mrs. WilsonCol. Edward House[33]
Uncle VanyaSerebryakov[34]
2016VicuñaKurt Seaman[35]
2017Cat on a Hot Tin RoofBig Daddy[36]
2018Henry IVNorthumberland[7][37]
Three Days in the CountryShpigelsky[38]
2019IndecentActor[39]
SkintightElliot Isaac[25]
2022EverybodySomebody[40]
2023Water for ElephantsMr. Jankowski[41]

Awards and nominations

YearAwardCategoryWorkResult
1980Theatre World AwardOutstanding Stage DebutOklahoma!
Tony AwardBest Featured Actor in a Musical
Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Featured Actor in A Musical
1983Tony AwardBest Featured Actor in a MusicalCats
1985Drama Desk AwardOutstanding Actor in A MusicalHarrigan 'N Hart
1992Tony AwardBest Actor in a MusicalCrazy for You
Outer Critics Circle AwardOutstanding Actor in a Musical
2010Ovation AwardsFeatured Actor in a PlayEquivocation[42]
Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle AwardLead PerformanceKing Lear
2011Joseph Jefferson AwardActor in a Principal Role - PlayThe Madness of George III[43][44]
2012Actor in a Supporting Role - PlayThe March
2014Actor in a Principal Role - PlayCyrano de Bergerac
2018Ovation AwardsLead Actor in a Play[45]Cat on a Hot Tin Roof
Los Angeles Drama Critics Circle AwardFeatured Performance

References

  1. ^ "Harry Groener Biography (1951-)". Film Reference. Retrieved February 19, 2020.
  2. ^ "Actor Harry Groener, ’76, on a bigger stage in ‘Dear John’". University of Washington Magazine. March 1, 1990. Retrieved November 4, 2025.
  3. ^ Boehm, Mike (27 June 2010). "Antaeus Company doubles up 'King Lear'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 17 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Harry Groener". Guthrie Theater. Archived from the original on 2013-10-14. Retrieved 2012-10-22.
  5. ^ "About". Alpine Theatre Project. Retrieved 2023-06-15.
  6. ^ Robertson, Nan (1979-12-21). "New Face: Harry Groener 'Oklahoma!'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  7. ^ Kaan, Gil. "BWW Interview: HENRY IV's Versatile Harry Groener Muses on the Mechanics and Love of Theatre". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  8. ^ Frey, Charles (1979). "Shakespeare in Seattle". Shakespeare Quarterly. 30 (2): 262–264. doi:10.2307/2869320. ISSN 0037-3222. JSTOR 2869320
  9. ^ "1975 - 1980". Long Wharf Theatre. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  10. ^ "Harry Groener – Broadway Cast & Staff | IBDB". www.ibdb.com. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  11. ^ Rich, Frank (1988-05-10). "Review/Music; Seattle Grabs Spotlight: New Play, Renewed Musical". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  12. ^ Herman, Jan (1989-06-09). "'George' Star Wears Flops as Lightly as His Successes". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  13. ^ Drake, Sylvie (1991-05-28). "STAGE REVIEW : Pleasantly Porter : Pasadena Turns 'You Never Know' Into a Delight". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  14. ^ Gerard, Jeremy (1995-06-09). "Twelve Dreams". Variety. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  15. ^ Canby, Vincent (1995-10-23). "THEATER REVIEW;A Fantasy Meeting of Minds". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  16. ^ Winer, Laurie (1996-06-03). "SCR Takes Up 'Arms' to Great Effect". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  17. ^ Isherwood, Charles (1999-06-14). "If Love Were All". Variety. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  18. ^ "O'Brien's Twelfth Night w/ Groener and Whitehead Opens at San Diego's Globe July 7-Aug. 11". Playbill. 2001-07-07. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  19. ^ Morris, Steven Leigh (2004-03-11). "Russian Around". LA Weekly. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  20. ^ Hitchcock, Laura. "Pera Palas, a CurtainUp Los Angeles review". www.curtainup.com. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  21. ^ Gans, Andrew (2006-10-16). "Actors' Fund's The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas Benefit Concert Presented Oct. 16". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  22. ^ Becker, Jules. "Rudnick fans should RSVP to 'Regrets Only'". The Patriot Ledger, Quincy, MA. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  23. ^ Gans, Andrew (2009-05-05). "Reprise Presents The Fantasticks, with McCormack and Groener, Starting May 5". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  24. ^ "Harry Groener puts it together at SCR". Orange County Register. 2009-09-15. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  25. ^ "Harry Groener". Geffen Playhouse. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  26. ^ "Antaeus Company's King Lear, with Harry Groener and Dakin Matthews, Extends Through August 15 | TheaterMania". www.theatermania.com. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  27. ^ Hetrick, Adam (2010-10-27). "Fugard's The Train Driver, With Harry Groener and Anthony Chisholm, Arrives at Long Wharf". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  28. ^ "The Madness of George III at Chicago Shakespeare Theater | Theater review". Time Out Chicago. 26 April 2011. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  29. ^ Jones, Kenneth (2012-04-05). "March, E.L. Doctorow's Civil War Tale, Begins April 5 at Steppenwolf; Harry Groener, Ian Barford Star". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  30. ^ "'Appomattox' serves up history, but little drama". Star Tribune. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  31. ^ "Chicago Shakespeare Theater: Cyrano de Bergerac". www.chicagoshakes.com. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  32. ^ Gans, Andrew (2014-12-05). "Harry Groener and Sharon Lawrence Star in Limited Run of Love, Noel". Playbill. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  33. ^ "A League of Their Own". New Haven Review. 17 May 2015. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  34. ^ "Uncle Vanya". Antaeus Theatre Company. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  35. ^ "Vicuña". Center Theatre Group. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  36. ^ "Cat on a Hot Tin Roof". Antaeus Theatre Company. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  37. ^ "HENRY IV". THE SHAKESPEARE CENTER OF LA. 5 June 2018. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  38. ^ "Three Days in the Country". Antaeus Theatre Company. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  39. ^ "Indecent". Center Theatre Group. Retrieved 2021-04-09.
  40. ^ McNulty, Charles (2022-09-28). "Commentary: Four veteran stage actors discuss taking on risky roles later in life". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved 2023-12-29.
  41. ^ "Water for Elephants // Jun 7–Jul 9, 2023 // Coca-Cola Stage // Alliance Theatre". www.alliancetheatre.org. Retrieved 2023-06-19.
  42. ^ "2009/2010 Ovation Award Winners". LA Stage Alliance. 17 January 2011. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2013.
  43. ^ "Jeff Awards". Archived from the original on 2018-01-02. Retrieved 2013-10-29.
  44. ^ Jones, Chris (11 November 2011). "'Madness' and 'Candide' are top Jeff Award winners". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved 2020-02-19.
  45. ^ Zednick, Jason (30 January 2018). "Winners of 2018 LA Stage Alliance Ovation Awards Announced". Theatre Mania. Retrieved 17 March 2018.