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Matt Letscher

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Matt Letscher
Alma materUniversity of Michigan
Occupations
  • Actor
  • playwright
  • director
Years active1992–present
SpouseJennifer Letscher
Children2

Matt Letscher is an American actor, director and playwright, known for his roles as Captain Harrison Love in the 1998 American swashbuckler film The Mask of Zorro and as Colonel Adelbert Ames in the 2003 American film Gods and Generals. He co-starred in the 2016 Michael Bay film 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi, playing Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. He has also portrayed Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash in The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow.

Education

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Letscher attended college at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, Michigan, where he was a member of the Sigma Nu fraternity and a drama major.[1]

Career

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Acting

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Letscher got his first professional acting job with a role in The Tropic Pickle, during the second season of Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan. Letscher impressed Daniels enough that the veteran arranged a meeting for Letscher with Ron Maxwell, the director of Gettysburg. After appearing in a small role, Letscher took advice from Daniels and moved to Los Angeles. He quickly found work in guest roles on television.[2]

In 1995, Letscher was cast as the naive television writer in the Nancy Travis sitcom Almost Perfect, which lasted for a season and a half. He went on to appear as series regular in Living in Captivity in 1998. The same year, he appeared in the film The Mask of Zorro as the villain Captain Harrison Love. He appeared in the miniseries Jackie, Ethel, Joan: Women of Camelot and in the television films King of Texas, The Beach Boys: An American Family, When Billie Beat Bobby, and Stolen Innocence. He also reunited with Daniels in Gods and Generals (the prequel of Gettysburg) and Daniels' directorial effort Super Sucker. Letscher also returned to The Purple Rose Theatre in the world premiere of Landford Wilson's play Rain Dance.

In 2002, the comedy pilot Good Morning, Miami was picked up by NBC as part of Must See TV Thursday comedy block, but Burke Moses was replaced by Letscher and a second pilot had to be filmed. The romantic comedy sitcom featured Letscher as a smarmy former network anchor who was the primary romantic rival to main character Jake Silver (Mark Feuerstein) for the affection of Dylan (Ashley Williams).[3] Despite the series receiving negative reviews, Letscher and Constance Zimmer were standouts in the series and eventually paired up as a combative couple. But the show was canceled midway though its second season due to low ratings.

His performance in Good Morning, Miami led to him being cast in the lead in the film Straight-Jacket, opposite Carrie Preston, about a gay Hollywood actor forced to marry a beard in the 1950s.[4] His flair for classical farce also led to him being cast in the leading role of Capt. Jack Absolute in the Lincoln Center theater production of Richard Brinsley Sheridan's The Rivals. Letscher was praised for his spirited performance and his costar Robert Easton referred to Letscher as "a perfect classical actor."[2]

Letscher was in the cast of Joey, and had a recurring role on The New Adventures of Old Christine and numerous guest starring roles. After appearing as a kind neighbor in Alan Ball's Towelhead, Letscher was cast in Eli Stone, as Nathan Stone, the prophet's kind-hearted older brother. Despite low ratings, the dramedy series had loyal fans and critical acclaim, earning it a second season which included a larger role for Letscher. His work on Greg Berlanti's Eli Stone lead to his arc on Berlanti's Brothers & Sisters as a love interest for the married Kitty Walker.

In 2012, Letscher starred in the series Bent and Scandal, and was cast in the series The Carrie Diaries as Tom Bradshaw, Carrie Bradshaw's widowed father.[5][6] The show ran for two seasons from 2013 until 2014.[7] He appeared in the 2013 films, Atom Egoyan's Devil's Knot (about The West Memphis Three) and Spike Jonze's comedy Her, opposite Amy Adams.[8] Letscher portrayed Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash, initially in a recurring role on The Flash and later as a regular in season two of Legends of Tomorrow,[9] and reprised the role in two episodes of its seventh season.[10]

Writing

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In June 2007, Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theatre Company in Chelsea, Michigan, staged the world premiere of Letscher's original play Sea of Fools, a farce set in Joseph McCarthy-era Hollywood. Film director Elia Kazan is a character in the play. Daniels initially planned to direct the play but pulled out, allowing Letscher to also direct the play.

In 2009, his play Gaps in the Fossil Record was staged at the Pacific Resident Theater, then had its world premiere production at the Purple Rose Theatre in 2016.[11]

In 2010, he co-wrote (with Nipper Knapp and Andrew Newberg) and starred in the comedy pilot Gentrification, which won best writing at the Comedy Central New York Television Festival.

Personal life

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Letscher has a wife, Jennifer,[12] with two children.[2]

Filmography

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Film roles
Year Film Role Notes
1993 Gettysburg Young 2nd Maine man
1995 Not This Part of the World Tom
Prehysteria! 3 Needlemeyer Direct-to-video
1996 Power 98 Eddie Voice
1997 Lovelife Danny
1998 The Mask of Zorro Captain Harrison Love Nominated—Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Best Villain
2000 John John in the Sky John Clairborne
2002 Super Sucker Howard Butterworth
2003 Gods and Generals Colonel Adelbert Ames
Identity Greg
2004 Straight-Jacket Guy Stone
2005 Madison Owen
Heart of the Beholder Mike Howard
2007 Towelhead Gil Hines
2010 Radio Free Albemuth Mr. Brady
2013 Devil's Knot Paul Ford
Her Charles
2014 Teacher of the Year Mitch Carter
2015 Day Out of Days Jason
2016 13 Hours: The Secret Soldiers of Benghazi Ambassador Chris Stevens
2019 Countdown Charlie Harris
Television roles
Year Title Role Notes
1993 Saved by the Bell: The College Years Rick Episode: "Rush Week"
1994 Silk Stalkings Harley Eastlake Episode: "Head 'N' Tail"
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman Tom Jennings Episode: "Life and Death"
The Larry Sanders Show Daniel Palmer Episode: "The Fourteenth Floor"
Ellen Steve Morgan Episode: "The Toast"
Long Shadows Nathan Television film
1995 Vanishing Son N/A Episode: "Holy Ghosts"
The Watcher Episode: "Heartburned"
Silk Stalkings Jeff Chadwick Episode: "I Know What Scares You"
Stolen Innocence Eddie Television film
1995–1997 Almost Perfect Rob Paley Main role; 34 episodes
1998 Living in Captivity Will Marek Main role; 7 episodes
1999 NYPD Blue Witness Episode: "What's Up, Chuck?"
Love, American Style Ned Episode: "Love in the Old South"
2000 The Beach Boys: An American Family Mike Love Television film
2001 Jackie, Ethel, Joan: The Women of Camelot Ted Kennedy Miniseries; 2 episodes
When Billie Beat Bobby Larry King Television film
2002 Providence Kevin Norris 3 episodes
King of Texas Emmett Westover Television film
2002–2003 Good Morning, Miami Gavin Stone Main role; 31 episodes
2004–2005 Joey Eric Garrett 5 episodes
2005 Criminal Minds Vincent Shyer Episode: "Broken Mirror"
2006–2007 The New Adventures of Old Christine Burton Schaefer 5 episodes
2006 The West Wing Peter Blake Episode: "Welcome to Wherever You Are"
Saved Robbie Cole Episode: "Family"
Justice Will Bechtel Episode: "Shark Week"
2007 Boston Legal ADA Adam Mersel Episode: "Angel of Death"
CSI: Miami Dr. Mike Lasker Episode: "Broken Home"
2008–2009 Eli Stone Nathan Stone Main role; 21 episodes
2009–2010 Brothers & Sisters Alec Tyler 5 episodes
2009 Entourage Dan Coakley 3 episodes
2009 Medium Dr. Erik Westphal Episode: "You Give Me Fever"
2010 Drop Dead Diva A.J. Fowler Episode: "Good Grief"
Amish Grace Gideon Graber Television film
2011 The Good Wife Adam Boras Episode: "Two Courts"
2011 Pound Puppies Hunky man, ticket seller, Ref Voice; episode: "Quintuplets"
2012 Bent Ben 5 episodes
2012–2013 Scandal Billy Chambers 8 episodes
2013–2014 The Carrie Diaries Tom Bradshaw Main role; 26 episodes
2014 Boardwalk Empire Joseph P. Kennedy 4 episodes
2014–2015 Castle Henry Jenkins 3 episodes
2014 CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Major Bernard Mills Episode: "Angle of Attack"
2015 The Exes Charles Hayward 2 episodes
2015–2016, 2022–2023 The Flash Eobard Thawne / Reverse-Flash Recurring role; 8 episodes
2016–2017, 2022 Legends of Tomorrow Main role (season 2), guest (season 7); 14 episodes
2017 Hell's Kitchen Himself Guest diner; Episode: "Tequila Shots?"
2018 Will & Grace James Wise 3 episodes
2018–2021 Narcos: Mexico Jaime Kuykendall 20 episodes
2020 Angel of Darkness William Randolph Hearst 8 episodes
2021 The Rookie Cooper Sanford Episode: "Hit and Run"
Web series roles
Year Title Role Notes
2009 The Hustler Dad Episode: "Piñata Hustler"
2014–2016 One & Done Matthew Main role; 7 episodes
Also co-creator, writer, director, and producer
Video game roles
Year Title Role Note
2010 BioShock 2 Additional voices Minerva's Den DLC

Theater

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As an actor
Year Play Role Theater/Company
1992 The Tropical Pickle Birmingham Purple Rose Theatre (regional)
1993 The Seagull Fountain Theater (regional)
1995 The Sisters David Turzin Fountain Theater (regional)
1997–1998 Proposals Ray Broadhurst Theater (Broadway)
1999 Absolution David Los Angeles Court Theater (regional)
2000 Love's Labour's Lost Berowne Old Globe Theater (regional)
2000 Tonight at 8.30 Toby Cartwright Pacific Resident Theater (regional)
2001 Rain Dance Hank Purple Rose Theatre (regional)
2002 On Approval George Pacific Resident Theater (regional)
2004–2005 The Rivals Captain Jack Absolute Lincoln Center (Broadway)
2006 Double Double Duncan Williamson Theater Festival (regional)
2006 Ridiculous Fraud Kap South Coast Repertory (regional)
2007 Anatol Anatol Pacific Resident Theater (regional), Los Angeles Drama Desk Award-Lead Performance
2008 What We Have Jonas South Coast Repertory (regional)
2010 In a Garden Hacket South Coast Repertory (regional)
2010 The Language Archive George Roundabout Theater Company (Off-Broadway)
As a playwright
Year Play Theater/Company
2007 Sea of Fools Purple Rose Theatre (regional)
2009 Gaps in the Fossil Record Pacific Resident Theatre (regional)
2016 Gaps in the Fossil Record Purple Rose Theatre (regional)

References

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  1. ^ "UM School of Music, Theatre & Dance - Department of Theatre & Drama - Alumni". Music.umich.edu. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  2. ^ a b c Hoffner, Josh (January 2, 2005). "Matt Letscher makes transition from Must See TV to theater". The Post and Courier. p. 2E. Retrieved February 19, 2014.[dead link‍]
  3. ^ Karger, Dave (September 13, 2002). "Fall TV Preview". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  4. ^ Director's Comedy, DVD Straight-Jacket
  5. ^ Briganti, Vicki (February 11, 2013). "'The Carrie Diaries' Matt Letscher Remembers the '80". The CW Pittsburgh. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  6. ^ Michael Ausiello (2012-05-11). "The Carrie Diaries, Arrow and Beauty and the Beast TV Shows Picked Up By The CW". TVLine. Retrieved 2014-01-07.
  7. ^ Harp, Justin (May 8, 2014). "Carrie Diaries cancelled by The CW". Digital Spy. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  8. ^ "The Carrie Diaries cast bio". Archived from the original on 2013-01-20. Retrieved 2013-02-04.
  9. ^ Abrams, Natalie (December 23, 2015). "'The Flash': Matt Letscher returning as Reverse-Flash". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 2, 2021.
  10. ^ Mitovich, Matt Webb (January 13, 2022). "Legends of Tomorrow: Matt Letscher Returning as Thawne — Here's Why". TVLine. Retrieved January 14, 2022.
  11. ^ Kiley, Anne (Mar 8, 2016). "Tickets on sale now for Purple Rose's "Gaps in the Fossil Record"". Encore Michigan. Retrieved Sep 25, 2019.
  12. ^ "A Perfectly Scripted Opening Night for The Language Archive". Broadway.com. October 18, 2010. Retrieved February 19, 2014.
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