In a distinguished 30-plus year career, Bob Gunton has played a potpourri of memorable roles in notable productions in theatre, television and film. Most recently, Gunton appeared in Trouble With the Curve and Argo.
On Broadway, Gunton received Tony Award nominations for Sweeney Todd and for his portrayal of Juan Peron in Evita. He was also featured in Big River, Roza, Passion, King Of Hearts, Working and Happy End. He received an Obie Award for playing 21 characters in How I Got That Story, as well as the Clarence Derwent Award for “The Most Promising New New York Actor of 1980.” In 2004, Gunton was nominated for a Barrymore Award for playing the eponymous role in The Great Ostrovsky, which was the great Cy Coleman’s last musical, in a pre-Broadway production.
Gunton’s feature film work runs the gamut from farce to drama. Working with some of Hollywood’s most celebrated directors, he has appeared in Oliver Stone’s JFK and Born On The Fourth Of July; Ed Zwick’s Glory; John Woo’s Broken Arrow; and, most memorably, as the warden in Frank Darabont’s The Shawshank Redemption.
Other of Gunton’s more than two dozen film appearances include Patch Adams, Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls, Dolores Claiborne, Cookie, Matewan, Scenes of the Crime, Rusty and Dallas, Jennifer 8, The Perfect Storm, Lincoln Lawyer and the soon-to-be-released Runner, Runner.
Gunton’s many telefilms, miniseries and cable movies include Mission of the Shark, Wild Palms, When Billy Beat Bobby, Running Mates, 61*, Sinatra (as Tommy Dorsey), Kingfish (as FDR), Elvis Meets Nixon (as Nixon) and Judas and Jesus.
Gunton was a series regular on 24, Courthouse, Greg the Bunny, Hothouse and Peacemakers. He has held recurring roles on Mr. Sterling, Desperate Housewives, E-Ring, Nip/Tuck and Pepper Dennis. He currently holds a recurring role on Royal Pains.
Gunton was awarded a Bronze Star for Valor for his combat service in Vietnam. He is father to recent Yale graduate, Olivia Ann. Gunton and his high school classmate from 40 years ago, the former Carey Ann Pitts, have recently married.