John Pankow (born February 18, 1957) is a veteran American actor. He is currently a series regular on the Showtime/BBC series "Episodes", playing Merc Lapidus, the volatile head of a major U.S. television network.
Biography[]
Early life[]
Pankow was born in St. Louis, Missouri, the son of Marion, a homemaker, and Wayne Pankow, who worked in magazine advertising sales.[1] He is the younger brother of trombonist James Pankow, a founding member of the legendary rock group Chicago. He grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois, and attended Maine South High School and later, Northeastern Illinois University.
Career[]
Pankow, a veteran actor of stage, film and television, appeared for seven seasons as Ira Buchman on the NBC sitcom Mad About You.
Pankow is currently a series regular on the Showtime/BBC series Episodes playing American television executive Merc Lapidus.
Personal life[]
Pankow has been married to actress Kristine Sutherland (best known for playing Buffy's mother Joyce Summers on Buffy the Vampire Slayer) since 1985 and together they have a daughter.[2]
Filmography[]
- The Chosen 1981
- The Hunger 1983
- To Live and Die in L.A. 1985
- *batteries not included 1987
- The Secret of My Success 1987
- Monkey Shines 1988
- Talk Radio 1988
- Mortal Thoughts 1991
- Year of the Gun 1991
- A Stranger Among Us 1992
- The Object of My Affection 1998
- Life as a House 2001
- Bride Wars 2009
- The Extra Man 2010
- Morning Glory 2010
- Putzel 2012
New York stage[]
- Merton of the Movies 1980
- The Slab Boys 1980
- Forty-Deuce 1981
- Hunting Scenes From Lower Bavaria 1981
- Amadeus 1981
- Cloud Nine 1982
- Jazz Poets at the Grotto 1982
- Henry V 1984
- The Iceman Cometh 1985
- North Shore Fish 1987
- Two Gentlemen of Verona 1987
- Serious Money 1987
- Italian American Reconciliation 1988
- Aristocrats 1989
- Ice Cream/Hot Fudge 1990
- Scheherazade 1992
- The Tempest 1995
- Baby Anger 1997
- Measure for Measure 2001
- Barbra's Wedding 2003
- Twelve Angry Men 2004
- The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie 2006
- Cymbeline 2007
- Why Torture is Wrong and the People Who Love Them 2009
- Keep Your Pantheon 2009
- School 2009
- Equivocation 2010
- Taming of the Shrew 2012
- Medieval Play 2012
Television series[]
- The Doctors 1981-1982
- The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd 1990-1991
- Mad About You 1993-1999
- Episodes (TV series)|Episodes 2011–present