What Women Want

Background:

American actor Mark Feuerstein collected off-Broadway credits before gaining his breakthrough on television with recurring roles on ABC's soap “Loving” (1995-1996) and NBC's sitcom “Caroline in the City” (1996-1997), in which he played Caroline's boyfriend, Joe. He was also seen as a regular on the NBC sitcoms “Fired Up” (1997) and “Conrad Bloom” (1998), but both shows had short lives. One of People magazine’s “50 Most Beautiful People” in 2003, Feuerstein has since acted in such films as “Practical Magic” (1998), Albert Brooks' “The Muse,” Giving It Up” (both 1999), “Woman on Top” (2000), “What Women Want” (2000, earned a Blockbuster Entertainment nomination), “Abandon” (2002), “In Her Shoes” (2005), “Love Shack” (2008) and “Defiance” (2008). He also had recurring roles in “Once and Again” (2000) and “The West Wing” (2001-2005) and a regular role on “Good Morning, Miami” (2002-2004).

Outside the limelight, the boyishly handsome performer is married to Dana Klein, with whom he has a daughter. He has been a constant supporter and activist for AIDS charities. His favorite movies include “Annie Hall” (1977), “The Godfather” (1972) and “Rocky (1976).” During his leisure time, he enjoys mountain biking, dancing, jogging, and wrestling.

“Once you become an actor, it's important to take care of yourself. I live in Santa Monica, where I can mountain bike, hike and go running on the beach. I like a nice sunset jog.” Mark Feuerstein

Chaplin

Childhood and Family:

Mark Feuerstein was born on June 8, 1971, in New York, New York, to an attorney father and a school teacher mother named Audrey. His brother is a flourishing real estate lawyer. Mark attended The Dalton School and then Princeton University. In high school, he excelled in wrestling and won the state championship. After graduating from Princeton in 1993, Mark went to London to study at the Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, where he won a full scholarship. He also studied the art of physical comedy at Ecole Phillipe Gaulier in France.

On July 9, 2005, Mark married TV writer Dana Klein in a Jewish ceremony in Santa Barbara, California. They have a daughter named Lila Jane. Mark earned the nickname “Chaplin” on the set of “Giving It Up” (1999) due to his knack for physical comedy.

Conrad Bloom

Career:

After completing college, Mark studied acting in London and trained with the top clown teacher in France. Upon returning to New York City, he acted in regional theater productions and performed with the Naked Angels and Classic Stage Company. Some of his off-Broadway credits include “Funky Crazy Boogaloo Boy,” “Misanthrope,” “Macbeth,” “Awake & Sing,” “King Lear” and “Three Sisters.”

Feuerstein's first television break arrived with a one-season recurring role on the ABC soap opera “Loving” (1995-1996). After relocating to Los Angeles, he found early fame with the NBC sitcom “Caroline in the City,” which cast the newcomer as the philandering veterinarian boyfriend of the titular character (played by Lea Thompson). He appeared in the show in seven episodes during the 1996-1997 seasons. Feuerstein's performance won notice from audiences, which prompted the network to put him in the sitcom “Fired Up” (1997-1998). Unfortunately, the series did not last long. Following a stint in CBS' soap “The Guiding Light” (1997), Feuerstein returned to NBC to star in the series “Conrad Bloom” (1998). The show was soon axed. With two failed sitcoms under his belt, Feuerstein was labeled by many critics as “sitcom kryptonite,” “murderer of a thousand sitcoms” and “batting for Tom Arnold's record” and was often ignored by audiences.

Feuerstein made his feature acting debut in the small role of Micheal, Sandra Bullock's ill-fated husband, on “Practical Magic” (1998). He followed it up with a starring role in the independent romantic comedy “Giving It Up” (1999), opposite Amy Hart Redford, and supporting parts in the Albert Brooks comedy “The Muse” (1999) and “30 Days” (1999), an indie comedy from writer/director Aaron Harnick. Also in 1999, he debuted on Broadway as the successor of Paul Rudd in Alfred Uhry's Tony award winning play “The Last Night of Ballyhoo.”

After landing a guest spot in the hit “Ally McBeal” (2000), Feuerstein supported Tommy Lee Jones, Samuel L. Jackson, Guy Pearce and Ben Kingsley in the action film “Rules of Engagement” (2000), acted alongside Penélope Cruz, Murilo Benício and Harold Perrineau in Tina Torres' “Woman on Top” (2000) and offered a fine portrayal of Mel Gibson's sidekick in Nancy Meyers' “What Women Want” (2000), from which he received a 2001 Blockbuster Entertainment nomination for Favorite Supporting Actor – Comedy/Romance. On working with Penelope Cruz in “Woman On Top,” he stated, “I can't say enough nice things about her. She is amazing. You would think, looking at her, 'Well, she can't be smart, funny, and a good actress,' but she is all these things and more. She's great at imitations, dancing, partying, and she's a great person too. She doesn't do it for show. One day when we were shooting in Pellerinho, a small town in Bahia, Brazil, we're hanging out on a street corner and there's this little boy who's dirty, dressed in rags, who is begging. She takes him by the hand and walks him to a sandwich shop and buys him two roast beef sandwiches. There's no one around writing an article about her, this is just Penelope being herself.”

2000 also marked Feuerstein's return to series TV as a recurring performer when he was hired to play Leo Fisher on the ABC drama “Once and Again,” starring Sela Ward and Bill Campbell. The following year, he returned to NBC to appear in three episodes of “The West Wing” and in 2002 and 2005, his character reappeared on the show for several more episodes.

Still with NBC, Feuerstein was cast in the regular role of Jake Silver on the comedy “Good Morning, Miami,” where he costarred with Ashley Williams and Constance Zimmer. He played the role from 2002 to 2004, when the show came to its demise. The actor also appeared with Katie Holmes and Benjamin Bratt in Stephen Gaghan's drama “Abandon” (2002), had scenes deleted in “Two Weeks Notice” (2002), starring “Practical Magic” co-star Sandra Bullock, and was featured in the indie-drama “Three Days of Rain” (2003). On stage, he performed in 2002's “Miss Julie,” and off-Broadway productions of “A Bad Friend” and “Turnaround” (both 2003).

2005 found Feuerstein starring with Cameron Diaz and Tony Toni Collette in director Curtis Hanson's “In Her Shoes,” based on a best-selling novel by Jennifer Weiner. Explaining about the movie, he said, “It's not a chick flick. Guys should go see this movie because if anybody has a brother out there or is interested in their relationship with their family - or enjoys seeing Cameron Diaz in a bikini - this will appeal to you.”

The same year, Feuerstein also made guest appearances in “The Closer” and “Law & Order.” He then starred as Case in Sam Friedlander's drama “Lucid,” had a supporting role in “Shut Up and Sing” and costarred as Dr. Jonathan Seger on the short-lived drama “3 lbs” (all 2006).

Feuerstein has completing filming “Love Shack” (2008), a comedy directed and written by Gregg Sacon and Michael B. Silver. He also has a part in the upcoming “Defiance” (2008). The drama stars Daniel Craig, Liev Schreiber, Jamie Bell and George MacKay.

Awards:
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