Alan Rosenberg
American actor (born 1950)
title: "Alan Rosenberg" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1950-births", "american-male-film-actors", "passaic-high-school-alumni", "presidents-of-the-screen-actors-guild", "american-male-television-actors", "american-male-voice-actors", "case-western-reserve-university-alumni", "jewish-american-male-actors", "living-people", "male-actors-from-passaic,-new-jersey", "american-people-of-german-jewish-descent", "20th-century-american-male-actors", "21st-century-american-male-actors", "activists-from-new-jersey", "21st-century-american-jews"] description: "American actor (born 1950)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Rosenberg" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0
::summary American actor (born 1950) ::
::data[format=table title="Infobox officeholder"]
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| name | Alan Rosenberg |
| image | Alan Rosenberg.jpg |
| caption | Rosenberg in 2007 |
| birth_date | |
| birth_place | Passaic, New Jersey, U.S. |
| education | Case Western Reserve University (BA) |
| occupation | Actor |
| blank1 | Years active |
| data1 | 1978–present |
| spouse | {{plainlist |
| * {{marriage | Robin Bartlett |
| * {{marriage | Marg Helgenberger |
| children | 1 |
| relatives | Mark Rosenberg |
| (brother) | |
| Donald Fagen | |
| (cousin) | |
| office2 | President of the Screen Actors Guild |
| term_start2 | 2005 |
| term_end2 | 2009 |
| predecessor2 | Melissa Gilbert |
| successor2 | Ken Howard |
| :: |
| name = Alan Rosenberg | image = Alan Rosenberg.jpg | caption = Rosenberg in 2007 | birth_date = | birth_place = Passaic, New Jersey, U.S. | education = Case Western Reserve University (BA) | occupation = Actor | blank1 = Years active | data1 = 1978–present | spouse = {{plainlist|
| children = 1 | relatives = Mark Rosenberg (brother) Donald Fagen (cousin) | office2 = President of the Screen Actors Guild | term_start2 = 2005 | term_end2 = 2009 | predecessor2 = Melissa Gilbert |successor2 = Ken Howard Alan Rosenberg (born October 4, 1950) is an American actor best known for portraying the character Eli Levinson in both American legal drama series Civil Wars and L.A. Law; as well as, Ira Woodbine on the television sitcom Cybill, Stuart Brickman on Chicago Hope and Professor Youens on Shameless. He also appeared in the films The Wanderers (1979) and Robots (2005). From 2005 to 2009, Rosenberg was president of the Screen Actors Guild.
Early life, family and education
Rosenberg was born on October 4, 1950, and raised in Passaic, New Jersey, in a Conservative Judaism household. Rosenberg's late brother, Mark, was a political activist in the 1960s, later a film producer. Their first cousin, also from Passaic, is musician/songwriter Donald Fagen, co-founder of the group Steely Dan.
Rosenberg attended Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio, where he majored in political science with plans to go into law.
Career
In 1979, Rosenberg appeared in the movie The Wanderers, as Turkey. He supplied the voice of the bounty hunter Boba Fett on NPR's adaptation of The Empire Strikes Back.
Rosenberg is also known for his appearance as the crazed "Mad Bomber" in the 1986 cult-classic Stewardess School and Paul Bartel's screwball comedy Not for Publication opposite Nancy Allen (1984). He played Ira Woodbine in the sitcom Cybill.
In 1991, he appeared in the TV film The Boys. In 1995, he received an Emmy Award nomination for a guest-starring role in the hit drama ER. He starred in The Temptations miniseries in 1998 as long-time manager Shelly Berger.
In 1999, he began a recurring role as the hospital legal counsel, Stuart Brickman, on Chicago Hope. Halfway through their final season, he was added to the opening titles as a series regular. He performed in the legal drama The Guardian as Alvin Masterson.
He appeared on Broadway in What's Wrong With This Picture and Lost In Yonkers, and off-Broadway in Isn't It Romantic, A Prayer for My Daughter, and Kid Champion. He most recently starred at the Delaware Theatre Company production of Partners, written by Allan Katz.
He was elected the 24th president of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) on September 23, 2005, succeeding Melissa Gilbert, who had served as president since 2001 and chose not to run for a third two-year term. He received 39.99 percent (10,748 total votes) of the nationwide vote of the Guild's general membership, defeating Morgan Fairchild and Robert Conrad.
In 2005, he appeared as shady defense attorney Adam Novak in an episode of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation co-starring alongside his real-life wife Marg Helgenberger. Novak was portrayed as a womanizer who encounters Catherine (Helgenberger) in a bar and later became the prime suspect in two homicides. In a 2007 episode "Leaving Las Vegas" he appears as a lawyer defending a client who turns out to be guilty of two separate crimes, and yet the evidence fails to pin him down, resulting in a not guilty verdict which annoys Catherine so much that she undertakes further investigation.
In 2006, he had a recurring role as Bruce Steinerman, the divorce attorney of Dr. James Wilson in the television-series House M.D. He has hosted episodes of the public television program, Life: Part 2, which began in 2007 and is produced in St. Paul, Minnesota. The show features panel discussions about issues that baby boomers face as they age.
In 2015, he appeared as Dr. William Golliher in the Amazon original series Bosch. In 2016, he had a recurring role as shady investor William Sutter on the USA Network drama Suits.
From 2016 to 2017, he had a recurring role in the Showtime series Shameless (seasons 6–8). He portrayed Professor Youens, an alcoholic college professor and mentor to Lip Gallagher.
Personal life
Rosenberg's first marriage was to actress Robin Bartlett, from 1976 to 1984.
He met Marg Helgenberger in New York City in 1984, while guest-starring on her soap opera Ryan's Hope. The two became friends and began dating in 1986. They married in 1989 and have a son, Hugh Howard Rosenberg (b. October 21, 1990).
As a result of Helgenberger's mother's 27-year battle with breast cancer, Helgenberger and Rosenberg became involved in the fight against the disease. They hosted an annual benefit, Marg and Alan's Celebrity Weekend, in Omaha, Nebraska, beginning in 1999.
After 19 years together, on December 1, 2008, Rosenberg and Helgenberger announced their separation; the divorce was finalized in February 2010.
Filmography
Film
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | The Wanderers | Turkey | |
| 1980 | Happy Birthday, Gemini | Francis Geminiani | |
| 1984 | Not for Publication | Bernie | |
| 1986 | Stewardess School | Mad Bomber | |
| 1987 | White of the Eye | Mike Desantos | |
| 1988 | The Last Temptation of Christ | Thomas, Apostle | |
| 1988 | Miracle Mile | Mike | |
| 1989 | Peacemaker | David Cooper | Short film |
| 1989 | After Midnight | Richard | Segment: "All Night Operator" |
| 1990 | Impulse | Charley Katz | |
| 1994 | On Hope | Arnie | Short film |
| 2001 | Reaching Normal | Frank | |
| 2002 | The Bum | The Bum | Short film |
| 2005 | Robots | Jack Hammer | Voice role |
| 2008 | Righteous Kill | Stein | |
| 2008 | Welcome to Los Feliz | Bob White | |
| 2014 | Still Here | Stan | Short film |
| The Next Cassavetes | SAG Rep | unfinishedconcept promoted in 2010, scenes filmed in 2016 | |
| :: |
Television
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | Barnaby Jones | Ray Reed | Episode: "Memory of a Nightmare" |
| 1981 | Texas | Doctor | Soap opera, 1 episode |
| 1982 | Nine to Five | Instructor | Episode: "Real Men Don't Make Quiche" |
| 1985 | Robert Kennedy and His Times | Jack Newfield | Miniseries, main cast |
| 1985 | Kojak: The Belarus File | Lustig | TV movie |
| 1986 | Promise | Dr. Pressman | TV movie |
| 1987 | The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd | Martin Storm | Episode: "Here's Why Good Guys Sometimes Wear Black" |
| 1987 | The King of Love | Jay Schoen | TV movie |
| 1989 | Capone Behind Bars | Frank Nitti | TV movie |
| 1989 | Coach | Professor John Sterling | Episode: "Kelly and the Professor" |
| 1989 | The Preppie Murder | Dan Levin | TV movie |
| 1989 | Empty Nest | Professor Brooks | Episode: "Overdue for a Job" |
| 1989–1994 | L.A. Law | Eli Levinson, Lawyer William Wills | Main cast (season 8) |
| 1990 | Bar Girls | Miles | TV movie |
| 1990 | Parker Kane | Morris | TV movie |
| 1990 | Lucky Chances | Costa | Miniseries, supporting cast |
| 1990 | Midnight Caller | J.D. Stillwell | 2 episodes |
| 1990 | Over My Dead Body | Kurt | Episode: "Dead Air" |
| 1991 | The Boys | Psychiatrist | TV movie |
| 1991 | ...And Then She Was Gone | Alan Dunlap | TV movie |
| 1991–1993 | Civil Wars | Eli Levinson | Main cast |
| 1993 | The Tommyknockers | Jack Kimble | Miniseries, episode: "Part 1" |
| 1993 | Partners | Unknown role | TV movie |
| 1994 | ER | Samuel Gasner | Episode: "Into That Good Night" |
| 1994 | Witch Hunt | N.J. Gottlieb | TV movie |
| 1995 | Freaky Friday | Bill Davidson | TV movie |
| 1995 | Aaahh!!! Real Monsters | Huckter, Skater | 1 episode (voice role) |
| 1995–1998 | Cybill | Ira Woodbine, Zechariah | Main cast |
| 1996 | On Seventh Avenue | Phillip Reiman | TV movie |
| 1996 | Undue Influence | Harry Hines | TV movie |
| 1996 | Rugrats | Mr. Dreidel, TV Announcer | Episode: "Chanukah" (voice role) |
| 1996 | Breaking Through | Ned Burkett | TV movie |
| 1997 | Duckman | Dr. Bob | Episode: "How to Suck in Business Without Really Trying" (voice role) |
| 1997 | Cloned | Dr. Wesley Kozak | TV movie |
| 1998 | Murphy Brown | Max Llewelyn | Episode: "The Last Temptation of Murphy" |
| 1998 | Giving Up the Ghost | Jake | TV movie |
| 1998 | The Temptations | Shelly Berger | Miniseries |
| 1998 | L.A. Doctors | Dr. Keith Burke | Episode: "The Code" |
| 1998 | Bronx County | Unknown role | TV movie |
| 1999 | Hercules | Boreas | Episode: "Hercules and the Spartan Experience" (voice role) |
| 1999 | Touched by an Angel | T.K. McKenna | Episode: "The Medium and the Message" |
| 1999 | The Wild Thornberrys | Hyena | Episode: "No Laughing Matter" (voice role) |
| 1999 | A Touch of Hope | Dr. Rohan | TV movie |
| 1999 | Family Law | Unknown role | Episode: "Decisions" |
| 1999–2000 | Chicago Hope | Stuart Brickman | Main cast (season 6) |
| 2000 | Level 9 | Colonel Lavalle | Episode: "Through the Looking Glass" |
| 2001 | A Mother's Fight for Justice | Geoff Stone | TV movie |
| 2002 | L.A. Law: The Movie | Eli Levinson | TV movie, uncredited cameo |
| 2001–2004 | The Guardian | Alvin Masterson | Main cast |
| 2005 | NYPD Blue | Barry Olshan | Episode: "Lenny Scissorhands" |
| 2005 | Numb3rs | Judge Franklin Trelane | Episode: "Judgment Call" |
| 2005–2007 | CSI: Crime Scene Investigation | Adam Novak | 2 episodes |
| 2006 | House | Bruce Steinerman | Episode: "Whac-A-Mole" |
| 2009 | American Dad! | Lawyer #1 | Episode: "Live and Let Fry" (voice role) |
| 2011 | Harry's Law | Dr. Carleton | Episode: "Send in the Clowns" |
| 2011–2012 | Luck | Nick DeRossi | Recurring role |
| 2014–2021 | Bosch | Dr. William Golliher | Recurring role (seasons 1, 7) |
| 2016 | Suits | William Sutter | 6 episodes |
| 2016–2017 | Shameless | Professor Youens | Recurring role (seasons 6–8) |
| 2017 | Elementary | Sydney Garber | Episode: "Fidelity" |
| 2017 | APB | Professor Malkova | Episode: "Strange Bedfellows" |
| 2017 | Training Day | Jack Rawls | Episode: "Bad Day at Aqua Mesa" |
| 2018 | The Good Fight | Len Gottlieb | Episode: "Day 485" |
| 2022 | Bosch: Legacy | Dr. William Golliher | 3 episodes |
| 2022 | Mo | Aba Weinberg | 3 episodes |
| :: |
Video games
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 2005 | Robots | Jack Hammer |
| :: |
Radio
::data[format=table]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Star Wars | Boba Fett | Episode: "The Empire Strikes Back" |
| :: |
References
References
- Berrin, Danielle. (March 18, 2009). "Is SAG's Rosenberg Serving the Cause, or Wreaking Havoc?". JewishJournal.com.
- Pfefferman, Naomi. (June 6, 2002). "'Letters' From the Heart". JewishJournal.com.
- (Spring 2009). "In Theater and Politics, Alan Rosenberg Affirms the Lessons of His Undergraduate Years". [[Case Western Reserve University]].
- "Life: Part 2". [[PBS]].org.
- "About Life (Part 2)".
- Rodman, Sarah. (11 February 2015). "Amazon squeezes quality pulp out of 'Bosch'". [[Boston Globe]].
- "Rosenberg, Alan 1950(?)- (Alan Rosenburg)".
- Fleeman, Mike. (December 1, 2008). "Marg Helgenberger & Husband Separate After 19 Years". [[People (magazine).
- Davies, Rebecca. (December 28, 2009). "'CSI' star's divorce final by February".
- (2010-08-25). "The Next Cassavetes".
- (2016-08-05). "The Next Cassavetes".
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