Alan Rosenberg
Alan Rosenberg
Shameless, L.A. Law, Cybill
Second Chance! This doodle, originally auctioned in 2013, was generously re-donated by the winner.
A true actor's actor, Rosenberg has earned a formidable list of credits encompassing the stage, motion pictures and television. His best-known credits include his portrayal of Eli Levinson on the 1990s courtroom series CIVIL WARS – a character so popular it was reprised on the hit TV series L.A. LAW. Rosenberg also won legions of fans for his portrayals of Ira Woodbine, the amiable ex-husband of Cybill Shepherd, on the sitcom CYBILL, and Alvin Masterson on THE GUARDIAN. From 2016 to 2017, he had a recurring role in the Showtime cable series SHAMELESS (seasons 6 - 8). He portrayed Professor Youens, a college professor who is a recovering alcoholic.
On film, Rosenberg memorably portrayed the apostle Thomas in Martin Scorsese’s THE LAST TEMPTATION OF CHRIST. And on Broadway, he performed in LOST IN YONKERS, among other credits. In 1995, he received an Emmy nomination for his guest role as an ailing cardiac patient on NBC’s ER. He has also lent his talents to recurring appearances on CSI, Fox's House, MD, and HBO's tv series LUCK.
A native of Passaic, New Jersey, entertainment and social justice are blended in Rosenberg's DNA. His father, a businessman, was also a swing band musician. His older brother, Mark, a former president of Warner Bros., was a prominent civil rights activist, and his sister-in-law is the highly acclaimed producer Paula Weinstein. He cites his brother, who passed away in 1992, as an enormous influence on his life and outlook. "I came of age in the sixties," Rosenberg explains, a time during which he was highly involved in the civil rights movement and protested the Vietnam War. "I fell in love with acting and became politically active simultaneously. I am passionate about the need for social and political change and believe our art can help transform the world. I learned back then that large groups of people can achieve amazing things when bound together by a just cause. I also learned that you have to be bold in standing up for what you believe."
Rosenberg first became active in union politics as a New York stage actor. He recalls earning his Actors' Equity card as "one of the proudest moments of my life." He first ran for the national board of Screen Actors Guild in the wake of the September 11th attacks, unhappy with the country's direction. In 2005, he was elected to the Guild presidency by his fellow actors on a platform that called for greater openness in union governance and a tougher stand against networks and studios for fair compensation.
Alan Rosenberg at the Internet Movie Database