Nathan Lane is a Broadway legend (winning three Tony Awards!) who has occasionally popped up in historical costume movie and TV shows (winning three Emmy Awards!) — just enough that I get to feature him today! He’s funny, smart, and memorable, whether he’s guesting as Bobby Fine on Sex and the City or voicing The Lion King‘s wacky warthog Timon. Lane’s frock flick roles range from comedy to more serious and some feature his musical chops. Let’s enjoy!
Harold Allen in Ironweed (1987)
In this film set during the Great Depression, Lane appears one of the ghosts of the past for Jack Nicholson’s alcoholic character.
Ernie Smuntz in Mousehunt (1997)
A live-action comedy about, yep, a mouse hunt. The time period isn’t clear, kinda vaguely mid-last-century, so I’m including it.
Irving Mansfield in Isn’t She Great (2000)
A comedy about the author of the 1960s bestselling novel, Valley of the Dolls. Bette Midler plays the author, Jacqueline Susann, & Nathan Lane plays her husband/publicist.
In Kenneth Branagh’s reimagined version of Shakespeare as a 1930s musical, Nathan Lane takes on a comedic role, and he leads a musical number.
Max Prince in Laughter on the 23rd Floor (2001)
This TV movie is based on a Neil Simon play which Nathan Lane premiered in on Broadway in 1993. The story is inspired by Simon’s work on 1950s comedy-variety shows.
Mr. & Mrs. Crummles run a theatrical troupe that Nicholas Nickleby briefly performs with.
While I’m still not a Dickens fan, I do like the costumes these theater folk get!
Max Bialystock in The Producers (2005)
I adore this musical, tho’ I’m never sure when it’s supposed to be set. At least in the movie version, there’s a newspaper dated June 14, 1959 in the “opening night” number.
Nathan Lane & Mathew Broderick are a great team (equally good, in different ways, as Zero Mostel & Gene Wilder in the original).
Uncle Albert in The Nutcracker: The Untold Story (2010)
Getting an Albert Einstein vibe here.
Supposedly set in 1920s Vienna with the classic Christmas tale.
Brighton in Mirror Mirror (2012)
Total fantasy, updated riff on Snow White. But Lane’s costume has a great 18th-century style!
18th-century cockroach! Hilarious!
Chauncey Miles in “The Nance,” Live From Lincoln Center (2014)
In this filmed version of the Tony Award winning play, Lane plays a gay burlesque comic who’s closeted off-stage for fear of being arrested.
This TV miniseries is set in 1930s Los Angeles where Detectives Tiago Vega & Lewis Michener (Lane) investigate a gruesome murder.
Ward McAllister in The Gilded Age (2022-25)
Nathan Lane portrays the real McAllister, who proclaimed there were “only 400 people in fashionable New York Society.” Photo by HBO.
He’s closely allied with old-money matron Caroline Astor. Photo by HBO.
In the third season, McAllister publishes his memoirs where he exposes high society’s dirty secrets. Who knows if he’ll be back in the next season? Photo by HBO.
What’s your favorite historical costume movie or TV role by Nathan Lane?
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