Beloved '90s Actor With Appearance in Award-Winning Film Turns 86
Beloved '90s Actor With Appearance in Award-Winning Film Turns 86
Nina DerwinSat, March 28, 2026 at 1:22 AM UTC
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(Photo by Jack Hamilton/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Beloved character actor of the stage and screen, Austin Pendleton, is celebrating his 86th birthday.
Born in Warren, Ohio on March 27, 1940, Pendleton went on to become a respected figure in both theater and film, known for his unique delivery and ability to bring depth to even the smallest roles. He trained at Yale School of Drama and quickly established himself in the world of stage acting before transitioning into film and television.
Many audiences remember him for his role in the comedy My Cousin Vinny, where he played a nervous public defender with a stutter in one of the film’' most memorable scenes. The movie, which went on to become a beloved classic, also earned Marisa Tomei an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
"When I saw that the part had a stammer, I called up [director] Jonathan [Lynn] and said, 'What ever made you think I would do this?' cause, as a kid - and a little bit into my early adulthood - I had a real problem with that - and he knew it," Pendleton told Broadway World. He said, 'Well, you understand it,' and I said, 'Jonathan. No way am I doing that movie.' I do, incidentally, think it's a brilliant script and the kind of material that you do better than anyone in the world, but I do not want this part. I don't want to do it, I don't want to revisit that.' And he said ok."
That was almost the end of the story, but Lynn knew Pendleton was perfect for the role and wouldn't relent.
"I came home and my wife said, 'Jonathan wants to take you to dinner at the Greek restaurant around the corner.' I said, 'I know what this is about, no way is he going to persuade me to do this movie,'" Pendleton continued. "Well, two bottles of whiskey later, I agreed to do it. And it was a nightmare to do because I had a real problem with it when I was a teenager, and then I worked my way through it as an actor through a lot of vocal training. You're always afraid that if you do it, it's going to start up again, even if you're doing it as an actor, it's going to release all that out again, and you're going to be stuck with it again."
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Beyond that role, Pendleton has appeared in a wide range of projects over the years, including films like What's Up, Doc? and numerous television appearances. At the same time, he maintained a strong connection to theater, working as both an actor and director in acclaimed stage productions.
In 1981, Pendelton earned a Tony Award nomination for Best Direction of a Play for the Broadway revival of The Little Foxes, starring Elizabeth Taylor. The nomination was just one of many accolades he's received within the world of theater.
"I was in [The Little Foxes] as an actor before, directed by Mike Nichols, with Anne Bancroft, so when I was asked to direct it 14 years later, I knew this brilliant play very, very well," Pendleton said in an interview. "Taylor was great, I mean she had real presence on stage. You didn’t have to worry about that. She had stage sophistication and she was a great colleague with everybody, including me. She was one of the people."
At 86, his long and varied career continues to stand as a testament to the lasting impact of great character actors, those who may not always take center stage, but leave a lasting impression all the same.
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This story was originally published by Parade on Mar 28, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
