{{short description|American actor and singer-songwriter}} {{Infobox person | name = David Pevsner | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1958|12|31}} | birth_place = Skokie, Illinois, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | education = Carnegie Mellon University (BFA) | occupation = {{hlist|Actor|singer|writer}} }} '''David Pevsner''' (born December 31, 1958) is an American actor, singer, dancer, and writer.<ref>{{cite web |first=Valerie-Jean |last=Hume |date=May 18, 2013 |title=Review: David Pevsner Bares His Sexual Soul in Desert Rose's ''Musical Comedy Whore'' |url=http://www.cvindependent.com/index.php/en-US/arts-and-culture/theater/item/364-review-david-pevsner-bares-his-sexual-soul-in-desert-rose-s-musical-comedy-whore |website=CV Independent |agency=High Country News |access-date=December 27, 2016 }}</ref> Pevsner appeared in the 1990 revival of ''Fiddler on the Roof'', 1991 revival of ''Rags'', and some other theatrical productions. He also wrote three songs for the 1999 musical ''Naked Boys Singing!'', including "Perky Little Porn Star." He wrote and produced two one-person shows, ''To Bitter and Back'' (2003) and ''Musical Comedy Whore'' (2013). Pevsner portrayed mostly minor roles in films and television. His major screen roles are Ebenezer Scrooge in ''Scrooge & Marley'', the 2012 film adaptation of ''A Christmas Carol'', and Ross Stein in a 2011 web series ''Old Dogs & New Tricks''. He recorded the 2016 album ''Most Versatile'', whose album cover pays homage to Bruce Springsteen's album ''Born in the U.S.A.''<ref name="GoPride"/>
==Early life== David Pevsner was born December 31, 1958, in Skokie, Illinois.<ref>{{cite book|last=Willis|first=John|title=Theatre World. Vol. 48: 1991-1992 Season|location=New York|publisher=Applause Theatre Book Publishers|date=1994|isbn=9781557831439|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=pTjjq1o8AcgC|page=225}}</ref> He attended Niles East High School in the same Chicago suburb and participated in its theater program.<ref name="Wisconsin"/> He graduated from Carnegie-Mellon University in Pittsburgh with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.<ref name="Chicago2002"/>
==Career== ===Stage work=== Pevsner appeared in multiple theatrical productions. He appeared in the 1980s revival of a play ''A Flash of Lightning'', written by Augustin Daly, portraying the role of Terry.<ref>{{cite book |title=The New York Times Theater Reviews |year = 1989|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=rKIjAQAAIAAJ&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia |page=153 |access-date=December 28, 2016 |via=Google Books }}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Willis |author-link=John A. Willis |year=1987 |title=Theatre World: 1985–1986 Season |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=z_AZAQAAIAAJ&q=%22david+pevsner%22+%22flash+of+lightning%22+-wikipedia |volume=42 |publisher=Crown Publishers |page=92 |isbn=9780517565308 |access-date=December 28, 2016 |via=Google Books }}</ref> He also appeared in the 1990 Broadway revival of the musical ''Fiddler on the Roof'', portraying Mendel the Rabbi's son and understudying the role of Motel played by Jack Kenny.<ref name="Broadway Musicals"/><ref>{{cite book |editor-first1=Otis L. Jr. |editor-last1=Guernsey |editor-first2=Jeffery |editor-last2=Sweet |year=1992 |chapter=Plays Produced on Broadway |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=nzziDo71Xb0C&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA312 |title=The Applause / Best Plays: Theater Yearbook of 1990–1991 |page=[https://archive.org/details/theateryearbook100hall_1/page/312 312] |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |isbn=1-55783-107-6 |issn=1063-620X |access-date=December 28, 2016 |via=Amazon.com |url=https://archive.org/details/theateryearbook100hall_1/page/312 }}</ref> He appeared in the 1991 revival of the 1986 musical ''Rags'', set in 1910, portraying the dual roles of Saul and Nathan.<ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Willis |year=1994 |chapter=American Jewish Theatre: Eighteenth Season |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=601qLRRrZ28C&q=%22david+pevsner%22+rags+-wikipedia&pg=PA113 |title=Theatre World: 1991–1992 Season |location=New York City |publisher=Applause Theatre Book Publishers |volume=48 |page=113 |lccn=73-82953 |isbn=1-55783-143-2 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |via=Google Books }}</ref> He appeared in the 1995 theatrical play ''Party'', portraying the role of Kevin, later succeeded by Marc Wolf.<ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Willis |year=1998 |chapter=Party |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gXB9YVdGK1YC&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA78 |title=Theatre World: 1995-1996 Season |volume=52 |location=New York City |publisher=Applause Theatre Book Publishers |page=78 |lccn=73-82953 |isbn=1-55783-323-0 |access-date=December 30, 2016 |via=Google Books }}</ref> In the play, Kevin, a college teacher who lives with his partner, hosts a party at his apartment, where the males characters play the naked truth-or-dare game.<ref>{{cite news |first=Stephen |last=Holden |date=May 12, 1995 |title=Theater Review: A Gay Party and No Sad Undertones |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/05/12/theater/theater-review-a-gay-party-and-no-sad-undertones.html |website=The New York Times |access-date=December 30, 2016 }}</ref> Pevsner appeared in the two-act gay revue musical ''When Pigs Fly'' from 1996 to 1998.<ref>{{cite book |editor1-last=Willis |editor1-first=John |editor1-link=John A. Willis |editor2-last=Lynch |editor2-first=Tom |title=John Willis Theatre World 1996-1997 Season Volume 53 |date=1999 |publisher=Applause Theatre Book Publishers |isbn=1-55783-343-5 |oclc=42465014 |page=118 |chapter=When Pigs Fly |chapter-url=https://archive.org/details/theatreworld19960000unse/page/118/mode/2up |access-date=2021-05-06}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |first=John |last=Willis |year=2001 |chapter=Howard Crabtree's ''When Pigs Fly'' |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Y53VYTJLQs4C&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA75 |title=Theatre World: 1997–1998 Season |volume=54 |location=New York City |publisher=Applause Theatre Book Publishers |page=75 |lccn=73-82953 |isbn=1-55783-409-1 |access-date=December 31, 2016 |via=Google Books }}</ref> Pevsner appeared in ''F*cking Men'', the 2009 explicit play written by Joe DiPietro about the lives of gay urban men,<ref>{{cite news |first=Andrew |last=Gans |date=September 11, 2009 |title=DiPietro's ''F*cking Men'' Opens in L.A. Sept. 11 |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/dipietros-f-cking-men-opens-in-la-sept-11-com-164298 |website=Playbill |access-date=December 31, 2016 }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/FCKING-MEN-Returns-To-The-Celebration-Theater-In-January-20100107 |title=''F*cking Men'' Returns to the Celebration Theater in January |date=January 8, 2010 |access-date=December 31, 2016 }}</ref> portraying Jack, who commits adultery with another man, while his husband does the same.<ref name="LA Splash"/>
Pevsner co-wrote the 1999 musical ''Naked Boys Singing!'' with the writing team.<ref>{{cite book |first1=John |last1=Willis |first2=Ben |last2=Hodges |year=2007 |chapter=''Naked Boys Singing!'' |chapter-url=https://books.google.com/books?id=7mqtcFDkW2kC&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA160 |title=Theatre World: 2004–2005 |location=New York City |publisher=Applause Theatre & Cinema Books |page=160 |issn=1088-4564 |isbn=978-1-55783-703-5 |access-date=December 31, 2016 |via=Google Books }}</ref><ref>{{cite news |first=Anita |last=Gates |date=July 23, 1999 |title=''Naked Boys Singing!'' |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=CcVciO--PkgC&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA150 |newspaper=The New York Times |page=E-2 |isbn=9780415936972 |access-date=December 31, 2016 }} Republished in ''The New York Times Theatre Reviews 1999-2000'' (2002) – via Google Books. {{ISBN|0-415-93697-7}}.</ref> He wrote three songs for the musical, including "Perky Little Porn Star"<ref name="Advocate Mar2000">{{cite magazine |first=Gerard |last=Raymond |date=March 28, 2000 |title=Grin and Bare It |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=oWMEAAAAMBAJ&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA83 |magazine=The Advocate |page=83 |access-date=December 31, 2016 |via=Google Books }}</ref> and "The Naked Maid."<ref name="GoPride">{{cite interview |first=David |last=Pevsner |title=Mr. Versatility: an interview with David Pevsner |url=http://chicago.gopride.com/news/interview.cfm/articleid/994401 |interviewer=Gregg Shapiro |publisher=GoPride Corporation |website=ChicagoPride.com |access-date=December 31, 2016 |archive-date=December 26, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161226133652/http://chicago.gopride.com/news/interview.cfm/articleid/994401 |url-status=dead }}</ref> He wrote and performed two one-person shows, a semi-autobiographical ''To Bitter and Back'' (2002)<ref name="Chicago2002"/> and ''Musical Comedy Whore'' (2013),<ref name="Greg2013">{{cite news |first=Greg |last=Hernandez |date=May 13, 2013 |url=http://greginhollywood.com/monday-morning-man-david-pevsner-84671 |title=Monday Morning Man: David Pevsner! |website=Greg in Hollywood |access-date=December 31, 2016 }}</ref> which ''Broadway World'' called a "musical autobiography."<ref>{{cite news |first=Gil |last=Kaan |date=June 20, 2016 |title=BWW Review: ''Musical Comedy Whore'' – A Raw, Unapologetic Look at An Escort's Past |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/los-angeles/article/BWW-Review-MUSICAL-COMEDY-WHORE-A-Raw-Unapologetic-Look-at-An-Escorts-Past-20160620 |website=Broadway World |access-date=December 31, 2016 }}</ref>
===Film and television=== Pevsner appeared in films, mostly portraying minor roles<ref name="Wisconsin"/> in such films as ''The Fluffer'' (2001)<ref name="ScreenWorld2002">{{cite encyclopedia |first1=John |last1=Willis |first2=Barry |last2=Monush |year=2002 |title=''The Fluffer'' review |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Wmv4nFqwmJ8C&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA206 |encyclopedia=Screen World 2002 |volume=53 |publisher=Applause Theatre & Cinema Books |page=206 |isbn=1-55783-599-3 |lccn=50-3023 |access-date=January 1, 2017 |via=Google Books }}</ref> and ''Adam & Steve'' (2006).<ref name="ScreenWorld2006">{{cite encyclopedia |first1=John |last1=Willis |first2=Barry |last2=Monush |year=2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uxunSeshPngC&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA196 |title=''Adam & Steve'' |encyclopedia=Screen World: The Films of 2006 |volume=58 |location=New York City |publisher=Hal Leonard Corporation |page=196 |isbn=978-1-55783-729-5 |issn=1545-9020 |access-date=January 1, 2017 |via=Google Books }}</ref> Pevsner portrayed Elizabeth Taylor's doctor in the 2012 Lifetime television film ''Liz & Dick''.<ref name="Wisconsin"/> He also portrayed a major role of Ebenezer Scrooge in ''Scrooge & Marley'', the 2012 film adaptation that tells the gay interpretation of the 19th-century novel ''A Christmas Carol''.<ref name="Wisconsin"/>
Pevsner also portrayed minor roles in television series,<ref name="Wisconsin"/> particularly a bartender of a gay bar in an episode of ''NYPD Blue''.<ref name="Advocate Mar2000"/> He portrayed a major role of Ross Stein in the 2011 gay web drama series ''Old Dogs & New Tricks'', which ran four seasons till its ending in 2016.<ref name="GoPride"/> In the series, his character Ross is a former 1990s television star and married to his more successful partner.<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |first=Vincent |last=Terrace |year=2015 |title=226. ''Old Dogs and New Tricks''. odnt.tv. 2011 (Drama) |encyclopedia=Internet Lesbian and Gay Television Series, 1996–2014 |pages=135–136 |isbn=978-0-7864-9805-5 }}</ref> Pevsner also appeared as the Host of the web sci-fi comedy series ''Disorganized Zone'', a parody of ''The Twilight Zone'', alongside Judy Norton as the Organizer.<ref name="Disorganized"/><ref name="Norton"/> He also appeared in the fourth episode of a 2015 web series ''Coffee House Chronicles'' as Jamison, a gay middle-aged man who "bring[s] home a porn star" as his 25th-anniversary present for his partner.<ref name="Chronicles">{{cite magazine |first=Diego |last=James |date=September 30, 2015 |url=https://www.out.com/popnography/2015/9/30/watch-new-coffee-house-chronicles-underwear-model-john-suazo-indie-film-fave |title=New ''Coffee House Chronicles'' Features Underwear Model John Suazo |website=Out |access-date=January 14, 2020 }}</ref>
===''Most Versatile'' (2016)=== Pevsner recorded the 2016 album ''Most Versatile'', whose title was inspired by his being voted "Most Versatile" in a survey back in high school.<ref name="GoPride"/> The album's working title was ''Shameless'', named after his Tumblr blog and "for [being] something with a little skin."<ref name="GoPride"/> The songs of the album explores "a whirlwind of one man's gay experiences" and feature Jim J. Bullock, Maxwell Caulfield, and some others as guest artists.<ref>{{cite press release |title=David Pevsner releases first CD of original gay songs: ''Most Versatile'' |url=http://www.windycitymediagroup.com/lgbt/David-Pevsner-releases-first-CD-of-original-gay-songs-Most-Versatile/56318.html |date=August 30, 2016 |location=Chicago |website=Windy City Times |access-date=January 1, 2017 }}</ref> He wrote the lyrics of all thirteen songs.<ref name="Advocate Sep2016"/> He solely composed seven of those songs and co-composed five of those with several others. Michael Skloff composed one of Pevsner's songs, "I Gotta Give It Up to Love."<ref name="Advocate Sep2016"/> While "Perky Little Porn Star" and "The Naked Maid" from ''Naked Boys Singing!'' are included, the remaining songs are original.<ref name="GoPride"/>
The cover art of the album pays homage to that of Bruce Springsteen's album ''Born in the U.S.A.''. It was designed by a graphic artist Hank Hudson and photographed by Gabriel Goldberg. While designing for the album cover, Hudson narrowed the idea down to the Springsteen homage and the 1977 photo of Pevsner that was used for the high school survey. The 1977 high school photo is eventually included in an inner panel of the album, and the Springsteen homage was chosen as the front cover.<ref name="GoPride"/>
==Personal life== Pevsner is Jewish.<ref name="Wisconsin"/> He is also gay.<ref name="Wisconsin"/><ref name="Chicago2002"/><ref>{{cite web |first=David |last=Pevsner |date=April 14, 2010 |title=An Open Letter to the Closeted Leading Man |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-pevsner/an-open-letter-to-the-clo_b_460800.html |website=The Huffington Post |access-date=January 1, 2017 }}</ref>
==Selected works== {{dynamic list}}
===Theatre=== * ''A Flash of Lightning'' (1980s revival), Terry – the play was written by Augustin Daly * ''Fiddler on the Roof'' (1990 Broadway revival), rabbi's son Mendel; Mr. (Motel) Kenny – Mr. Kenny was Pevsner's understudy role * ''Rags'' (1991 revival), multiple roles – Doctor, Saul, 14th Street Ballet Dancer, and Nathan * ''Party'' (1995–1996), Kevin – Marc Wolf would later succeed Pevsner portraying the role * ''When Pigs Fly'' (1996–1998) * ''F*cking Men'' (2009), Jack – the play was written by Joe DiPietro
===Film=== * ''David Searching'' (1997),<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |first1=John |last1=Willis |first2=Barry |last2=Monush |date=2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n1qxCqm75FEC&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA210 |title=David Searching |encyclopedia=Screen World: 1999 |volume=50 |publisher=Applause |location=New York City |page=210 |isbn=1-55783-411-3 |lccn=50-3023 |access-date=January 1, 2017 |via=Google Books }}</ref> Scott – a film starring Anthony Rapp and Camryn Manheim<ref>{{cite encyclopedia |first1=John |last1=Willis |first2=Barry |last2=Monush |date=2000 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=n1qxCqm75FEC&q=%22david+pevsner%22+-wikipedia&pg=PA210 |title=David Searching |encyclopedia=Screen World: 1999 |volume=50 |publisher=Applause |location=New York City |isbn=1-55783-411-3 |lccn=50-3023 |access-date=January 1, 2017 |via=Google Books }}</ref> * ''The Fluffer'' (2001), Casting Man<ref name="ScreenWorld2002"/> * ''Adam & Steve'' (2006), Man in Hospital<ref name="ScreenWorld2006"/> * ''Role/Play'' (2011), Alex<ref name="Greg2013"/> * ''Liz & Dick'' (2012), Elizabeth Taylor's doctor<ref name="Wisconsin"/> – Lifetime television film * ''Scrooge & Marley'' (2012), Ebenezer Scrooge<ref name="Wisconsin"/> – 2012 film adaptation of the 19th-century Charles Dickens novel, ''A Christmas Carol'' * ''Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean''<ref name="Greg2013"/>
===Television and web series=== * ''NYPD Blue'', bartender<ref name="Advocate Mar2000"/> * ''Modern Family''<ref name="Greg2013"/> * ''Grey's Anatomy''<ref name="Greg2013"/> * ''Old Dogs & New Tricks'' (2011–2016), Ross * ''Disorganized Zone'', Host<ref name="Disorganized"/> – web sci-fi comedy series, a parody of ''The Twilight Zone'' * ''Coffee House Chronicles'' (2015), Jamison<ref name="Chronicles"/>
===Written works=== * ''Naked Boys Singing!'' – co-written with the writing team; wrote three songs, including "Perky Little Porn Star" and "The Naked Maid" * ''Most Versatile'' (2016) – solo album * ''Damn Shame: A Memoir of Desire, Defiance, and Show Tunes'' (2022) – book published by Penguin Random House<ref>{{Cite interview |last=Pevsner |first=David |date=January 6, 2022 |interviewer=Emine Samner|title='Shame, ageism and nudity – there's a lot to identify with': actor David Pevsner on his memoir|url=https://www.theguardian.com/stage/2022/jan/06/shame-ageism-and-nudity-theres-a-lot-to-identify-with-actor-david-pevsner-on-his-memoir |access-date=January 22, 2022 |work=The Guardian}}</ref> (softcover: {{ISBN|9781039000506}}; eBook: {{ISBN|9781039000513}})
== References == {{Reflist|30em|refs= <ref name="Wisconsin">{{cite interview |first=David |last=Pevsner |date=December 13, 2012 |url=http://wisconsingazette.com/2012/12/13/gay-actor-david-pevsner-plays-a-queer-scrooge-in-new-film/ |title=Gay actor David Pevsner plays a queer Scrooge in new film |website=Wisconsin Gazette |interviewer=Gregg Shapiro |access-date=December 27, 2016 }}</ref> <ref name="Chicago2002">{{cite web |first=Judy |last=Marcus |date=May 24, 2002 |title=Pevsner bares his heart and soul in ''Bitter'' |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2002/05/24/pevsner-bares-his-heart-and-soul-in-bitter/ |website=Chicago Tribune |access-date=December 27, 2016 }}</ref> <ref name="Broadway Musicals">{{cite encyclopedia |first=John |last=Stewart |year=2006 |title=206. Fiddler on the Roof (1990 Broadway revival) |encyclopedia=Broadway Musicals, 1943–2004 |publisher=McFarland & Company |location=Jefferson, North Carolina |page=188 |isbn=0-7864-2244-0 }}</ref> <ref name="LA Splash">{{cite web |author=((Keisha7)) |date=2009 |url=http://www.lasplash.com/publish/Los_Angeles_Entertainment_109/F_cking_Men_Theatre_Review_-_The_Smash_Hit_Play_from_London_s_West_End_Makes_Its_US_Premiere_at_Celebration_Theatre.php |title=''F*cking Men'' Theatre Review - The Smash Hit Play from London's West End Makes Its US Premiere at Celebration Theatre |website=LA Splash |access-date=December 31, 2016 }}</ref> <ref name="Disorganized">{{cite web |title=About |url=http://disorganizedzone.com/about/ |website=Disorganized Zone |publisher=WordPress |access-date=January 30, 2017 }}</ref> <ref name="Norton">{{cite web |title=''Disorganized Zone'' Starts Filming |url=http://judynorton.com/2013/09/disorganized-zone-starts-filming/ |website=Judy Norton |date=September 2013 |access-date=January 31, 2017 |archive-date=February 2, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202051252/http://judynorton.com/2013/09/disorganized-zone-starts-filming/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="Advocate Sep2016">{{cite magazine |first=Christopher |last=Harrity |date=September 18, 2016 |url=http://www.advocate.com/music/2016/9/18/sing-dirty-me-baby |title=Sing Dirty to Me, Baby |website=The Advocate |access-date=January 1, 2017 }}</ref> }}
== External links == * {{IMDb name}} * {{official website|http://www.davidpevsner.com/}} {{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Pevsner, David}} Category:American male stage actors Category:Male actors from Cook County, Illinois Category:Living people Category:American gay actors Category:21st-century American male actors Category:Carnegie Mellon University alumni Category:American male film actors Category:American male television actors Category:Jewish American male actors Category:People from Skokie, Illinois Category:American male singer-songwriters Category:LGBTQ people from Illinois Category:Gay Jews Category:1958 births Category:Jewish American actors