# John Tillinger

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{{short description|Theatre director and actor (born 1938)|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{Infobox person
| name                  = John Tillinger 
| image                 = 
| imagesize             = 
| caption               = 
| birth_name            = Joachim Ferdinand Tillinger
| birth_date            = {{birth date and age|1938|06|28|df=y}} 
| birth_place           = [Tabriz](/source/Tabriz), [Iran](/source/Pahlavi_Iran) 
| death_date            = 
| death_place           = 
| othername             = 
| spouse                = [Dorothy Lyman](/source/Dorothy_Lyman) (1971–1978; divorced)
| children              = 2 (including [Emma Tillinger Koskoff](/source/Emma_Tillinger_Koskoff))
| occupation            = [Actor](/source/Actor)/[Theatre director](/source/Theatre_director)
}}

'''John Tillinger''' (born June 28, 1938) is a [theatre director](/source/theatre_director) and [actor](/source/actor).

==Life and career==
Joachim Ferdinand Tillinger was born in [Tabriz](/source/Tabriz), [Iran](/source/Iran). His father was [German Jewish](/source/History_of_the_Jews_in_Germany) and his mother was [Protestant](/source/Protestant).<ref>{{cite web|author=Naomi Pfefferman |url=http://www.jewishjournal.com/the_ticket/item/director_relishes_the_humor_in_what_the_butler_saw_at_taper |title=Director relishes the humor in 'What the Butler Saw' at Taper |website=Jewishjournal.com |date=19 November 2014 |accessdate=23 July 2017}}</ref> Tillinger was raised in [England](/source/United_Kingdom), where he was first exposed to the theatre.

He spent his early years on [Broadway](/source/Broadway_theatre) as an actor, appearing in ''[A Day in the Death of Joe Egg](/source/A_Day_in_the_Death_of_Joe_Egg)'' (standby "Freddie", 1968),<ref>[http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=3120 "Listing, 'A Day in the Death of Joe Egg'"] Internet Broadway Database, accessed May 4, 2014</ref> ''[Othello](/source/Othello)'' ("Roderigo", 1970),<ref>[http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=3085 "Listing, 'Othello'"] Internet Broadway Database, accessed May 4, 2014</ref> ''[Hay Fever](/source/Hay_Fever_(play))'' ("Sandy Tyrell", 1970),<ref>[http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=2935 "Listing, 'Hay Fever'"] Internet Broadway Database, accessed May 4, 2014</ref> and ''[The Changing Room](/source/The_Changing_Room)'' ("Colin Jagger", 1973).<ref>[http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=3179 "Listing, 'The Changing Room'"] Internet Broadway Database, accessed May 4, 2014</ref>

Tillinger's first Broadway directing credit was ''Solomon's Child'' in 1982.<ref>[http://ibdb.com/production.php?id=4167 "Listing, 'Solomon's Child'"] Internet Broadway Database, accessed May 4, 2014</ref> Since then he has directed:<ref name=vault>[http://www.playbillvault.com/Person/Detail/20489/John-Tillinger "John Tillinger Credits and Awards"] playbillvault.com, accessed May 4, 2014</ref> ''[Love Letters](/source/Love_Letters_(play))'' (1989) with [Colleen Dewhurst](/source/Colleen_Dewhurst) and [Jason Robards](/source/Jason_Robards), ''[The Price](/source/The_Price_(play))'' (1992) with [Eli Wallach](/source/Eli_Wallach), ''[Three Men on a Horse](/source/Three_Men_on_a_Horse)'' (1993) and ''[The Sunshine Boys](/source/The_Sunshine_Boys)'' (1997), both with [Jack Klugman](/source/Jack_Klugman) and [Tony Randall](/source/Tony_Randall), ''[Inherit the Wind](/source/Inherit_the_Wind_(play))'' (1996) with [George C. Scott](/source/George_C._Scott) and [Charles Durning](/source/Charles_Durning), ''[Night Must Fall](/source/Night_Must_Fall)'' (1999) with [Matthew Broderick](/source/Matthew_Broderick),<ref>Sommer, Elyse. [http://www.curtainup.com/nightfal.html "A CurtainUp Review. 'Night Must Fall' "] curtainup.com, March 10, 1999</ref> ''[Judgment at Nuremberg](/source/Judgment_at_Nuremberg)'' (2001) with [George Grizzard](/source/George_Grizzard) and [Maximilian Schell](/source/Maximilian_Schell),<ref>Sommer, Elyse. [http://www.curtainup.com/judgmentatnuremberg.html "A CurtainUp Review. 'Judgment at Nuremberg' "] curtainup.com, March 28, 2001</ref> ''[Say Goodnight, Gracie](/source/Say_Goodnight%2C_Gracie)'' (2002) with [Frank Gorshin](/source/Frank_Gorshin),<ref>Gans, Andrew and [Simonson, Robert](/source/Simonson%2C_Robert). [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/80214-Say-Goodnight-Gracie-Says-Goodnight-on-Broadway-Aug-24 "'Say Goodnight Gracie' Says Goodnight on Broadway Aug. 24"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504172059/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/80214-Say-Goodnight-Gracie-Says-Goodnight-on-Broadway-Aug-24 |date=4 May 2014}} playbill.com, June 18, 2003</ref> and ''[Absurd Person Singular](/source/Absurd_Person_Singular)'' (2005) with [Paxton Whitehead](/source/Paxton_Whitehead) and [Sam Robards](/source/Sam_Robards).<ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96596-Packing-Up-for-the-Holidays-Absurd-Person-Singular-Ends-Limited-Broadway-Run-Dec-4 "Packing Up for the Holidays, 'Absurd Person Singular' Ends Limited Broadway Run Dec. 4"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504172254/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/96596-Packing-Up-for-the-Holidays-Absurd-Person-Singular-Ends-Limited-Broadway-Run-Dec-4 |date=4 May 2014}} playbill.com, December 5, 2005</ref>

Tillinger's many [Off-Broadway](/source/Off-Broadway) directing credits include ''[Entertaining Mr Sloane](/source/Entertaining_Mr_Sloane)'' (1981), ''[After the Fall](/source/After_the_Fall_(play))'' (1984),<ref>Rich, Frank. [https://www.nytimes.com/1984/10/05/arts/theater-after-the-fall-is-revived.html "Theater: 'After The Fall' Is Revived"] ''The New York Times'', October 5, 1984</ref> ''[Loot](/source/Loot_(play))'' (1986),<ref>Rich, Frank. [https://www.nytimes.com/1986/02/19/theater/stage-joe-orton-s-loot-directed-by-tillinger.html "Stage: Joe Orton's 'Loot,' Directed By Tillinger"] ''The New York Times'', February 19, 1986</ref> ''[What the Butler Saw](/source/What_the_Butler_Saw_(play))'' (1989),<ref>Quinn, Kathleen. [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/05/theater/two-orton-veterans-once-more-into-the-breach.html "Two Orton Veterans, Once More Into the Breach"]''The New York Times'', March 5, 1989</ref> ''[The Lisbon Traviata](/source/The_Lisbon_Traviata)'' (1989),<ref>Gussow, Mel. [https://www.nytimes.com/1989/11/01/theater/reviews-theater-a-new-nonviolent-ending-for-lisbon-traviata.html "Reviews/Theater. A New, Nonviolent Ending for 'Lisbon Traviata'"] ''The New York Times'', November 1, 1989</ref> ''[Lips Together, Teeth Apart](/source/Lips_Together%2C_Teeth_Apart)'' (1991),<ref>Beaufort, John. [https://www.csmonitor.com/1991/0712/12123.html "A Modest Little Entertainment From Terrence McNally"] csmonitor.com, July 12, 1991</ref> ''[Sylvia](/source/Sylvia_(play))'' (1995), and ''[Jewtopia](/source/Jewtopia)'' (2004).<ref>Hernandez, Ernio. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/89120-Oy-Meets-Girl-Jewish-Gentile-Comedy-Jewtopia-Opens-Off-Broadway-Oct-21 "Oy Meets Girl: Jewish-Gentile Comedy 'Jewtopia' Opens Off-Broadway Oct. 21"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504172642/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/89120-Oy-Meets-Girl-Jewish-Gentile-Comedy-Jewtopia-Opens-Off-Broadway-Oct-21 |date=4 May 2014}} playbill.com, October 21, 2004</ref>

He has directed numerous [regional theatre](/source/Regional_theater_in_the_United_States) productions. He directed ''[The Wedding Banquet](/source/The_Wedding_Banquet)'' at the Village Theatre, [Seattle](/source/Seattle), [Washington](/source/Washington_(state)), in 2003.<ref>Gans, Andrew.[http://www.playbill.com/news/article/80691-Wedding-Banquet-Musical-to-Make-US-Premiere-at-Seattles-Village-Theatre " 'Wedding Banquet' Musical to Make U.S. Premiere at Seattle's Village Theatre"] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20131116195327/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/80691-Wedding-Banquet-Musical-to-Make-US-Premiere-at-Seattles-Village-Theatre |date=16 November 2013}} playbill.com, 2003</ref>

He was the literary consultant for the [Long Wharf Theatre](/source/Long_Wharf_Theatre), [New Haven, Connecticut](/source/New_Haven%2C_Connecticut) from 1975 to 1997.<ref>Lefkowitz, David and Paddock, Terri. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/37546-Long-Wharf-Trades-Mercy-for-Understanding-With-UKs-Bush-Mar-13 "Long Wharf Trades Mercy for Understanding With UK's Bush Mar. 13"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504172644/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/37546-Long-Wharf-Trades-Mercy-for-Understanding-With-UKs-Bush-Mar-13 |date=4 May 2014}} playbill.com, March 12, 1998</ref> Additionally, he was the associate artistic director at Long Wharf Theatre.<ref>Lefkowitz, David. [http://www.playbill.com/news/article/33508-Tillinger-Hunt-Directing-At-First-Lobero-Stage-Season "Tillinger, Hunt Directing At First Lobero Stage Season"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504172159/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/33508-Tillinger-Hunt-Directing-At-First-Lobero-Stage-Season |date=4 May 2014}} playbill.com, March 29, 1997</ref> He directed many plays at the Long Wharf Theatre, including ''This Story of Yours'' and ''Solomon's Child'' (1980), ''Another Country'' (1982), and most recently ''Paddywhack'' and ''Broken Glass'' (1994).<ref name=bio>[http://www.filmreference.com/film/92/John-Tillinger.html "Biography"] filmreference.com, accessed May 4, 2014</ref>

===Personal===
Tillinger was married to actress/director [Dorothy Lyman](/source/Dorothy_Lyman) from 1971 to 1978. They have two children, actor Sebastian Tillinger and producer [Emma Tillinger](/source/Emma_Tillinger_Koskoff).<ref>McMurran, Kristin. [https://web.archive.org/web/20140504172242/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20084288,00.html Opal-in-the-Rough "Dorothy Lyman Is Daytime Television's Tacky First Lady"] people.com, February 14, 1983</ref><ref name=bio/>

==Filmography==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Year
! Title
! Role
! Notes
|-
|1970|| ''[Diary of a Mad Housewife](/source/Diary_of_a_Mad_Housewife)'' || || Uncredited
|-
|1980|| ''[Resurrection](/source/Resurrection_(1980_film))'' || Dr. Herron ||
|-
|1982|| ''[A Little Sex](/source/A_Little_Sex)'' || Sattler Sponsor ||
|-
|1983|| ''[Lovesick](/source/Lovesick_(1983_film))'' || Play Director ||
|-
|1987|| ''[Hello Again](/source/Hello_Again_(1987_film))'' || T.V. Moderator ||
|}

==Awards and nominations==
*2001 [Outer Critics Circle Award](/source/Outer_Critics_Circle_Award) for Outstanding Director of a Play (''Judgment at Nuremberg'', nominee)<ref name=vault/>
*1991 [Lucille Lortel Award](/source/Lucille_Lortel_Award) for Outstanding Director (''The Lisbon Traviata'', winner)<ref name=lortel>[http://www.lortelaward.com/previous_nominees_and_recipients.htm#one Awards, see 1989 and 1991"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181226081735/http://www.lortelaward.com/previous_nominees_and_recipients.htm#one |date=2018-12-26}} lortelaward.com, accessed May 4, 2014</ref>
*1989 Lucille Lortel Award for Outstanding Director (''Love Letters'', winner)<ref name=lortel/>
*1986 [Tony Award](/source/Tony_Award) for Best Direction of a Play (''Loot'', nominee)<ref name=vault/>
*1986 [Drama Desk Award](/source/Drama_Desk_Award) for Outstanding Director of a Play (''[It's Only a Play](/source/It's_Only_a_Play)'' nominee) and (''Loot'', nominee<ref name=vault/>)
*1986 Outer Critics Circle Award for Best Direction of a Play (''Loot'', winner)<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/LLA_ARCHIVE/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=2073 " 'Loot' Listing"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140504174843/http://www.lortel.org/LLA_ARCHIVE/index.cfm?search_by=show&id=2073 |date=2014-05-04}} Internet Off-Broadway Database Listing, accessed May 4, 2014</ref>
*1982 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Director of a Play (''Entertaining Mr. Sloane'', nominee)<ref name=vault/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
*{{IMDb name|0863375|John Tillinger}}
*{{IBDB name}}
*{{iobdb name|1741}}
*[https://theatricalia.com/person/x6n/john-joachim-tillinger John / Joachim Tillinger] at Theatricalia

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Tillinger, John}}
Category:1938 births
Category:Living people
Category:American theatre directors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American people of German-Jewish descent

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [John Tillinger](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tillinger) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Tillinger?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.