{{short description|American actor}} {{Use mdy dates|date=April 2026}} {{Infobox person | name = Stephen Kunken | image = StephenKunken-byPhilipRomano.jpg | caption = Kunken in 2025 | birth_date = | birth_place = | education = Tufts University {{small|(BA)}}<br>Juilliard School {{small|(GrDip)}} | occupation = Actor | spouse = {{marriage|Jenn Thompson|2005|}} | children = 1 | years_active = 1998–present | website = {{URL|stephenkunken.com|Official website}} }} '''Stephen Michael Kunken''' is an American actor. He is known for the roles of Ari Spyros on Showtime's ''Billions'' and Commander Putnam on Hulu's ''The Handmaid's Tale''. Graduating with top honors from The Juilliard School, Kunken has an extensive theater career, appearing on Broadway in seven different productions and countless off-Broadway and regional productions. He is most readily known for playing Andy Fastow in the Broadway play ''Enron'', for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Featured Actor in a Play. Other Broadway credits include ''Frost/Nixon'' and ''Rock 'n' Roll''.
==Early life and education== Stephen Michael Kunken{{cn|date=April 2026}} was raised on Long Island in Upper Brookville, New York. His father is a dentist and his mother is a former grade school teacher.<ref name="Playbill">{{cite news | url = http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/150016-PLAYBILLCOMS-CUE-A-Highs-Stephen-Kunken | title = CUE & A: ''High's'' Stephen Kunken | publisher = Playbill.com | first = Matthew | last = Blank | date = April 19, 2011 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111218001701/http://www.playbill.com/celebritybuzz/article/150016-PLAYBILLCOMS-CUE-A-Highs-Stephen-Kunken | archive-date = December 18, 2011 }}</ref> He is Jewish.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/152233/whats-up-stephen-kunken-the-enron-tony-nominee-on-playing-a-devil-and-coming-home-to-an-angel/|title = What's up, Stephen Kunken? The Enron Tony Nominee on Playing a Devil and Coming Home to an Angel}}</ref>
Kunken received a B.A. degree from Tufts University in 1993.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/747/2004/01/09/InTheSpotlight | title = In The Spotlight: Stephen Kunken | work = E-News | publisher = Tufts University | date = January 9, 2004 | access-date = April 20, 2012 | archive-date = August 25, 2017 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170825075302/http://enews.tufts.edu/stories/747/2004/01/09/InTheSpotlight | url-status = dead }}</ref> He is a graduate of the Juilliard School's Graduate Acting program, where as a member of the Drama Division's ''Group 26'' (1993–1997) he was awarded both The John Houseman Prize and the Pearl and Rolands Grant. {{cn|date=October 2025}} His classmates included David Denman and Alan Tudyk.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.juilliard.edu/alumni/news/news_decades/2007-2008/0709/index.php | title = Alumni News | publisher = The Juilliard School | date = September 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20111111121334/http://juilliard.edu/alumni/news/news_decades/2007-2008/0709/index.php | archive-date = 2011-11-11}}</ref>
==Career== Kunken has appeared on Broadway as David Halberstam in David Auburn's ''The Columnist'' (2012);<ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/article/john-lithgow-is-david-auburns-the-columnist-beginning-broadway-previews-april-4-com-189090# "John Lithgow Is David Auburn's 'The Columnist', Beginning Broadway Previews April 4"] Playbill, April 4, 2012</ref> opposite Kathleen Turner in ''High'' (2011);<ref>[https://www.broadway.com/buzz/154993/high-starring-kathleen-turner-will-bow-at-broadways-booth-theatre/ " 'High', Starring Kathleen Turner, Will Bow at Broadway’s Booth Theatre"] broadway.com, January 21, 2011</ref> Tom Stoppard’s ''Rock 'n' Roll'' (2007);<ref>Brantley, Ben. [https://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/05/theater/reviews/05rock.html "Going to Prague in 1968, but Not Without His Vinyl"] ''The New York Times'', November 5, 2007</ref> ''Frost/Nixon'' (2007) (for which he received Outer Critics Circle Award (Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play) and Drama League Award nominations),;<ref>[http://www.newyorktheatreguide.com/news/apr07/outercriticscirclenominations23apr07.htm "Outer Critics Circle 2006-2007 nominations announced"] newyorktheatreguide.com, April 23, 2007</ref> ''Festen'' (2006);<ref>Brantley, Ben. [https://www.nytimes.com/2006/04/10/theater/reviews/haunting-memories-of-daddy-dearest-in-festen.html "Haunting Memories of Daddy Dearest in 'Festen' "] ''The New York Times'', April 10, 2006</ref> and ''Proof'' (replacement, 2002).<ref>[https://www.ibdb.com/replacements/proof-12546 " 'Proof' Replacement"] ibdb.com, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref> For his role as CFO Andrew Fastow in Lucy Prebble's ''Enron'', he received a 2010 Tony Award nomination for Featured Actor in a Play.<ref>[https://variety.com/2010/legit/news/enron-to-close-following-tony-noms-1118018767/ "'Enron' to close following Tony noms"] ''Variety'', May 5, 2010</ref>
Off-Broadway, he played Tim Andrews in the award-winning Richard Nelson cycle of Apple Plays, which includes ''That Hopey Changey Thing'', ''Sweet and Sad'', and ''Regular Singing'' in 2013 at The Public.<ref>Rickwald, Bethany. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/10-2013/a-look-at-richard-nelsons-that-hopey-changey-thing_66433.html "A Look at Richard Nelson's 'That Hopey Changey Thing' at The Public"] theatermania.com, October 24, 2013</ref><ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/5766 ''That Hopey Changey Thing''] lortel.org, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref>
He played the title role of Nikolai Nabakov in Lincoln Center Theater's production of Richard Nelson's ''Nikolai and the Others'' in 2013.<ref>Brantley, Ben. [https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/07/theater/reviews%2Fnikolai-and-the-others-by-richard-nelson-at-the-newhouse.html "Famous Russian House Guests, With Plenty of Baggage"] ''The New York Times'', May 6, 2013</ref> He has appeared as Dr. Phil in the critically acclaimed production of Kate Fodor's romantic comedy ''RX'' (2012, Primary Stages production);<ref>Stasio, Marilyn. [https://variety.com/2012/legit/reviews/rx-1117947028/ "Review. 'RX" "] ''Variety'', February 7, 2010</ref> and as the Stage Manager in the 2009 David Cromer-directed revival of Thornton Wilder's ''Our Town'' (replacement as of January 5, 2010, Barrow Street Theatre);<ref>[https://www.broadway.com/buzz/141764/david-cromer-to-return-to-our-town-stephen-kunken-to-follow/ "David Cromer to Return to 'Our Town'; Stephen Kunken to Follow"] broadway.com, December 15, 2009</ref> Theresa Rebeck's ''Our House'' (2009, Playwrights Horizons);<ref>Lipton, Brian Scott. [http://www.theatermania.com/new-york-city-theater/news/04-2009/morena-baccarin-stephen-kunken-jeremy-strong-chris_18477.html "Morena Baccarin, Stephen Kunken, Jeremy Strong, Christopher Evan Welch, et al. Set for 'Our House'"] theatermania.com, April 6, 2009</ref> ''Fabulation'' at Playwrights Horizons (2004);<ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/article/fabulation-a-sold-out-phenom-at-playwrights-horizons-gets-added-shows-to-july-11-com-120408# " 'Fabulation', a Sold Out Phenom at Playwrights Horizons, Gets Added Shows to July 11"] Playbill, June 18, 2004</ref> ''A Very Common Procedure'' by Courtney Baron at Manhattan Class Company (2007)<ref>Sommer, Elyse. [http://curtainupcom.siteprotect.net/verycommonprocedure.html "A CurtainUp Review. ''A Very Common Procedure''"] CurtainUp, February 12, 2007</ref> (for which he received a Drama League Award nomination); ''Journals of Mihail Sebastian'' by David Auburn with the Keen Company in 2004<ref>Simonson, Robert. [http://www.playbill.com/article/david-auburn-examines-the-journals-of-mihail-sebastian-at-keen-company-march-6-com-118276# "David Auburn Examines 'The Journals of Mihail Sebastian' at Keen Company, March 6"] Playbill, March 6, 2004</ref> and ''Misalliance'' at the Roundabout Theatre Company (1997).<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/345 ''Misalliance''] lortel.org, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref><ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/CreditableEntity/3887 "Kunken Off-Broadway"] lortel.org, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref>
He performed in ''The Story'' (2003),<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/3048 ''The Story''] lortel.org, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref> ''Henry VIII'' (1997)<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/356 ''Henry VIII''] lortel.org, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref> and ''A Dybbuk'' (1997) at the Public Theater.<ref>[http://www.lortel.org/Archives/Production/331 ''A Dybbuk''] lortel.org, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref>
Regionally, Kunken has appeared in ''Quartermaine’s Terms'' (2009),<ref>Guiliano, Charles. [http://www.berkshirefinearts.com/08-14-2009_quartermaine-s-terms-at-williamstown-theatre-festival.htm " 'Quartermaine's Terms' at Williamstown Theatre Festival"] berkshirefinearts.com, August 14, 2009</ref> ''True West'' (2009),<ref>Guiliano, Charles. [http://www.berkshirefinearts.com/07-17-2009_true-west-at-williamstown-theatre-festival.htm " 'True West' at Williamstown Theatre Festival"] berkshirefinearts.com, July 17, 2009</ref> ''Three Sisters'' as Solyony (2008) all at the Williamstown Theatre Festival;<ref>[http://wtfestival.org/main-events/three-sisters/ "'Three Sisters'. July 16 - July 27. Main Stage. 2008 Season"] wtfestival.org, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref> and ''Mister Roberts'' as Doc at the Kennedy Center in 2005,<ref>Gans, Andrew. [http://www.playbill.com/article/casting-complete-for-kennedy-center-mister-roberts-com-124051# "Casting Complete for Kennedy Center 'Mister Roberts' "] Playbill, February 8, 2005</ref> among many other credits.
He played the lead role of lawyer Don Pearlman in ''Kyoto'' (2025) at the @sohoplace theatre.<ref>{{cite news |title=Kyoto at @sohoplace review: this bravura show turns real life climate change talks into a gripping thriller |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/culture/theatre/kyoto-at-sohoplace-review-climate-change-b1205249.html |access-date=18 February 2025 |publisher=London Evening Standard}}</ref>
His television credits include: ''Unforgettable'', ''Blue Bloods'', ''The Good Wife'', ''Gossip Girl'', ''The Unusuals'', ''New Amsterdam'', ''Law & Order'', ''Law & Order: Criminal Intent'', ''Law & Order: SVU'', ''The Sopranos'', ''Spin City'', ''Far East'' (2001, TV movie), ''Mary and Rhoda'' (2000, TV movie)<ref>[https://www.paleycenter.org/collection/item/?q=once&p=17&item=T:59444 "Mary And Rhoda" (TV)"] paleycenter.org, retrieved October 30, 2017</ref> and ''The Affair''.<ref>[http://www.tv.com/people/stephen-kunken/ "Stephen Kunken Television"] tv.com, retrieved October 30, 2017</ref><ref name=holly>[http://www.hollywood.com/celebrities/stephen-kunken-57746416/ "Stephen Kunken Film and TV"] hollywood.com, retrieved October 30, 2017</ref>
In film, Kunken's work includes ''The Wolf of Wall Street'' (2013), ''Still Alice'' (2014),<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20141011011700/http://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/title/2014511/Still-Alice/ ''Still Alice''] tcm.com, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref> ''Café Society'' (2016), ''A Birder's Guide to Everything'' (2013),<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/a_birders_guide_to_everything_2013/|title=A Birder's Guide To Everything|date=21 March 2014|work=rottentomatoes.com}}</ref> ''The Bay'' (2012),<ref>Scott, A. O. [https://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/02/movies/barry-levinsons-bay-mixes-horror-and-environmentalism.html "There’s Something Bubbling Off the Shore of a Chesapeake Hamlet"] ''The New York Times'', November 1, 2012</ref> ''Price Check'' (2012),<ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/price_check_2011/ ''Price Check''] rottentomatoes.com, retrieved October 30, 2017</ref> ''Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'' (2011), ''All Good Things'' (2010), ''Taking Woodstock'' (2009), ''The Girl in the Park'' (2008),<ref>[https://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/1219051_girl_in_the_park ''The Girl in the Park''] rottentomatoes.com, retrieved October 30, 2017</ref> ''Wait 'til This Year'', ''Light and the Sufferer'' (2014),<ref>[http://www.hollywood.com/movies/light-and-the-sufferer-59199185/ ''Light and the Sufferer''] hollywood.com, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref> and ''Bamboozled'' (2000).<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/932832/Stephen-Kunken/biography |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723093253/http://www.nytimes.com/movies/person/932832/Stephen-Kunken/biography |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 23, 2014 |department=Movies & TV Dept. |work=The New York Times |date=2014 |title=Stephen Kunken |accessdate=July 7, 2014}}</ref><ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20210630094156/https://www.tcm.com/tcmdb/person/363031%7C0/Stephen-Kunken "Stephen Kunken Films"] tcm.com, retrieved October 29, 2017</ref><ref name=holly/>
==Personal life== Kunken and stage director Jenn Thompson were married in 2005.<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.stage-directions.com/changing-roles/3424-the-actors-company-theatre-names-jenn-thompson-to-artistic-director-trio.html | title = Jenn Thompson is the newest member of The Actors Company Theatre directorial team | publisher = Stage-Directions.com | date = June 30, 2011}}</ref><ref>{{IBDB name|id=102245}}</ref><ref>Jones, Kenneth. [http://www.playbill.com/article/jenn-thompson-named-co-artistic-director-of-off-broadways-tact-com-180556# "Jenn Thompson Named Co-Artistic Director of Off-Broadway's TACT"] Playbill, June 30, 2011</ref> The couple have a daughter.<ref name="Playbill"/><ref>{{cite web | url = http://broadwayworld.com/article/Interview_Stephen_Kunken_One_of_ENRONs_Corporate_Baddies_20100427 | title = Interview: Stephen Kunken, One of ENRON's Corporate Baddies | publisher = BroadwayWorld.com | first = Adrienne | last = Onofri | date = April 27, 2010}}</ref>
==Filmography== {| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Film |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |2000|| ''Bamboozled'' || David || |- |rowspan=2|2007|| ''The Girl in the Park'' || Leo || |- |''Light and the Sufferer'' || Douglas || |- |2009|| ''Taking Woodstock'' || Mel || |- |2010|| ''All Good Things'' || Todd Fleck || |- |2011|| ''Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'' || Teacher || |- |rowspan=2|2012|| ''Price Check'' || Cartwright || |- |''The Bay'' || Dr. Abrams || |- |rowspan=3|2013|| ''A Birder's Guide to Everything'' || Ted || |- |''Blumenthal'' || Barry || |- |''The Wolf of Wall Street'' || Jerry Fogel || |- |2014|| ''Still Alice'' || Dr. Benjamin || |- |2015|| ''Bridge of Spies'' || William Tompkins || |- |rowspan=3|2016|| ''Custody'' || Mark Dooley || |- |''Café Society'' || Leonard || |- |''Jason Bourne'' || Baumen || |- |2019|| ''Otherhood'' || Joel Lieberman || |- |2020|| ''Hillbilly Elegy'' || Phillip Roseman || |}
{| class="wikitable" style="font-size: 90%;" ! colspan="4" style="background: LightSteelBlue;" | Television |- ! Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes |- |2014-2019|| ''The Affair'' || Harry || 8 episodes |- |2016-2023 || ''Billions'' || Ari Spyros || 41 episodes |- |2017-2022|| ''The Handmaid's Tale'' || Warren Putnam || 19 episodes |- |2022|| ''A Spy Among Friends''|| James Jesus Angleton || 6 episodes<ref>{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2021/10/damian-lewis-guy-pearce-a-spy-among-friends-spectrum-originals-britbox-uk-1234850590/|title=Damian Lewis & Guy Pearce Lead Cold War Limited Series 'A Spy Among Friends' For Spectrum Originals & BritBox UK|website=Deadline|date=October 6, 2021|access-date=March 1, 2022|first=Peter|last=White}}</ref> |}
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== * {{Official website|http://www.stephenkunken.com}} * {{IMDb name|475218}} * {{IBDB name}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Kunken, Stephen}} Category:American male television actors Category:Male actors from New York (state) Category:Living people Category:Juilliard School alumni Category:People from Long Island Category:Tufts University alumni Category:21st-century American male actors Category:American male stage actors Category:American male film actors Category:20th-century American male actors Category:Jewish American male actors Category:People from Upper Brookville, New York Category:21st-century American Jews Category:1971 births