# Craig Bierko
**Craig Bierko** (born 1964) is an American actor whose career spans television sitcoms, feature films, and Broadway musicals; he is best known for the lead role in the science-fiction thriller *The Thirteenth Floor* (1999), a Tony-nominated turn as Harold Hill in the 2000 Broadway revival of *The Music Man*, and the recurring part of Chet Wilton on the Lifetime series *UnREAL*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Craig-Bierko/)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Full name / birth | Craig Philip Bierko, 1964, Rye Brook, New York[3](https://www.tvrage.com/person/id-22693/Craig_Bierko/) |
| Signature stage role | Harold Hill in the 2000 Broadway revival of *The Music Man*; Theatre World Award (2000), Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical, Drama Desk nomination[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Craig-Bierko/) |
| Signature film roles | Douglas Hall in *The Thirteenth Floor* (1999), Max Baer in *Cinderella Man* (2005), Tom Ryan in *Scary Movie 4* (2006)[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0081572/) |
| Signature TV role | Chet Wilton on *UnREAL* (2015–2018, 38 episodes); also Jeffrey Coho on *Boston Legal*[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0081572/) |
| Almost-Friends fact | First choice for Chandler Bing in *Friends* in 1994; declined, and the role went to Matthew Perry[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-25667/biographie/) |
| Education | Boston University (broadcast journalism), then Northwestern University theater arts, graduating in 1986[3](https://www.tvrage.com/person/id-22693/Craig_Bierko/) |
| Height | 6 ft 3 in (1.9 m)[3](https://www.tvrage.com/person/id-22693/Craig_Bierko/) |
## Early life and stage beginnings
Bierko came from a theatrical family: his parents operated a theater in [Rye, New York](https://www.edgepedia.org/rye-new-york), and he made his stage debut there at age ten in a production of *Gypsy*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/) His father, Rex Bierko, was Catholic and his mother, Pat Bierko, was Jewish.[3](https://www.tvrage.com/person/id-22693/Craig_Bierko/) He began studying broadcast journalism at [Boston University](https://www.edgepedia.org/boston-university), then transferred to the theater arts department at [Northwestern University](https://www.edgepedia.org/northwestern-university), from which he graduated in 1986.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/) • [3](https://www.tvrage.com/person/id-22693/Craig_Bierko/) After moving to Los Angeles he was cast in a production of *The Boys From Syracuse* staged by a troupe backed by Lucille Ball, Carol Burnett, and Carol Channing.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/)
## 1990s television and film
Bierko broke into television with small guest roles on series such as *Our House* and *Newhart* and a brief recurring role on *The Young and the Restless*.[3](https://www.tvrage.com/person/id-22693/Craig_Bierko/) He then held a run of high-profile but short-lived sitcom leads: the uptight attorney who hired private investigator [Valerie Bertinelli](https://www.edgepedia.org/valerie-bertinelli) on *Sydney* (CBS, 1990), the eager reporter opposite [Dabney Coleman](https://www.edgepedia.org/dabney-coleman) on *Madman of the People* (NBC, 1994–95), and [Julie Warner](https://www.edgepedia.org/julie-warner)'s husband on *Pride & Joy* (NBC, 1995). None of the shows lasted long.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/) In 1993, after landing a three-year deal with NBC, he co-starred in the television movie *Danielle Steel's 'Star'*.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/)
A frequently recounted casting decision dates to this period: in 1994 Bierko was the first choice for [Chandler Bing](https://www.edgepedia.org/chandler-bing) on the new sitcom *Friends*. He declined the role, leaving the way open for [Matthew Perry](https://www.edgepedia.org/matthew-perry), a friend from his days on *Sydney*.[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-25667/biographie/)
His screen career developed more slowly. His first film, *Victimless Crimes* (1991), went straight to video.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/) More substantial parts followed in the late 1990s: the hit man tracking [Geena Davis](https://www.edgepedia.org/geena-davis) and [Samuel L. Jackson](https://www.edgepedia.org/samuel-l-jackson) in *The Long Kiss Goodnight* (1996), [Jeanne Tripplehorn](https://www.edgepedia.org/jeanne-tripplehorn)'s crush in *'Til There Was You* (1997), Steven Weber's feuding cousin in Larry David's *Sour Grapes* (1998), and the lead role of Douglas Hall in the thriller *The Thirteenth Floor* (1999).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/) The decade also brought a pair of comic appearances on the 2001–2002 season of *Sex and the City* as Ray, Sarah Jessica Parker's jazz-obsessed lover, and an uncredited cameo in *Kate & Leopold* (2001).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/)
## Broadway: The Music Man and after
In 2000 Bierko landed the coveted lead in the Broadway revival of [Meredith Willson](https://www.edgepedia.org/meredith-willson)'s *The Music Man*, directed by [Susan Stroman](https://www.edgepedia.org/susan-stroman). Some critics felt his Harold Hill stayed close to Robert Preston's celebrated film interpretation, but he proved a strong stage presence: he won the 2000 Theatre World Award and was nominated for the [Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical](https://www.edgepedia.org/tony-award-for-best-actor-in-a-musical), the Drama Desk Award, and the Outer Critics Circle Award.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/) • [2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Craig-Bierko/) He followed the role with the original 2001 Broadway production of Susan Stroman's *Thou Shalt Not*, playing Laurent LeClaire.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Craig-Bierko/)
Later stage work includes a return to Broadway as Sky Masterson in the 2009 revival of *Guys and Dolls* and a stint as [Miss Trunchbull](https://www.edgepedia.org/miss-trunchbull) in *Matilda the Musical* in 2013, plus the Off-Broadway productions *Modern Orthodox* (2004) and *Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays* (2011).[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Craig-Bierko/) • [6](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/craig-bierko/profile/) In 2019 he appeared with Len Cariou in the Off-Broadway play *Harry Townsend's Last Stand*.[2](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Craig-Bierko/)
## 2000s and 2010s screen work
Bierko built the 2000s around film and television supporting roles. He played the boxer Max Baer opposite Russell Crowe's Jim Braddock in Ron Howard's *Cinderella Man* (2005); for the part he trained and gained considerable muscle, and contemporary reporting held that he and Crowe kept up their characters' tension off screen as well.[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-25667/biographie/) • [1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/) In *Scary Movie 4* (2006) he spoofed Tom Cruise's *War of the Worlds* character as Tom Ryan, a bumbling dad saving his children from rampaging beings on giant tripods.[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/) Other credits include *Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star* (2003), *For Your Consideration* (2006), *Superhero Movie* (2008), and *The Change-Up* (2011).[7](https://www.theatermania.com/stage-names/craig-bierko/)
On television he played attorney Jeffrey Coho on ABC's *Boston Legal* (2006), had guest arcs on *Nip/Tuck*, *Damages*, *The Good Wife*, *The Blacklist*, and *Elementary*, and led the Fox sitcom *Unhitched* (2008).[1](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/) • [7](https://www.theatermania.com/stage-names/craig-bierko/) His most durable television role came on Lifetime's *UnREAL*, a drama set behind the scenes of a reality dating show, where he played the impulsive, arrogant producer Chet Wilton for 38 episodes from 2015 to 2018.[5](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-25667/biographie/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0081572/) He later appeared as Mick in Netflix's *Sex/Life* (2023).[6](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/craig-bierko/profile/) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0081572/)
## Recent work
Bierko has remained active on screen into the 2020s, with roles in the film *D(e)ad* (2025) as Daniel and a 2025 guest appearance as Dr. Joseph Chase on *Grey's Anatomy*.[4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0081572/) Rotten Tomatoes lists *The Debut* (2026), a film starring Julianne Moore and Paul Giamatti, as his highest-rated credit at 91 percent, with Bierko in the cast as Steve.[8](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/craig_bierko) • [4](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0081572/)
## References
1. [Craig Bierko – Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/craig-bierko/)
2. [Craig Bierko – Broadway & Theatre Credits, BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Craig-Bierko/)
3. [Craig Bierko Biography & Credits, TVRage](https://www.tvrage.com/person/id-22693/Craig_Bierko/)
4. [Craig Bierko – IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0081572/)
5. [Craig Bierko : Sa biographie, AlloCiné](https://www.allocine.fr/personne/fichepersonne-25667/biographie/)
6. [Craig Bierko Biography, Broadway.com Broadway Buzz](https://www.broadway.com/buzz/stars/craig-bierko/profile/)
7. [Who is Craig Bierko, TheaterMania](https://www.theatermania.com/stage-names/craig-bierko/)
8. [Craig Bierko Movies & TV Shows List, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/celebrity/craig_bierko)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames Be to Bo*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 17, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license