---
name: "Harvey Fierstein"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/harvey-fierstein"
fi1m_id: "harvey-fierstein"
imdb_id: "nm0001213"
tmdb_id: 7420
wikidata_id: "Q446481"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "6 June 1952"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 76
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-09-30T20:46:09.359236+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Harvey Fierstein

## Identity

Harvey Fierstein

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/harvey-fierstein
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** harvey-fierstein
- **IMDb ID:** nm0001213
- **TMDB ID:** 7420
- **Wikidata ID:** Q446481
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Fierstein, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q446481, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001213/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7420

Actor. Born 6 June 1952 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 6 June 1952, Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
- **Active:** 1993–2019
- **Also known as:** Harvey Forbes Fierstein
- **Average Fi1m score:** 76, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1990s 76 (4), 2010s 76 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 76 to 70 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 4 at 60–79, 0 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Family 3, Adventure 2, Comedy 2, Action 1, Action & Adventure 1, Animation 1
- **Screen time:** 8 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $1,600m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harvey_Fierstein, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q446481, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001213/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/7420

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*Independence Day*](https://film.one/film/independence-day.md) (75), [*Mulan*](https://film.one/film/mulan.md) (74), [*Mrs. Doubtfire*](https://film.one/film/mrs-doubtfire.md) (74)
- **Amazon Prime Video:** [*Bullets Over Broadway*](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md) (80)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Harvey Fierstein is an American actor, playwright and voice actor. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he began his career in New York theatre and gained prominence for writing and starring in the play *Torch Song Trilogy*.

Fierstein won Tony Awards for Best Play and Best Actor in a Play for *Torch Song Trilogy*, Best Book of a Musical for *La Cage aux Folles*, and Best Actor in a Musical for playing Edna Turnblad in *Hairspray*. He also wrote the book for the Tony-winning musical *Kinky Boots* and was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2007.

On screen he has appeared in films including *Mrs. Doubtfire* (1993) as Frank and *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994) as Sid Loomis, and provided voices for characters in *Mulan* (1998) and *Independence Day* (1996).

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (5)

- *The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance* (2019), Fi1m 76, as skekAyuk (The Gourmand) (voice) — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance.md)
- *Mulan* (1998), Fi1m 74, as Yao (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/mulan.md)
- *Independence Day* (1996), Fi1m 75, as Marty Gilbert — [page](https://film.one/film/independence-day.md)
- *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), Fi1m 80, as Sid Loomis — [page](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md)
- *Mrs. Doubtfire* (1993), Fi1m 74, as Frank — [page](https://film.one/film/mrs-doubtfire.md)

## Complete filmography (59)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *Bros* (2022), as Louis
- *Shoshana Bean and Friends: An Evening of Broadway* (2020), as Performer
- *Disarm Hate* (2020), as Narrator
- *The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance* (2019), series, as skekAyuk (The Gourmand) (voice) — Fi1m 76, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-dark-crystal-age-of-resistance.md)
- *Kinky Boots: The Musical* (2019), Musical
- *Funny Girl* (2018), Musical, Writer
- *Animal Crackers* (2018), as Esmerelda (voice)
- *Big Mouth* (2017), series, as Older Guy Town Resident (voice)
- *Newsies* (2017), Musical
- *Hairspray Live!* (2016), as Edna Turnblad · Teleplay
- *The Wiz Live!* (2015), Writer
- *BoJack Horseman* (2014), series, as Harvey Fierstein (voice) — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/bojack-horseman.md)
- *Russian Broadway Shut Down* (2014), Actor
- *Foodfight!* (2012), as Fat Cat Burglar (voice)
- *Smash* (2012), series, as Harvey Fierstein
- *The Good Wife* (2009), series, as Judge Francis Flamm — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-good-wife.md)
- *Nurse Jackie* (2009), series, as John Decker — Fi1m 72, [page](https://film.one/tv/nurse-jackie.md)
- *The Year Without a Santa Claus* (2006), as Heat Miser
- *Farce of the Penguins* (2006), as Sheila (voice)
- *The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays* (2006), as Host
- *How I Met Your Mother* (2005), series, as Lily's Smoking Voice (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/tv/how-i-met-your-mother.md)
- *Mulan II* (2004), as Yao (voice)
- *Duplex* (2003), as Kenneth
- *Death to Smoochy* (2002), as Merv Green
- *Playing Mona Lisa* (2000), as Bennett
- *Common Ground* (2000), as Don · Writer
- *The Sissy Duckling* (1999), as Elmer (voice) · Writer
- *Double Platinum* (1999), as Gary Millstein
- *Jump* (1999), as Dish Macense
- *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Buster Keaton (voice), Tracy (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *Hercules* (1998), series, as Argus Panoptes (voice)
- *Safe Men* (1998), as Good Stuff Leo
- *Mulan* (1998), as Yao (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/mulan.md)
- *Kull the Conqueror* (1997), as Juba
- *White Lies* (1997), as Art Hoarder
- *Three Little Pigs* (1997), as The Big Bad Wolf (voice)
- *Sesame Street: Elmo Saves Christmas* (1996), as Easter Bunny
- *Everything Relative* (1996), as The Moyle
- *Independence Day* (1996), as Marty Gilbert — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/independence-day.md)
- *Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde* (1995), as Yves DuBois
- *Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child* (1995), series, as Mrs. Leaperman (voice)
- *Bullets Over Broadway* (1994), as Sid Loomis — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/film/bullets-over-broadway.md)
- *Daddy's Girls* (1994), series, as Dennis Sinclair
- *Ellen* (1994), series, as Harvey Fierstein
- *Mrs. Doubtfire* (1993), as Frank — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/mrs-doubtfire.md)
- *The Harvest* (1993), as Bob Lakin
- *The Larry Sanders Show* (1992), series, as Harvey Fierstein — Fi1m 91, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-larry-sanders-show.md)
- *In the Shadow of Love: A Teen AIDS Story* (1991), as Andrew
- *The Simpsons* (1989), series, as Karl (voice) — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-simpsons.md)
- *Torch Song Trilogy* (1988), as Arnold Beckoff · Theatre Play, Screenplay
- *Tidy Endings* (1988), as Arthur · Teleplay, Theatre Play
- *MaMa's Pushcart* (1988), Actor
- *Apology* (1986), as The derelict
- *Garbo Talks* (1984), as Bernie Whitlock
- *The Times of Harvey Milk* (1984), as Narrator (voice)
- *Murder, She Wrote* (1984), series, as Stan Hatter
- *Miami Vice* (1984), series, as Benedict — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/tv/miami-vice.md)
- *The Demon Murder Case* (1983), as The Demon (voice)
- *Cheers* (1982), series, as Mark Newberger — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/tv/cheers.md)

## Gallery

- ![Harvey Fierstein](https://film.one/media/person/83178/gallery-bda6348d731f.jpg) Harvey Fierstein — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/89/Harvey_Fierstein_Shankbone_Metropolitan_Opera_2009.jpg/1280px-Harvey_Fierstein_Shankbone_Metropolitan_Opera_2009.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Debbie Kurup in the Regent Park Open Air theatre production of La Cage Aux Folles (2023)](https://film.one/media/person/83178/gallery-9bef230c0342.jpg) Debbie Kurup in the Regent Park Open Air theatre production of La Cage Aux Folles (2023) — HAMZJAHANZEB, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/4b/Debbie_Kurup_La_Cage_2023.jpg/1280px-Debbie_Kurup_La_Cage_2023.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Harvey Fierstein, Jerry Herman, Arthur Laurents, creators of the musical "La Cage aux Folles", in front of the Palace theater where it is playing. Title: Harvey (1983)](https://film.one/media/person/83178/gallery-74408dd3ad27.jpg) Harvey Fierstein, Jerry Herman, Arthur Laurents, creators of the musical "La Cage aux Folles", in front of the Palace theater where it is playing. Title: Harvey (1983) — Bernard Gotfryd, for Newsweek, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/71/Harvey_Fierstein%2C_Jerry_Herman%2C_Arthur_Laurents%2C_La_Cage_aux_Folles.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Title: Harvey Fierstein, author, avowed homosexual Creator(s): Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer Date Created/Published: 1983. Medium: 1 photograph : color transpa](https://film.one/media/person/83178/gallery-da835889b448.jpg) Title: Harvey Fierstein, author, avowed homosexual Creator(s): Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer Date Created/Published: 1983. Medium: 1 photograph : color transpa — Gotfryd, Bernard, photographer, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/7a/Harvey_Fierstein%2C_author.jpg/1280px-Harvey_Fierstein%2C_author.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![This is a publicity still taken and publicly distributed to promote the subject or a work relating to the subject. As stated by film production expert Eve Light (1981)](https://film.one/media/person/83178/gallery-98244e793395.jpg) This is a publicity still taken and publicly distributed to promote the subject or a work relating to the subject. As stated by film production expert Eve Light (1981) — Photographer: Ken Howard, Public domain, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/57/Harvey_Fierstein_1981.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Harvey Fierstein at the 2009 premiere of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Photographer's blog post about event and photograph.](https://film.one/media/person/83178/gallery-9fd1ef309728.jpg) Harvey Fierstein at the 2009 premiere of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City. Photographer's blog post about event and photograph. — David Shankbone, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e8/Harvey_Fierstein_2_Shankbone_Metropolitan_Opera_2009.jpg/1280px-Harvey_Fierstein_2_Shankbone_Metropolitan_Opera_2009.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

## Awards

### Other awards — 5 won, 3 nominated

- VH1 Trailblazer Honors 2016: VH1 Trailblazer Honors (won)
- Tony Award for Best Play 2014: Tony Award for Best Play (nominated), for *Casa Valentina*
- Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical 2013: Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (nominated), for *Kinky Boots*
- Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical 2012: Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (nominated), for *Newsies*
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical 2003: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical (won)
- Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical 1984: Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical (won), for *La Cage aux Folles*
- Theatre World Award 1983: Theatre World Award (won)
- Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play 1983: Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/harvey-fierstein