Born and raised in New Jersey, Alexander first found an audience among his classmates, entertaining them in an effort to distract from his chubbiness. At 16 he earned his first professional job when he was spotted in a children's theater group and was asked to perform on a local New York children's program. Two years later he landed his first film, "The Burning," while studying acting at Boston University. In 1995 Alexander returned to Boston University to receive an honorary doctorate in Fine Arts.

Alexander recently wrapped production on the feature film "Shallow Hal," directed by Peter and Bobby Farrelly and starring Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black. He recently starred in "The Adventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle" as Boris Badenov, and has also appeared in "Pretty Woman," "North," "The Paper," "Denial," "I Don't Buy Kisses Anymore," "Dunston Checks In," "Love! Valour! Compassion!," "Brighton Beach Memoirs," "The Mosquito Coast," "Jacob's Ladder," "White Palace," "Coneheads," "Blankman," "The Last Supper" and the Academy Award-nominated live-action short film, "Down on the Waterfront."

One of the most versatile actors around, Alexander is also making waves as a director. His first effort behind the camera, for an episode of "Seinfeld," was nominated for a DGA Award in 1993. His feature film directorial debut was "For Better or Worse," in which he also starred opposite Lolita Davidovich and James Woods. He also directed an episode of AMC's "Remember WENN" and the independent film "Just Looking," starring Patti LuPone, Gretchen Mol and Ryan Merriman.

Aside from "Seinfeld," Alexander starred in the series "Everything's Relative" and the Elliot Gould comedy series "E.R." He also starred in the miniseries "Bye Bye Birdie" and the film "Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella," for ABC. Among his other television appearances are the miniseries "Favorite Son," hosting "Saturday Night Live" and guest starring on HBO's "Dream On," in which he earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series. He has revealed an even broader range with song-and-dance numbers for "The Comedy Hall of Fame," "The Kennedy Center Honors," the 1994 "Primetime Emmy Awards" (for which he was nominated for an American Comedy Award) and as co-host of the 1995 "Primetime Emmy Awards," with Cybill Shepherd. Most recently he performed with the Boston Pops on PBS and with the orchestra again at Carnegie Hall.

With a love of the theater, Alexander made his Broadway debut in "Merrily We Roll Along." He later starred in the Broadway productions of "Accomplice," Neil Simon's "Broadway Bound" and "The Rink." In 1989 he won a Tony, an Outer Critics Award and Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his role in "Jerome Robbins' Broadway." In 1994, as a loving tribute to Gilda Radner, Alexander and Julia Louis-Dreyfus performed benefit readings of Alan Zweibel's "Bunny Bunny." In Los Angeles he received a Dramalogue Award for his portrayal of Harry Truman in the one-man play, "Give 'Em Hell Harry," and starred in "Promises." He most recently starred in "Defiled" at the Geffen Playhouse.

Alexander's voice has become equally as famous in animated features and television series. For four seasons he starred in "Duckman," provided guest chords in "Aladdin" and featured voice work in "The Return of Jafar," "The Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Hercules."

Donating his time to many charitable causes, the one closest to Alexander's heart is serving as spokesperson for the United Scleroderma Foundation. His sister suffers from the disease which threatens the vascular and immune systems, primarily in women.

Admittedly Alexander misses the New York Theater community, but he now calls Los Angeles home, where he lives with his wife, Daena, and their sons, Gabriel and Noah.

PERSONAL INFORMATION

Hometown: Livingston, NJ
Birthdate: September 23

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