Biographie
Critics have hailed Kip as "one of the theater's most important actors," alongside his extensive work in film and television. He has starred in premieres such as "Dave Vaughn" in Paul Mazursky's "Catskill Sonata," Harry Houdini in William Shatner's "Harry And Arthur," Ben Hecht in "Moonlight And Magnolias," "Ralph Edwards" in "Gretty Goodtime," "Josh Green" in "2 Across," "Adam Penzius" in Michael Weller's "What The Night Is For," and "Paul Wolfowitz" in the Mark Taper Forum's production of "Stuff Happens," earning him an Ovation Nomination. His one-man shows, "Mister Moody.. 82 minutes with Christ" and "Men Women And Assassins," have also received critical acclaim along with their musical recordings.
Shortly after graduating college, Kip moved to Chicago, where his first audition landed him a co-starring role in "Irma La Douce." He then secured leading roles in productions such as "Funny Girl," "Light Up The Sky," "Little Mary Sunshine," "Send Me No Flowers," and "Pal Joey," working tirelessly for a year in the Windy City. He later relocated to New York, where he was immediately cast in the improv revue "Weigh-In Weigh-Out." From this show, several William Morris agents, including Judy Abbott—daughter of the legendary director and writer George Abbott—discovered him, launching his busy career.
Kip spent several years in New York theater, participating in projects like the premiere of Mark Medoff's "The Wager," directed by Anthony Perkins, followed by "Barefoot In The Park," the Public Theater's production of "Lotta," and culminating with the hit musical "Company." His role in the successful musical "Purlie" alongside Robert Guillaume brought him to Los Angeles, where he became familiar to prime-time television audiences. He has since starred as a regular on "Loves Me, Loves Me Not" (1977), "Trapper John, M.D." (1979), "Foot in the Door" (1983), "Dorothy" (1979), "Closeup News," "Studio 5-B" (1989), and "Nurses" (1991), and has had recurring roles on "Doctor Doctor" (1989) and "Relativity" (1996).
The son of a traveling salesman, Kip has lived in Boston, Rochester, Cleveland, Chicago, and now divides his time between New York City and the Santa Monica Mountains. Gilman's dramatic, comedic, and musical performances across television, film, and stage demonstrate his remarkable versatility, establishing him as one of the most captivating and talented actors in the industry.
