Photo: Montclair Film / CC BY 2.0 (source: Wikimedia Commons)
My Take
Richard Schiff is, to me, the kind of actor who quietly proves how much a great supporting player carries a show. His Toby Ziegler on The West Wing is a masterclass in restraint, all gruff diction and buried conviction, and the Emmy felt richly earned. What fascinates me is the art-historian background, a reminder that his gravitas isn't performed but lived-in. I admire performers who choose texture over stardom, and Schiff has built a long, respected career doing exactly that. He's the sort of presence that makes ensemble dramas feel real, and I'll always trust a project more when his name is in the cast.
1. Profile
- Name (English)
- Richard Schiff
- Name (Japanese)
- リチャード・シフ
- Reading
- りちゃーど・しふ
- Born
- May 27, 1955 (age 71)
- Zodiac / Chinese zodiac
- Gemini / Goat
- Origin
- Bethesda, Maryland, United States
- Blood type
- Private
- Height
- Private
- Agency
- Private
- Occupation
- actor / stage actor / television actor / film actor / art historian
2. Background
- Elementary school
- Private
- Junior high
- Private
- High school
- Private
- University
- City College of New York
Awards & achievements
- 2000 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
3. Relationships
- Spouse
- Private
- Children
- Private
- Parents
- Private
- Siblings
- Private
4. Personality
Motto
Private
6. Links
Frequently asked questions
When was Richard Schiff born?
Born May 27, 1955 (age 71).
Where is Richard Schiff from?
Richard Schiff is from Bethesda, Maryland, United States.
What does Richard Schiff do?
Richard Schiff works as actor, stage actor, television actor, film actor, art historian.
Actor — see all → · Stage actor — see all → · More people from United States →
7. About this entry
Tags
- Last updated
- 2026-06-17
Facts are limited to publicly available information up to 2024; non-public items are marked "Private / Unknown". English text is machine-assisted (facts translated by Sonnet, "My Take" written by Opus 4.8). The Japanese page is the source of record.