Evan Handler
USABiography of Evan Handler
Evan Handler, an American actor, is known for his roles in film and television, as well as his work as a screenwriter and occasional journalist. Born on January 10, 1961, in New York City, USA, Evan grew up between North Manhattan and the Hudson Valley. His mother, Enid Irene, was a psychiatrist, and his father, Murray Raymond Handler, was an advertising designer and owned his own agency. Evan has a brother named Lowell.
Early Career
During his teenage years, Evan attended the Hendrick Hudson High School in Montrose, New York. At the age of seventeen, he returned to New York City and began performing in theater productions at the Chelsea Theater Center. He had leading roles in plays such as "Biography: A Game" and "Strider: The Story of a Horse." In "Strider," Evan played the main character after the lead actor left the theater. The premiere of the play coincided with Evan's 18th birthday. After a year, the troupe moved to the Helen Hayes Theater on Broadway, but Evan decided to leave the show to pursue acting classes. He enrolled in the School of Performing Arts at the Julliard School, which marked a turning point in his career.
Acting Career
In 1981, after two years of training at the Julliard School, Evan landed his first role in the drama film "Taps" alongside Tom Cruise, Sean Penn, and Timothy Hutton. He also starred in Jeremy Kagan's drama film "Chosen" in the same year. Evan continued to work in both film and theater, participating in various Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Some notable works include Donald Margulies' plays "Found a Peanut" and "What's Wrong With this Picture," Robert Shenkkan's "Derelict," Tony Kushner's "Angels in America," and Neil Simon's plays "Brighton Beach Memoirs," "Biloxi Blues," and "Broadway Bound."
Battle with Leukemia
During this time, Evan was diagnosed with leukemia, which doctors initially believed to be incurable. He spent the next four years undergoing medical treatments and regular check-ups. After being discharged from the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York, Evan's test results showed no signs of the disease. He returned to performing in both theater and film, but unfortunately experienced a relapse and had to temporarily step away from his work. After undergoing a bone marrow transplant surgery and further recovery, Evan slowly returned to the stage, starring in various productions, including the Lincoln Center Theater's "Six Degrees of Separation" and the play "I Hate Hamlet."
Later Career
From the mid-1990s onwards, Evan Handler began receiving regular roles in both television and radio. He appeared in films such as Ron Howard's "Ransom" with Mel Gibson and Oliver Stone's "Natural Born Killers." He also had recurring roles in popular television series such as "Sex and the City," "The West Wing," "Lost," "Californication," and many others. In addition to his work in acting, Evan is also a published author. His first book, "Time On Fire: My Comedy of Terrors," was published in 1996 and tells the fictionalized and poignant story of his battle with leukemia and unexpected recovery. His second book, "Only Temporary... The Good News and the Bad News of Being Alive," was published in 2008 and reflects on his post-treatment journey of self-discovery and the miracles that occurred during that time.
Personal Life
On October 12, 2003, Evan Handler married his close friend Elisa Atti, an Italian chemist working in orthopedic research in Los Angeles. The wedding took place at Evan's favorite restaurant, "Ouest," in New York City.
