Harvey Forbes Fierstein was born on June 6, 1952 in Brooklyn, New York. He is an American Tony Award-winning and Emmy Award-winning actor, playwright, and screenwriter.

He is known best for the play and film Torch Song Trilogy, which he wrote and starred in. The 1982 Broadway production won him two Tony Awards, for Best Play and Best Actor in a Play, two Drama Desk Awards.

He wrote the book for La Cage aux Folles (1983), winning another Tony Award. Fierstein made his acting debut at La MaMa, E.T.C. in Andy Warhol's only play, Pork.

His film credits include Bullets Over Broadway, Mrs. Doubtfire, Death to Smoochy, Garbo Talks, Duplex, and Independence Day.

On television, Fierstein was featured as the voice of Karl, Homer Simpson's assistant, in the "Simpson and Delilah" episode of The Simpsons.

Filmography

• "Family Guy" (1 episode, 2008)
• The Year Without a Santa Claus (2006) (TV)
• Farce of the Penguins (2006) (V) (voice)
• Kingdom Hearts II (2005) (VG)
• Mulan II (2004) (V) (voice)
• Duplex (2003)
• Death to Smoochy (2002)
• Common Ground (2000) (TV)
• Playing Mona Lisa (2000)
• The Sissy Duckling (1999) (TV) (voice)
• Double Platinum (1999) (TV)
• Jump (1999)
• "X-Chromosome" (1999) TV series (voice)
• Safe Men (1998)
• Mulan (1998) (voice)
• Mulan Story Studio (1998) (VG)
• "Stories from My Childhood" (1 episode)
• Kull the Conqueror (1997)
• "Fame L.A." (1 episode, 1997)
• Everything Relative (1996)
• Independence Day (1996)
• Elmo Saves Christmas (1996) (V)
• White Lies (1996)
• Dr. Jekyll and Ms. Hyde (1995)
• "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" (1995) TV series
• "Daddy's Girls" (1994) TV series
• Bullets Over Broadway (1994)
• Mrs. Doubtfire (1993)
• The Harvest (1993)
• "Murder, She Wrote" (1 episode, 1992)
• "Cheers" (1 episode, 1992)
• "ABC Afterschool Specials" (1 episode, 1991)
• "The Simpsons" (1 episode, 1990)
• The American Film Institute Presents: TV or Not TV? (1990) (TV)
• Torch Song Trilogy (1988)
• Tidy Endings (1988) (TV)
• Apology (1986) (TV)
• "Miami Vice" (1 episode, 1986)
• Garbo Talks (1984)
• The Demon Murder Case (1983) (TV) (voice)

Awards

• Tony Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical "Hairspray" 2003
• Humanitas Prize Childrens animation "The Sissy Duckling" 2000
• CableACE Award Best Writing, Drama Special "Tidy Endings" 1989
• Tony Book of a Musical "La Cage aux Folles" 1984
• Drama Desk Award Outstanding New Play "Torch Song Trilogy" 1983
• Drama Desk Award Outstanding Actor in a Play "Torch Song Trilogy" 1983
• Theatre World Award "Torch Song Trilogy" 1983
• Tony Best Play "Torch Song Trilogy" 1983
• Tony Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play "Torch Song Trilogy" 1983
• Special OBIE Award "Torch Song Trilogy" 1981 - 1982