Danny Rutigliano

Danny Rutigliano is an American actor whose Broadway career spans from 1994 to 2023. He made his Broadway debut in The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public in 1994 and went on to accumulate credits across more than two decades of stage, television, and film work.

Rutigliano is perhaps best known for his long association with The Lion King on Broadway, where he portrayed Timon. He was a member of the original cast in an understudy capacity and also originated the role of Timon in the Los Angeles production of the show, a performance that earned him the Ovation Award for Best Featured Actor. He departed the Broadway production in April 2010. That same year he starred in Cirque du Soleil's Banana Shpeel in New York City.

His Broadway credits beyond The Lion King include the 2011 revival of Born Yesterday, the musical Holiday Inn, in which he played the character Danny during its run from October 6, 2016, to January 2017, and Beetlejuice, where he originated the role of Maxie Dean in 2019 and remained with the production through its return engagement in 2022. He also appeared in Billy Elliot: The Musical and I Need That, the latter extending his Broadway work through 2023.

Rutigliano has been a recurring presence at Encores! at New York City Center, appearing in One Touch of Venus in 1998, The New Moon as Besac in 2003, Kismet as Wazir in 2006, and Fiorello! in January and February 2013, in which he played the title role of Fiorello LaGuardia. Regional stage work includes productions of Holiday Inn at the Goodspeed Opera House in 2014 and at The Muny in 2015, as well as The Fabulous Lipitones at the Goodspeed Opera House in May 2013. He has also appeared in How to Succeed and Godspell.

On television, Rutigliano has had roles in Without a Trace, Law & Order, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, My Big Fat Greek Life, Three Sisters, and The Brothers Garcia, and appeared in an eBay commercial. His film work includes a role in Goodfellas, a role in The Producers, and voice work as Timothy Mouse in Dumbo 2. Rutigliano is married to Jacqueline Monroe, and the couple resides in New York City.