Bryan Batt (born March 1, 1963) is an American actor best known for his role in the AMC series Mad Men as Salvatore Romano, an art director for the Sterling Cooper agency. Primarily a theater actor, he has had a number of starring roles in movies and television as well. His performance in the musical adaptation of Saturday Night Fever earned him one of New York City’s more unusual honors, a caricature at Sardi’s.
Early life
Batt was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, the son of Gayle (Mackenroth), an amateur actress, dancer, and civic activist, and John Batt. His family founded and ran the Pontchartrain Beach amusement park. He attended and graduated from Isidore Newman School (a preparatory school in New Orleans) and Tulane University, where he was a member of Delta Kappa Epsilon fraternity.
Personal life
On September 28, 2014, Batt married his long-time partner Tom Cianfichi, an event planner. Batt and Cianfichi own a home decor and furnishings store, Hazelnut, on Magazine Street in New Orleans. In 2010, Batt published a memoir about his mother entitled She Ain’t Heavy, She’s My Mother. She died in December 2010. In 2011, he published a second book, Big, Easy, Style, which focuses on interior design and home furnishings.
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1995 | Jeffrey | Darius | |
| 1997 | Kiss Me, Guido | Tino | |
| 1999 | Hit and Runway | Carlos | |
| 2011 | Brawler | Fat Chucky | |
| 2011 | Nine Lives: A Musical Adaption Live | Billy Grace | |
| 2013 | B-Side | Andrews | |
| 2013 | Wiener Dog Nationals | Judge Brown | |
| 2013 | 12 Years a Slave | Judge Turner | |
| 2013 | Parkland | Malcolm Kilduff | |
| 2013 | The Last of Robin Hood | Orry-Kelly | |
| 2015 | Zipper | Bob Fisher | |
| 2015 | Sam | Alexander Blondell | |
| 2015 | The Runner | Mark Lavin | |
| 2016 | The Book of Love | Dr. Melvin | |
| 2016 | A Boy Called Po | Randall Bane | |
| 2016 | Abattoir | Chester | |
| 2016 | LBJ | Jim Rowe | |
| 2017 | Mississippi Murder | Bernard | |
| 2017 | Wiener Dog Internationals | Judge Brown | |
| 2018 | Tales from the Hood 2 | John Lloyd | Video |
| 2018 | Billionaire Boys Club | Ludo | |
| 2019 | I Hate Kids | Rev. McGooley | |
| 2019 | Darlin | The Bishop | |
| 2020 | Easy Does It | Officer Owens | |
| 2020 | Don’t Look Back | Rev. Farmer | Also known as Good Samaritan |
| TBA | American Reject | Buddy Bisk | Post-production |
| TBA | Night Teeth | Post-production |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 | As the World Turns | Teddy | Episode: “1.10423” |
| 2003, 2011 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Hugo, Hutton Mays | Episodes: “Suite Sorrow”, “Trophy Wine” |
| 2007–2009 | Mad Men | Salvatore Romano | Regular role (seasons 1–3) |
| 2010 | Ugly Betty | Spencer Cannon | Episodes: “The Past Presents the Future”, “Hello Goodbye” |
| 2015–2016 | Scream | Mayor Quinn Maddox | Recurring role (seasons 1–2) |
| 2016 | NCIS | Dalton Greenbrick | Episode: “Sister City: Part I” |
| 2016 | NCIS: New Orleans | Dalton Greenbrick | Episode: “Sister City: Part II” |
| 2019 | The Simpsons | Philip Hefflin / Carl (voice) | Episode: “Mad About the Toy” |
| 2019 | Tales of the City | Chris Bauer | Episode: “The Price of Oil” |
| 2019 | EastSiders | Richard | Episodes: “Both Sides Now”, “Always Upwards” |
Theater
Broadway
| Year | Title | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | Cats | Munkustrap | Winter Garden Theatre |
| 1987 | Starlight Express | Rocky I/Greaseball | Gershwin Theatre |
| 1993 | Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat | Reuben/Pharaoh | Minskoff Theatre |
| 1994 | Sunset Boulevard | u/s Joe Gillis/Ensemble | Minskoff Theatre |
| 1994 | Beauty and the Beast | Lumiere | Lunt-Fontanne Theatre |
| 1997 | The Scarlet Pimpernel | standby Percy/Pimpernel | Minskoff Theatre |
| 1999 | Saturday Night Fever | Monty | Minskoff Theatre |
| 2000 | Seussical | Alternate Cat in the Hat | Richard Rodgers Theatre |
| 2004 | La Cage aux Folles | standby Albin | Marquis Theatre |
Off-Broadway
| Year | Title | Venue | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | Too Many Girls | Al | Equity Library Theatre |
| 1990 | Grease | Kenicke | Darien Dinner Theater, |
| 1990 | The Golden Apple | Patroclus | York Theater |
| 1991 | Give My Regards to Broadway | Choir | Carnegie Hall |
| 1993 | Jeffrey | Darius/Man in bed | WPA Theatre & Minetta Lane Theatre |
| 1996-98 | Forbidden Broadway Strikes Back | Various | Triad Theater |
| 1998-98 | Forbidden Broadway Cleans Up Its Act | Performer | Stardust Theatre |
| 1998 | I Love New York | Performer | Rainbow and Stars |
| 1998 | Ascendancy | Performer | Rattlestick Theatre |
| 1998 | In the Beginning | Performer | Maine State Theatre |
Regional
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1999 | Drama Desk Awards | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Forbidden Broadway Cleans Up Its Act |
Nominated |
| 2007 | Screen Actors Guild Awards | Outstanding Ensemble in a Drama Series | Mad Men | Nominated |
| 2008 | Won | |||
| 2009 | Won |
