Sylvia Miles reached legendary status in MIDNIGHT COWBOY, the first of her Academy Award nominated performances.
Miles' career began with a recording of "A Tale of Two Cities" with George Segal. She made her off-Broadway debut in the 1955 production of "A Stone for Danny Fisher" with Zero Mostel. After approximately 30 years off-Broadway, wiith productions including "The Iceman Cometh" with Jason Robards, and the world premiere of Jean Genet's "The Balcony," both at Circle in the Square. Miles made her Broadway debut in "Riot Act," which opened and closed during a newspaper strike. Since that time, she has delivered an endless array of star performances including "Night of the Iguana" with Richard Chamberlain and Dorothy McGuire at Circle in the Square, "Nellie Toole & Co." at Theater Four, and "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?" In addition, Miles has been extremely active in theater in England in productions including "Vieux Carre" which earned her an "Actress of the Year" nomination by the Society of West End Theaters in 1978. Most recently, Miles made a triumphant return to the New York stage in "Ruthless!" at the Players Theater.
Miles has achieved international fame for her portrayal of a fading movie star in Andy Warhol's HEAT, directed by Paul Morrisey. She garnered Best Actress awards in 12 countries and the film was screened at every major film festival around the world.
Other film credits include FAREWELL MY LOVELY, for which she was nominated for her second Academy Award; PARRISH, with Claudette Colbert; MURDER INC, with Peter Falk; THE LAST MOVIE with Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper; CRITICAL CONDITION with Richard Pryor; Joan Micklin Silver's CROSSING DELANCEY; Oliver Stone's WALL STREET; and SPIKE OF BENSONHURST, directed by Paul Morrisey.
In addition to her film and theatrical work, Miles has been seen in guest appearances on several television series and dramatic shows including "Miami Vice" and "The Equalizer." She has also appeared on numerous talk shows such as Johnny Carson's Tonight Show, Nightwatch, Charlie Rose, and Dick Cavett. She was the subject of a PBS "51st State" documentary, "The Emancipated Woman of the 70s - I was Always Sylvia." Miles also starred as the Evil Fairy of Red in "Sleeping Beauty" which airs frequently on the Disney Channel.
A member of the Actors Studio since 1968, Miles has studied with Erwin Piscator at the Dramatic Workshop of the New School, as well as with the late Harold Clurman, Lee Strasberg, Stella Adler, and N. Richard Nash.
Last modified 28-Mar-96.
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