Bob Gunton is a renowned American actor, recognized for his versatility in portraying authoritative and authoritarian characters in various films and television shows. He is best known for his iconic roles as Chief George Earle in Demolition Man (1993),Prison Warden Samuel Norton in The Shawshank Redemption (1994),Dr. Walcott in Patch Adams (1998),and Cyrus Vance in Argo (2012).
Born to Robert Patrick Gunton Sr., a labor union executive, and Rose Marie Banovetz, Bob Gunton was the eldest of five siblings. He spent his childhood in California, where he attended Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana. His higher education was pursued at the Paulist Seminary St Peter's College in Baltimore, Maryland, and the University of California, Irvine.
In 1969, Gunton was drafted into the United States Army and served until 1971. He served as a radio telephone operator with the 2nd Battalion, 501st Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division during the Vietnam War. During a siege by the North Vietnamese Army, Gunton successfully retrieved important radios, earning him a Bronze Star commendation.
Gunton began his theatrical career in the late 1970s and 1980s, gaining recognition for his roles in the Broadway musical "King of Hearts" (1978) and "Evita" (1979-1983). He won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Juan Domingo Perón in "Evita". Gunton also won the Clarence Derwent Award for Most Promising Male Performer and the Obie Award for Distinguished Performance by an Actor for his role in the play "How I Got That Story" (1980).
Throughout his career, Gunton has appeared in numerous stage productions, including "Big River" (1985) and "Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street" (1987-1990). He was nominated for several awards for his performances, including a Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical and a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical.
In the 1990s, Gunton transitioned to film roles, often playing antagonists. He gained popularity for his roles in films like Demolition Man (1993),The Shawshank Redemption (1994),and Patch Adams (1998). In 2007, Gunton joined the main cast of the action drama television series 24 (2001),playing politician Ethan Kanin, and continued to appear in the series until its conclusion in 2010.
In 2015, Gunton joined the main cast of the superhero series Daredevil (2015),playing the villainous Leland Owlsley. As of 2024, Gunton is 78 years old and continues to actively pursue his acting career, appearing regularly in film and television.
