Trivia

Has won two Tony Awards for his roles in the two parts of "Angels in America": in 1993, as Best Actor (Featured Role - Play) for "Angels in America: Millennium Approaches," and in 1994, as Best Actor (Play) for: "Angels in America: Perestroika." He was also Tony-nominated in 2000 as Best Actor (Featured Role - Musical) for "James Joyce's The Dead."

Attended Glendale High School in Glendale, Arizona, then Phoenix College and the University of Arizona. His graduate studies were at New York University, where he earned his MFA in Acting (in 1982). There, he met budding playwright Tony Kushner. After watching a university production, Kushner invited Spinella to be in his play, "The Age of Assassins", and later wrote parts specifically for the actor.

Moved to New York from Arizona, where he was raised, in 1979, and paid his dues for many years working in restaurants while acting in regional theater and off off Broadway shows.

Vaulted from obscurity with his frighteningly realistic portrayal of AIDS-ravaged Prior Walter in Tony Kushner's two-part stage epic "Angels in America". An openly gay actor, he has since played in a number of gay-related themes on stage, film and TV.

Made his screen debut in a cameo as a man dying from complications of AIDS in the Emmy-winning HBO movie Les soldats de l'espérance (1993).

He was awarded the 1994 New York Drama Desk Award for Best Actor in a Play for "Angels in America: Part Two: Perestroika," on Broadway in New York City.

Kathleen Chalfant, K. Todd Freeman, Jeffrey King, Ron Leibman, Cynthia Mace, Joe Mantello, Ellen McLaughlin and he were awarded the 1992 Drama Logue Award for Ensemble Performance for "Angels in America" Part One "Millennium Approaches" and Part Two: "Perestroika" in a Gordon Davidson/Mark Taper Forum production at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

He was awarded the 1994 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Actor in a Play for "Angels in America: Part Two: Perestroika," on Broadway in New York City.

Joe Mantello and he were awarded the 1993 New York Drama Desk Award for (tied) Best Featured Actor in a Play for "Angels in America Part One Millennium Approaches," on Broadway in New York City.

He was awarded the 1993 Antoinette Perry (Tony) Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for "Angels in America Part One Millennium Approaches," on Broadway in New York City.

Stephen is one of 6 performers to receive acting Tony Awards in back-to-back years. Stephen won in 1993 for "Angels in America: Millennium Approaches"(Featured Actor in a Play) and in 1994 for "Angels in America: Perestroika"(Lead Actor in a Play). The others are Shirley Booth (1949/50), Gwen Verdon (1958/59), Sandy Dennis (1963/64), Judith Light (2012/13), and Laurie Metcalf (2017/18).

Appeared in the musical "Spring Awakening" on Broadway in 2006.