Tom Lenk Explained

Birth Name:Thomas Loren Lenk
Birth Date:1976 6, mf=yes
Birth Place:Camarillo, California, U.S.
Occupation:Actor
Yearsactive:1997–present

Thomas Loren Lenk (born June 16, 1976) is an American film and television actor, best known for portraying the character of Andrew Wells in the television series Buffy the Vampire Slayer.

Early life

Lenk was born in Camarillo, California, the son of Pamela Sherman, a teacher, and Fred Lenk, a tuba player, high school music teacher, and school district computer network administrator.[1] He attended Adolfo Camarillo High School, and graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles, with a Bachelor of Arts.[2]

Career

After launching his career in 1997 with small parts in movies, Lenk won his breakthrough role in Buffy in 2000. He appeared in twenty-seven episodes of Joss Whedon's show altogether, and also played Andrew in two episodes of its spin off, Angel.[3] Among the many television shows in which he appeared as a guest star were NBC's Joey, House, Six Feet Under, Eli Stone, How I Met Your Mother and Nip/Tuck. His film roles have included small parts in Date Movie, The Number 23, and Transformers. He also appeared in the web series Border Patrol,[4] which premiered in June 2008 on Atom.com.

Besides acting, Lenk is a singer and playwright. He has toured with the European cast of Grease and has written three plays. He took over the role of Franz in the Broadway musical Rock of Ages as of September 14, 2009, having originated the role in the Las Vegas and Los Angeles productions in 2006. From 2009 to 2010, he posted video blogs on YouTube summing up his experiences on Broadway, usually under the title "Tom's Broadway Blogs". He also contributes video content to Felicia Day's YouTube channel, Geek and Sundry, and parodies fashion on Instagram.[5]

Lenk appeared in an episode of Psych that poked fun at Buffy the Vampire Slayer; Kristy Swanson, who played Buffy in the movie that preceded the television show, took part in the episode as well. He also performed in the June 2012 edition of Don't Tell My Mother!, a monthly showcase in which authors, screenwriters, actors and comedians share embarrassing true stories.

In 2013, Lenk joined the Lifetime series Witches of East End as Hudson Rafferty.[6] In 2016, he appeared in the third season finale of Transparent.[7] In 2018 he starred in Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist which has played in LA, Edinburgh, and London.

Personal life

Lenk is gay.[8]

Filmography

Film

YearFilmRoleNotes
1997Boogie NightsUncle Floyd's Boy #2
1999Boy Next DoorChris
2000And Then Came SummerDrunk boy at party
2004Window TheorySean
Straight-JacketTeddy
BandwagonTom Lenk
2005LorettaBillyShort film
2006Date MovieFrodo
The ThirstKronos
2007The Number 23Bookstore Clerk
Equal OpportunityThomas the Tank Engine
TransformersAnalyst
Walking for the Stars: The Foley Artistry of Nancy Anne CianciMike RotchShort film
Boogeyman 2Perry
2010My Girlfriend's BoyfriendDavid Young
2012The Cabin in the WoodsRonald The Intern
Much Ado About NothingVerges
ArgoVariety Reporter
2014Such Good PeopleLogan
2021Barb and Star Go to Vista Del MarArnie
2024The UnreasonAlex[9]

Television

YearShowRoleNotes
2000Judging AmyAlan HigginsEpisode: "The God Thing"
2000–2003Buffy the Vampire SlayerCyrus, Andrew WellsRecurring, 27 episodes
2001PopularChicken Delivery GuyEpisode: "The Brain Game"
Ruling ClassUnsold TV pilot
2004Mystery GirlUnsold UPN TV pilot
AngelAndrew WellsEpisodes: "Damage", "The Girl in Question"
Six Feet UnderYoung PoetEpisode: "In Case of Rapture"
JoeyThomasEpisode "Joey and the Big Audition"
2005House, M.D.AllenEpisode: "Spin"
2006How I Met Your MotherScottEpisode: "Swarley"
2007NursesMRI TechnicianFOX TV pilot
2008G.I.L.F.TevorWeb series
Eli StoneWPK AssistantEpisode: "Heal the Pain"
Samantha Who?Coffee shop clerkEpisode: "The Girlfriend", "The Boss"
Do Not DisturbVictorEpisode: "Pilot"
2009Trust MeAnti Corporate IdealistEpisode: "Odd Man Out"
Nip/TuckCoreyEpisode: "Enigma"
2011The GuildHimselfEpisode: "Social Traumas"
GreekTour Guide SmithEpisode: "Legacy"
PsychLucienEpisode: "This Episode Sucks"
2013–14Witches of East EndHudson RaffertyRecurring role
2014EpisodesPublicistEpisode: "Episode Five"
2015BonesChris WinfelderEpisode: "The Carpals in the Coy-Wolves"
2016TransparentTrevorEpisode: "Exciting and New"
Good Girls RevoltMalcolmEpisode: "The Year-Ender"
Princess Rap BattleFlynnEpisode: "Rapunzel & Flynn vs. Anna & Kristoff"
2017Fresh Off the BoatRogerEpisode: "Pie vs. Cake"
HyperlinkedWardrobe StylistEpisode: "The Interview"
2018Another PeriodHusbandEpisode: "Sex Nickelodeon"
Workin' MomsDemitreEpisode: "Cuck"
American HousewifeMarshall GranvilleEpisode: "Mom Guilt"
Room 104MattyEpisode: "FOMO"
2019Bajillion Dollar Propertie$BrandoonEpisode: "Good Todd Hunting"
EastSidersCollin4 episodes
2020Kevin McCableEpisode: "Predators"
2021American Horror StoriesTim WilliamsEpisode: "Game Over"
2021BatwomanCharlie ClarkEpisode: "Antifreeze"
2021Carter DunlapEpisode: "Nightwatch"
2022Rancibalafloss El Hoxtrot "Hox"

Stage

YearPlayRoleTheaterNotes
2009Rock of Ages[10] FranzBrooks Atkinson TheatreReplaced Wesley Taylor
2017Tilda Swinton Answers an Ad on Craigslist[11] Tilda SwintonCelebration Theatre

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tom Lenk Biography (1976–). Filmreference.com. October 23, 2013.
  2. Web site: Performers – Tom Lenk. The Groundlings. 2017-03-11.
  3. Prior to appearing as Andrew Wells, Lenk had a role as the vampire Cyrus in the season 5 episode "Real Me",
  4. Web site: Border Patrol. 2010. Greenbaum, Josh; McMillan, Ben. October 23, 2013.
  5. Web site: tommylenk. February 16, 2017.
  6. Web site: 'Buffy's' Tom Lenk Joins Lifetime's 'Witches of East End' (Exclusive). Goldberg. Lesley. October 16, 2012. hollywoodreporter.com. Hollywood Reporter. February 2, 2013.
  7. Web site: VanArendonk. Kathryn. Transparent Season-Finale Recap: To Shell and Back. Vulture. October 3, 2016. New York Media. October 15, 2016.
  8. Web site: Tom Lenk, aka Andrew from"Buffy", is officially out!. October 23, 2013. Jensen. Michael. October 28, 2008. Logo NewNowNext.
  9. Web site: THE UNREASON . 2023-09-30 . Chris Reading . en-US.
  10. Web site: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" Star Tom Lenk to Join Broadway's Rock of Ages.
  11. Web site: 19 Best Things to Do in L.A. This Week L.A. Weekly . www.laweekly.com . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180120020454/http://www.laweekly.com/arts/19-best-things-to-do-in-la-this-week-9067944 . 2018-01-20.