Hank Azaria, Sutton Foster, Darren Criss, Danny Strong, Sean Gunn & David Paymer To Guest Star on Fifth and Final Season of “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel”

Prime Video today announced Hank Azaria (Brockmire), Sutton Foster (The Music Man, Younger), Darren Criss (The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, American Buffalo), Danny Strong (Dopesick) and Sean Gunn are joining the fifth and final season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel as guest stars with David Paymer reprising his role as Harry Drake. The series, which has shattered glass ceilings for the past six years, will raise the curtain on its final act on April 14, 2023 with a three-episode premiere and new episodes weekly, until the finale on May 26.

Sutton Foster previously recorded “I Enjoy Being A Girl” for the third season of The Marvelous Mrs.Maisel and starred in Amy Sherman-Palladino’s series Bunheads. Danny Strong and Sean Gunn both previously worked with Amy Sherman-Palladino and Daniel Palladino on Gilmore Girls.

An awards juggernaut and critical darling, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel has won 20 Primetime Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Comedy Series; six Critics Choice Awards; four Screen Actors Guild Awards; three Golden Globe Awards; and more. The series has become one of the most acclaimed and beloved shows on television and changed the game of the streaming industry.

The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, from renowned creator Amy Sherman-Palladino and executive producer Daniel Palladino, is written and directed by Sherman-Palladino and Palladino, and stars Emmy winner Rachel Brosnahan, four-time Emmy winner Tony Shalhoub, three-time Emmy winner Alex Borstein, Emmy nominee Marin Hinkle, Michael Zegen, Kevin Pollak, Caroline Aaron, SAG Award winner Reid Scott, Alfie Fuller, and Jason Ralph.

HANK AZARIA BIO:

Hank Azaria is widely known for voicing over 100 characters on THE SIMPSONS. He currently stars in the AppleTV+ series HELLO TOMORROW! opposite Billy Crudup. He will next be seen in Sam Levinson and Abel “The Weeknd” Tesfaye’s HBO series THE IDOL. Azaria received critical acclaim for starring in BROCKMIRE which is currently streaming on Hulu. Most recently, Azaria portrayed Tim Cook in Showtime’s SUPER PUMPED and won an Emmy for his recurring role on RAY DONOVAN.

SUTTON FOSTER BIO:

Sutton Foster is a Tony Award winning American actress, singer, and dancer who was most recently seen on the Broadway stage starring in an acclaimed turn as Marian Paroo in the Broadway revival of The Music Man, opposite Hugh Jackman at The Winter Garden Theatre. Her performance earned her seventh Tony award nomination as well as the coveted 2022 Drama League Distinguished Performance Award.

Last fall, Sutton released her memoir Hooked: How Crafting Saved My Life. The page turner is comprised of funny and intimate stories and reflections about how crafting has kept her sane while navigating the highs and lows of family, love, and show business.

In the summer of 2021, Sutton reprised one of her most notable roles as Reno Sweeney in Anything Goes at the Barbican Theatre in London in which she earned an Oliver Award nomination for Best Actress in a Musical. A cinematic version of the show had a subsequent limited release in US and Australia theaters. Her original performance in the Roundabout Theatre Company’s revival at the Stephen Sondheim Theatre earned her a 2011 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical.

On television, Sutton led the critically acclaimed TV Land series, “Younger.” Created by “Sex in the City’s” Darren Star and styled by the iconic Pat Field, the seventh and final season of series premiered in April 2021, making it the longest running original series in TV Land history.

The two-time Tony winning actress starred as The Baker’s Wife in the Hollywood Bowl’s sold-out summer 2019 production of Into the Woods. Previously, she appeared in the title role of the New Group’s 50th anniversary revival of Sweet Charity and in Jeanine Tesori and Brian Crawley’s Tony-nominated Broadway revival, Violet. Sutton also appeared on stage as Queenie in New York City Center Encores! Off-Center’s production of The Wild Party in July 2015.

Under the direction of Michael Mayer, Sutton starred as Millie Dillmount in the 2002 Broadway production of Thoroughly Modern Millie at the Marquis Theatre. Originating the role, she established herself as one of the greatest talents in the industry and earned her first Tony Award for Best Leading Actress in a Musical. Foster has originated numerous notable roles, including Princess Fiona in Jeanine Tesori and David Lindsay-Abaire’s Shrek The Musical at The Broadway Theatre, as well as Inga in Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan’s parody of the horror film genre, Young Frankenstein, at Foxwoods Theatre.

Sutton’s performance as Janet Van De Graaff in Casey Nicholaw’s The Drowsy Chaperone at the Marquis Theatre in 2006 earned her Tony Award, Drama Desk, Drama League, Outer Critics Circle, and Ovation Award nominations. Among her other theater credits include: Les Miserable, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Annie and Grease. In addition, Foster made her Off-Broadway debut as Prudence in Paul Weitz’s comedy, Trust which showed at Second Stage Theatre and starred Zach Braff, Bobby Cannavale, and Ari Graynor.

Previously on television, Foster starred as Michelle Simms in Amy Sherman-Palladino’s beloved ABC Family series, “Bunheads,” she also reunited with Amy Sherman-Palladino for a guest starring role in the Netflix revival of “Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life.” Foster’s additional on-screen credits include ABC’s “A Million Little Things,” CBS drama “Instinct,” HBO’s comedy series “Flight of the Conchords,” USA Network’s “Royal Pains,” “Law & Order: SUV,” “Elementary” and guest appearances on the well-known children series Disney’s “Johnny and the Sprites,” and PBS’s “Sesame Street.” In 2014, Sutton made her feature film debut in Phil Alden Robinson’s The Angriest Man in Brooklyn and she appeared as Kerry in James Roday’s Halloween American comedy horror film Gravy.

As a solo artist, Sutton has toured the country with her hit solo concert which featured songs from her debut solo CD “Wish” as well as her follow up CD, “An Evening with Sutton Foster: Live at the Cafe Carlyle.” She has also graced the stages of Carnegie Hall, Feinstein’s, Lincoln Center’s American Songbook series and many others. Sutton released her third solo album, “Take Me to the World,” through Ghostlight Deluxe, June 1, 2018.

Sutton Foster holds an honorary doctorate from Ball State University, where she also teaches.

DARREN CRISS BIO:

Since bursting onto the pop-culture landscape over a decade ago, Darren Criss has embodied the kind of kaleidoscopic artistry that’s entirely uninhibited by form or genre. The multi-hyphenates illustrious career spans television, film, music and stage.

Last year, Criss shared the Broadway stage opposite Sam Rockwell and Laurence Fishburne in “American Buffalo,” which received a Tony Award-nomination for Best Revival of a Play. He also co-hosted “The Tony Awards: Act One” with Julianne Hough. The duo kicked off their hosting duties with a rousing performance of singing and dancing to an original tune written by Criss, titled “Set The Stage.” In 2015, he returned to the stage as Hedwig in “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” In the titular role, critics alike raved, including The New York Times calling his performance “mesmerizing.” He made his Broadway debut in 2012 as J. Pierrepont Finch in “How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying.” With Criss at the helm, the revival made just under $4 million, which proved to be the most lucrative three weeks of its 11-month run.

His portrayal of Andrew Cunanan in Ryan Murphy’s award-winning television series “American Crime Story: The Assassination of Gianni Versace” was met with widespread critical acclaim, earning Criss a Primetime Emmy Award, Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors’ Guild Award and Critics’ Choice Award. Known for playing Blaine Anderson on FOX’s global phenomenon “Glee,” he was nominated for two Screen Actors Guild Awards for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Comedy Series. He also received an Emmy Award nomination in 2015 for Best Original Music and Lyrics for the song “This Time,” which appeared in the series finale.

As a singer and songwriter, Criss released his first-ever holiday album entitled “A Very Darren Crissmas” on Decca Records in 2021. In it, he brought his radiant imagination and encyclopedic musical knowledge to a wildly eclectic collection of songs: big-band standards and novelty tunes, mid-century musical numbers and modern-day folk-pop ballads. Criss’ original track “Drunk on Christmas” featuring country chart-topper Lainey Wilson, showcased his effortless ingenuity as a songwriter. The result is an essential new entry into the holiday-music canon, both thrillingly unpredictable and touched with a timeless sense of Christmas magic. Made with Ron Fair, multi-Grammy(R) nominee and producer of numerous GRAMMY-winning hits, “A Very Darren Crissmas” also featured special guest appearances by Adam Lambert and Evan Rachel Wood.

“A Very Darren Crissmas” was only the latest evidence of Criss’ singular gifts as a song interpreter. In 2021, he delivered a collection of character-driven singles as part of his solo EP titled “Masquerade” (BMG). In 2017, his EP “Homework” debuted at #1 on Billboard’s Heatseekers Album chart and in the same year, introduced his indie-pop band Computer Games. Through the years he’s also written songs for the comedy musical “Royalties,” “Central Park,” co-wrote “Starting Now” for Disney and performed by Brandy, and headlined the iHeartRadio Music Festival with Steve Aoki.

Prior to his television career, the San Francisco native pursued his acting degree at the University of Michigan. In his senior year, Criss and his friends created a Harry Potter musical parody entitled, “A Very Potter Musical” as a fun project for their classmates, friends and other Harry Potter fans. Along with starring as the boy wizard himself, Criss also lent several of his songs to be used in the show. Within weeks of posting the musical online, it became a YouTube hit, garnering millions of views and musical theater‐world attention.

Using “A Very Potter Musical” as a springboard, Criss and his writing partners started StarKid Productions. Within a year, they wrote and produced subsequent online hits like “Starship” and “A Very Potter Sequel,” both of which he wrote the music and lyrics for. As a result, the StarKid brand has grown to become just as popular as the shows themselves, spawning an enormous cult following from all over the world.

Criss and StarKid Productions appeared on the Billboard charts through four separate releases – all within the year 2012. These include the #1 spot on Billboard’s Top Cast Album for “Starship,” the #19 spot on the Top Compilations chart for “A Very StarKid Album,” and the #30 spot on Billboard’s Heatseekers chart with Criss’ self‐released EP “Human.”

Criss’ credits include host of ABC’s “The Queen Family Singalong,” “Muppets Haunted Mansion,” “Midway,” “Girl Most Likely,” “American Horror Story,” “Web Therapy,” and “Eastwick.” He is also the founder of New York City’s first show tunes music festival, Elsie Fest.

DANNY STRONG BIO:

Danny Strong started his career as an actor in numerous classic films and TV shows, then transitioned into screenwriting, exploding onto the scene with his 2007 script RECOUNT which became an award-winning HBO Film. Since then, he has become a prolific film and TV writer/director/producer.

Strong is the creator and showrunner of the Hulu series DOPESICK, starring Michael Keaton based on the bestselling book by Beth Macy. DOPESICK was nominated for 14 Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Limited Series and Outstanding Director for Strong. The series was also nominated for two Golden Globes, a PGA and Peabody Award, as well as a DGA award nomination for Strong.

Strong was co-creator and executive producer of the hit FOX drama EMPIRE, of which he wrote and directed numerous episodes. The show won Best Drama at the NAACP Image Awards, was named TV Program of the Year by the AFI Awards, Outstanding New Program by the Television Critics Association, and was nominated for two Golden Globes, six Primetime Emmys, and two Critics Choice Awards. He was the Executive Producer of the FOX legal drama PROVEN INNOCENT starring Rachelle Lefevere and Kelsey Grammer.

On the feature side, Strong wrote the screenplay for THE BUTLER, which starred Forrest Whitaker and Oprah Winfrey. It was the sleeper hit of 2013, grossing over $100M at the US box-office. He also co-wrote the mega-hit Lionsgate franchise films THE HUNGER GAMES: MOCKINGJAY (Part I and II). In 2017, Strong made his feature directorial debut of his screenplay REBEL IN THE RYE, starring Nicholas Hoult, Kevin Spacey, Hope Davis, and Sarah Paulson. The film premiered at the 2017 Sundance Film Festival and was distributed by IFC Films.

Strong began his writing career by writing and producing the HBO films RECOUNT and GAME CHANGE about the 2000 and 2008 elections. Jay Roach directed both of the highly acclaimed films. Strong’s debut script RECOUNT was voted #1 on the Hollywood Blacklist and the film featured an all-star cast and garnered 11 Emmy nominations (including a Best Writing nomination and a win for Best TV Movie), five Golden Globe Nominations, and Strong received the Writer’s Guild Award for his screenplay. His follow-up project GAME CHANGE, starring Julianne Moore and Woody Harrelson, was also a critical success and swept the 2012-13 award season. Strong won Emmys for Outstanding Writing and Best Movie/Miniseries, a Writers Guild Award, a Golden Globe, the Producers Guild Award, a Peabody and the Pen Award for the film.

In addition to his thriving career as a screenwriter and director, Strong is also an actor with extensive credits in film, television and theater. He is best known for the five seasons he played Jonathan on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and the four seasons he played Doyle on Gilmore Girls also appearing in the highly acclaimed Gilmore Girls Revival on Netflix. His other credits include such iconic projects as Pleasantville, Seinfeld, Nip/Tuck, Grey’s Anatomy, How I Met Your Mother, and many more. Most recently, he has been seen on seasons 4 and 6 of Mad Men as Danny Siegal, the last two seasons of Justified, on HBO’s Girls, and is currently recurring on Showtime’s Billions as Todd Krakow. On stage, he has appeared in over 50 plays and musicals in regional and LA theaters.

SEAN GUNN BIO:

Sean Gunn is a 25-year veteran of film and television. He is best known for his role as Kraglin in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and as Kirk Gleason, the lovable Stars Hollow resident from the hit series Gilmore Girls.

Sean has dozens of TV appearances. He will be appearing in the 5th season of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, as well as ABC’s hit series, The Good Doctor.

Current film roles include Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Sean lives with his wife, Actress/Director/Producer Natasha Halevi and their two perfect cats in Los Angeles.

DAVID PAYMER BIO:

David is an Academy Award and Golden Globe nominated actor who is known for his roles in iconic movies such as GET SHORTY, CITY SLICKERS, MR. SATURDAY NIGHT, and THE AMERICAN PRESIDENT. Most recently, he can be seen in recurring roles on FX/Hulu’s DAVE, Amazon’s THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL, and Apple’s THE MORNING SHOW. He recently reprised his Oscar-nominated film role in the Broadway production of MR. SATURDAY NIGHT with his original costar Billy Crystal and new Broadway cast member Shoshana Bean. The show was nominated for Best Musical at this year’s Tony Awards.

Feature wise, his last film HORSEGIRL premiered on Netflix and also starred Alison Brie. He also appeared in SUNLIT NIGHT, which premiered at Sundance, opposite Jenny Slate and Zach Galifianakis; as well as JUDY SMALL with Michaela Watkins and Rob Corrdy. David also had a critically praised cameo in the Sundance/SXSW feature LEMON with Michael Cera, Gillian Jacobs, and Rhea Perlman.

MAISEL SEASON FIVE SYNOPSIS

In the fifth and final season, Midge finds herself closer than ever to the success she’s dreamed of, only to discover that closer than ever is still so far away.

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