John Pankow

John Pankow (born April 28, 1954) is an American actor known for his work on stage, film, and television. He started his career in New York, appearing in numerous Off-Broadway and Broadway plays such as Amadeus, Italian American Reconciliation, and Aristocrats. Pankow gained recognition for his role in the film To Live and Die in L.A. and went on to have a successful television career. He portrayed Ira Buchman in the hit sitcom Mad About You for all eight seasons, and later played Merc Lapidus on Episodes. Pankow was born in St. Louis, Missouri, and grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois. He attended Maine South High School and Northeastern Illinois University before pursuing acting full-time.