Lewis J. Stadlen

Lewis J. Stadlen (born March 7, 1947) is an American stage and screen character actor. He gained recognition for his portrayal of Ira Fried in the TV series The Sopranos. Born in Brooklyn, New York, he studied acting under Sanford Meisner and Stella Adler. Stadlen made his Broadway debut in 1970 as Groucho Marx in the musical comedy Minnie's Boys. He has played notable roles on Broadway, including Senex in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum and Banjo in The Man Who Came to Dinner. Stadlen has received two Tony Award nominations. In addition to his acting career, he has also written an autobiography titled Acting Foolish.