A deep-voiced, magisterial character actor, Yulin has often played hyper-educated characters gone awry, like the evil Doctor Berrisford in the cult pic, "Bad Dreams" (1988) and Dr. Leeds, the geneticist who clones Michael Keaton in "Multiplicity" (1996).
The Los Angeles native traveled throughout Europe and in Israel before settling in NYC to pursue an acting career. Yulin has amassed a number of strong credits on stage, appearing in classics like Shakespeare's "King John" (1967) and Ibsen's "Hedda Gabler" (1981) and contemporary plays like Athol Fugard's "A Lesson from Aloes" (1979-80). He co-starred with Pamela Reed and Uta Hagen in Shaw's "Mrs. Warren Profession" (1985) was a strong Claudius to Kevin Kline's "Hamlet" in 1986.
Yulin made his film debut in "End of the Road" (1970) and his resume includes notable parts in Arthur Penn's "Night Moves" (1975), Brian De Palma's "Scarface" (1983) and Tom Holland's "Fatal Beauty" (1987). Woody Allen used the actor to good effect as the tweedy Paul in "Another Woman" (1988) while Philip Noyce cast him as a government advisor in "Clear and Present Danger" (1994).
On the small screen, Yulin has excelled at portraying historical characters, beginning with J Edgar Hoover in "The FBI Story: FBI Versus Alvin Karpas, Public Enemy Number One" (CBS, 1974). He was on the other side of the law as 'Machine Gun' Kelly in "Melvin Purvis: G-Man" (ABC, 1974). Among the other figures he has delineated are the Russian Fomin in "The Missiles of October" (ABC, 1974), Israeli General Foman in "Victory at Entebbe" (ABC, 1976), Jesse James in "The Last Ride of the Dalton Gang" (NBC, 1979), Senator Joseph McCarthy in "Robert Kennedy and His Times" (CBS, 1985) and George Marshall in "Truman" (HBO, 1995). Yulin co-starred as the egomaniacal, womanizing newscaster in the short-lived CBS drama series "WIOU" (1990-91). In 1996, he made a memorable Emmy-nominated guest appearance as a gangster in an episode of the NBC sitcom "Frasier".
Companion
COMPANION: Faye Dunaway. Actor. Together 1970-72.
WIFE: Gwen Welles. Actor. Born on March 4, 1951; died on October 13, 1993; appeared in "Nashville" (1975).
Milestone
Born and raised in Southern California
Traveled in Europe and in Israel
Moved to NYC
1963: Stage acting debut "Next Time I'll Sing to You"
1966: Began appearing with the New York Shakespeare Festival
1967 - 1968: Company member of the Yale Repertory Theatre
Joined the Studio Arena Theatre in Buffalo, New York
1969: Stage directing debut, "Cuba, Si" by Terrence McNally and "Guns of Carrar" by Brecht
1970: Screen acting debut "End of the Road"
1973: TV debut in "ABC's Matinee Today", an omnibus of busted pilots; Yulin starred in "A Mask of Love"
1974: Played J Edgar Hoover in "The FBI Story: The FBI versus Alvin Karpis, Public Enemy Number One" (ABC) and played 'Machine Gun' Kelly in "Melvin Purvis: G-Man" (ABC)
Founder of the Los Angeles Classic Theater
Member of the company at the Arena Stage Theatre, Washington, DC
1985: Co-starred as Sen. Joseph McCarthy in "Robert Kennedy and His Times", a CBS miniseries
1988: Played featured role in Woody Allen's "Another Woman"
TV series debut, "WIOU" (CBS)
1995: Made memorable guest appearance on "Frasier"
1996: Played the inventor who clones Michael Keaton in "Multiplicity"
1998: Directed Off-Broadway production of "This Lime Tree Bower"
1999: Co-starred on Broadway in revival of Arthur Miller's "The Price"
1999: Appeared as a politician in Tim Robbins' film "Cradle Will Rock"
2001: Portrayed the railroad magnate who would stop at nothing to see his dream fulfilled in "American Outlaws"
2006: Cast opposite Michael Keaton in "Game 6," which centers around Game 6 of the historic 1986 World Series
2006: Co-starred with Nicole Kidman in "Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus"
Education
University of California at Los Angeles - Los Angeles, California
Tcm.com is part of the Turner Sports and Entertainment Digital Network.