Creator and writer Irwin has created several highly regarded stage shows that incorporate elements of clowning, often in collaboration with composer
Doug Skinner. These works included
The Regard of Flight (1982), which ran on
Broadway at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in April 1987 for 17 performances,
Largely New York (1989),
Fool Moon (1993),
The Harlequin Studies (2003), and
Mr. Fox: A Rumination (2004).
Mr. Fox is a production that Irwin has worked on for years, a biography of 19th century clown
George Washington Lafayette Fox that also has autobiographical elements. In 2013, he teamed with his occasional partner
David Shiner to create and perform in the
Off-Broadway "clowning revue-with-music"
Old Hats along with actress and musician
Nellie McKay.
Old Hats won the 2013 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Revue.
Old Hats was revived in New York City in 2016, with Shiner and Irwin returning and a new third performer, musician
Shaina Taub, performing with her band between the sketches. He adapted
Molière's play
Les Fourberies de Scapin as a comedy called
Scapin, and has played the title role in several productions. He appeared in the play at the
off-Broadway Roundabout Theatre Company Laura Pels Theatre in January through March 1997, after performing in the play at the
Seattle Rep. His adaptation allowed him to incorporate his signature clowning routines into the course of the action. Irwin performed with
The Cadets Drum and Bugle Corps at the
1996 Summer Olympics, in a "band on the run" sequence where he played Dr. Hubert Peterson of the fictitious Federation of United Marching Associations of America.
Actor Although Irwin is best known for his theatrical clown work, he has also been featured in a number of dramatic plays. Irwin appeared with
Steve Martin and
Robin Williams in the
Lincoln Center Off-Broadway production of
Waiting for Godot, in 1988, in the role of
Lucky. Lucky's only lines consist of a famous 500-word-long monologue, an ironic element for Irwin since much of his clown-based stage work was silent. He directed the 1998
Roundabout Theatre Company production of
A Flea in Her Ear. He appeared in 2002 with
Sally Field in the replacement cast of
The Goat or Who is Sylvia? In 2005, he starred as George alongside
Kathleen Turner in a revival of
Edward Albee's ''
Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, for which he won a Tony Award. He played Vladimir (Didi) in the 2009 Broadway revival of Waiting for Godot, and Mr. McAfee in the Broadway revival of Bye Bye Birdie. In 2011, he appeared in King Lear'' at the
Public Theatre. In 2023, he played Clov in the
Irish Repertory Theatre's Off-Broadway production of
Endgame.
Film and television Irwin's first featured film role was in 1980, appearing as
Harold Hamgravy in Robert Altman's
Popeye starring
Robin Williams. He has appeared in over 20 films, mainly in supporting roles. Irwin's principal film roles include playing
Eddie Collins in
Eight Men Out, which tells the story of the "
Black Sox" gambling scandal of 1919, and
My Blue Heaven, a 1990 comedy with
Steve Martin and
Rick Moranis. Irwin tap-danced in a leading role in 1991's
Stepping Out with
Liza Minnelli, appeared as a mime in the
Paul Mazursky film
Scenes from a Mall alongside
Woody Allen and
Bette Midler, and played
Charlie Sheen's father in
Hot Shots! (1991). His authentic vaudevillian skills landed him a role in the
Sam Shepard film
Silent Tongue in 1994, and he appeared in film adaptations of
How the Grinch Stole Christmas,
The Laramie Project and ''
A Midsummer Night's Dream. He played an ex-brain surgeon and house salesman in the Nickelodeon series The Adventures of Pete & Pete''. In 2006, Irwin played the solitary Mr. Leeds in
M. Night Shyamalan's
Lady in the Water and had a small role as Uncle Teddy in 2007's
Across the Universe. He received critical acclaim for his role as Paul, father to
Anne Hathaway's character Kym, in the 2008 drama
Rachel Getting Married. Irwin's most notable television roles have been Enrico Ballati, "The Flying Man", on the television series
Northern Exposure,
Mr. Noodle in the ''
Elmo's World'' segment of the PBS children's show
Sesame Street, and the "Dick & Jane" serial killer
Nate Haskell on
CSI: Crime Scene Investigation. He was featured in the 1988 music video of "
Don't Worry, Be Happy" by
Bobby McFerrin (along with McFerrin and Robin Williams) and the 1996 music video of "
Let Me into Your Heart" by
Mary Chapin Carpenter. Irwin was also featured in HBO's 1997 production
Subway Stories. He has also appeared on
The Cosby Show,
Saturday Night Live,
3rd Rock from the Sun,
Law & Order, and
Lights Out. In 2011, Irwin guest starred in the pilot episode of the CBS television drama
A Gifted Man. He starred in the 2013
medical drama TNT television series,
Monday Mornings as Buck Tierney. In 2014, he guest starred in the episode "The One Percent Solution" of CBS'
Elementary. Irwin voices the robot TARS in the film
Interstellar and puppeteers the robot in most scenes (those which are not computer-generated). He is featured in the
PBS series
Great Performances, in the episode titled "Bill Irwin, Clown Prince", initially broadcast in December 2004. He regularly appears on the
NBC crime series
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit as therapist Dr. Peter Lindstrom. Lindstrom normally appears on the show while counseling main character Captain
Olivia Benson. Irwin also appeared on the television series
Sleepy Hollow, playing the character of Atticus Nevins. Between 2017 and 2019, he appeared in the
FX television series
Legion. In 2020, he appeared as Su'Kal in
Star Trek: Discovery. In 2022, Irwin guest starred on
The Gilded Age on
HBO. ==Personal life==