1959-1969: As the World Turns Bryggman moved to New York in 1959. He spent five years as a principal member of the company. Bryggman was confronted by angry fans when he was out in public, including a woman who almost hit him in front a supermarket. The character was eventually redeemed and became a trusted doctor in the fictional city of Oakdale. In February 1977, Bryggman played Frank Schaeffer in
Marco Polo Sings a Solo at
The Public Theater, co-starring with
Madeline Kahn. He played Kress in a Broadway revival of
The Basic Training of Pavlo Hummel, co-starring with
Al Pacino. The play ran from April 24 to September 3, 1977 at the
Longacre Theatre. In December 1977, he appeared in
Two Small Bodies at
Playwrights Horizons. In February 1978, he played the Guard in the play
Museum at The Public Theater. He was cast as Lord Stanley, Earl of Derby in a Broadway revival of
Richard III, co-starring again with Al Pacino. The play ran from June 10 to July 15, 1979 at the Cort Theatre. Bryggman played Warren Fresnell in the drama film
...And Justice for All (1979), co-starring with Pacino a third time. In October 1979, he played Fool in
The Winter Dancers at the
Phoenix Theatre.
1981-1987: Hanky Panky In 1981, he was nominated for a
Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work on
As the World Turns. In November 1981, he appeared in
The Resurrection of Lady Lester at the
Manhattan Theatre Club. For his work on
As the World Turns, he received another Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1982. Bryggman played Stacy in the comedy film
Hanky Panky (1982), directed by
Sidney Poitier and co-starring with
Gene Wilder and
Gilda Radner. In January 1983, he played Arturo in
The Modern Ladies of Guanabacoa at the
Ensemble Studio Theatre. In 1984, Bryggman won a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work on
As the World Turns. In November 1984, he appeared in
The Ballad of Soapy Smith at The Public Theater. In March 1985, Bryggman appeared as Bijou in the play
Walk the Dog, Willie. In May 1985, he played Hank in
Life Under Water at the Ensemble Studio Theatre, co-starring with
Jill Eikenberry. Bryggman received another Daytime Emmy Award nomination for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series, for his work on
As the World Turns. He appeared in
Rum and Coke at The Public Theater in January 1986. He was nominated again for a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work on
As the World Turns. In December 1986, he played multiple roles in
Bodies, Rest and Motion at the Newhouse Theater. In 1987, Bryggman won the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work on
ATWT. In November 1987, he appeared in
Blood Sports at the Perry Street Theater in New York.
1988-1994: Picnic In May 1988, Bryggman appeared as Andrew in the play
Spoils of War, co-starring with
Kate Nelligan. In November 1988, he played Sicinius Vellutus in
Coriolanus at The Public Theater, co-starring with
Christopher Walken. In 1988 and 1989, he received Daytime Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his work on
As the World Turns. In January 1990, he played Banquo in
Macbeth at The Public Theater. He played Dr. Boyle in the original Broadway production of
Prelude to a Kiss, co-starring with
Mary-Louise Parker. The play ran from April 29 to May 19, 1990 at the
Hayes Theater. In February 1991, he played the title role in
Henry IV, Part 1 and
Henry IV, Part 2 at The Public Theater. In October 1991, he appeared as Robert Mohr in the play
The White Rose. In July 1992, he played Duke Frederick in
As You Like It at the
Delacorte Theater. In 1993, he received an
Obie Award for Sustained Excellence of Work for his theatrical performances. For his work in the show, he was nominated for a
Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play.
1995-2001: Proof In July 1995, he played Alonso in
The Tempest at the Delacorte Theater. He appeared as Arthur Cobb in the action film
Die Hard with a Vengeance, co-starring with
Bruce Willis. Bryggman played twins Harry and Alfred Baker in
New England at the Manhattan Theatre Club in November 1995. He played Tom in
The Ride Down Mount Morgan at the
Williamstown Theatre Festival in July 1996. Bryggman appeared in the film
Looking for Richard, written and directed by Al Pacino. In July 1997, Bryggman played the Duke of Buckingham in
Henry VIII at The Public Theater. In June 1998, he appeared as Herman Glogauer in
Once in a Lifetime for the
Atlantic Theater Company. In November 1998, he played Ray Armstrong in
Wolf Lullaby for the same company. He appeared in
The Hothouse, another production for the Atlantic Theater Company, in February 1999. Bryggman was cast as Robert in the original Broadway production of
Proof, co-starring again with Mary-Louise Parker. The play opened in previews on October 10, 2000 at the
Walter Kerr Theatre. Bryggman left the production on June 10, 2001. He was replaced in the role with
Patrick Tovatt, his
As the World Turns co-star. For his work in the show, Bryggman was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play. He was also nominated for an
Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play. In 2001, he also appeared as Troy Folger in the action film
Spy Game, co-starring with
Robert Redford and
Brad Pitt. He guest starred on
Law & Order.
2003-2005: Leaving ATWT In June 2003, he played Emil in
A Bad Friend at the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theater. He guest starred on
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2003. In October 2004, he appeared in
Twelve Angry Men at the American Airlines Theatre. In December 2004, it was announced that Bryggman would be leaving the role of John Dixon on
As the World Turns. Due to budget cuts, he had reportedly been offered recurring status, which he declined. His last airdate was December 14, 2004. In June 2005, he played Gayev in
The Cherry Orchard for the Atlantic Theater Company. In 2005, Bryggman starred as the Judge in the Atlantic Theater Company's off-Broadway and Los Angeles productions of the
David Mamet farce
Romance. For his work in the play, he was nominated for a
Drama Desk Award for
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play. He also received an Outer Critics Circle Award nomination for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Play and won an Obie Award.
2006-present He returned to Broadway, starring as Helge in an original production of
Festen. The play ran from March 23, 2006 to May 20, 2006 at the
Music Box Theatre. He co-starred with
Julianna Margulies. In March 2007, he played the Earl of Gloucester in
King Lear at The Public Theater. In July 2007, he starred as Hank in
Surface to Air at
Symphony Space. In June 2008, he played the Man in
Occupant at the Peter Norton Space, co-starring with
Mercedes Ruehl. He co-starred with
Debra Monk in
Mrs. Miller Does Her Thing at the
Vineyard Playhouse in September 2008. He played Salty in the comedy film
Side by Each (2008), co-starring with
Blythe Danner. In May 2009, he appeared as Smith in the play
Groundswell. In March 2010, he appeared in
Top Secret: The Battle for the Pentagon Papers at the
New York Theatre Workshop. Beginning on August 27, 2010, Bryggman returned to
ATWT for 12 of the final 16 episodes, as the show finished its run on September 17, 2010. For these final episodes of the series, it was explained that Dixon had been working at
Johns Hopkins for an undisclosed period of time, but had been asked by Dr.
Reid Oliver to return to Oakdale Memorial to consult on the ailing
Christopher Hughes. In June 2011, he performed in the Atlantic Theater Company's
10x25 festival of ten-minute plays. He guest starred on
The Good Wife in 2011. Bryggman played Judge Omar Gaffney in a Broadway revival of
Harvey, co-starring with
Jim Parsons. The play ran from May 18, 2012 to August 5, 2012 at
Studio 54. Bryggman starred as Lyman Wyeth in
Other Desert Cities at Washington, D.C.'s
Arena Stage in May 2013. He guest starred on
Person of Interest in 2013. In December 2013, he joined a play reading of Alexander Ostrovsky's
Too Clever By Half, co-starring with
Jonathan Groff and
Grace Gummer. Bryggman appeared in
Father Comes Home From the Wars at The Public Theater in March 2014. In February 2017, he starred as Lou in the play
If I Forget for the
Roundabout Theatre Company. The production was recorded by BroadwayHD and became available On Demand. Bryggman guest starred on
The Blacklist and
Law & Order: Special Victims Unit in 2019. ==Personal life==