Five Fast Facts About The Handmaid’s Tale Star Bradley Whitford

Bradley Whitford is one of the most iconic actors in television, and he’s currently proving he’s one of the best as Commander Lawrence on The Handmaid’s Tale. Though his character is complex and creepy, Whitford is always fun to watch onscreen.

From where he was born and raised to how he got his breakthrough role on The West Wing, here are five fast facts you need to know about Bradley Whitford on The Handmaid’s Tale!

In the Beginning
Whitford was born in Madison, Wisconsin, but he ended up living in Waye, Pennsylvania until he was 14 years old. He grew up in a Quaker household. He attended Wesleyan University and then attended The Juilliard School for drama.

Standout Guest Role
While Whitford’s first guest shot was on The Equalizer back in 1985 (later made into a movie with Denzel Washington), he has appeared in tons of shows. But a standout was a pivotal episode of ER called Love’s Labor Lost — arguably considered the show’s finest in its 15-year history — where he played the husband of a woman who died in labor.

The Play’s The Thing
Whitford is, of course, best known for playing the iconic Josh Lyman on The West Wing from 1999 to 2006, but he got the part thanks to landing a role in a play. Whitford first met creator Aaron Sorkin when he was a replacement in Sorkin’s play, A Few Good Men, on Broadway back in 1990, paving the way to his landing The West Wing.

Award Winner
Whitford was nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards for Best Supporting Actor in a Drama, and he ended up winning the trophy in 2001. He also won for Best Supporting Actor In A Comedy thanks to his role on Transparent in 2015.

Twice As Nice
Back in Season 2 of The Handmaid’s Tale, Whitford’s character, Commander Lawrence, was in charge of a Handmaid named Emily, who was played by Alexis Bledel. However, this wasn’t the first project Bledel and Whitford have been in together. Both actors starred in The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, which came out in 2005.