St. Pat's Alum Cast in ABC's Private Practice
November 5, 2009

Tonight’s episode of the popular ABC television show Private Practice (9:00 p.m. CT) will feature alum and Jeff Award-winning actor Michael Patrick Thornton ’97. Performing as Dr. Gabriel Fife, Thornton will also be in the Nov. 19 episode. “I’m having the time of my life playing on the show,” said Thornton. “Everyone is immensely talented, kind and gracious.” Additional episodes with Thornton will be televised, however the dates have yet to be announced.

Founder of The Gift Theatre on Milwaukee Avenue, Thornton has experienced great success as an actor and director despite suffering a spinal stroke in 2003 which left him paralyzed from the waist down. He has directed numerous shows in Chicago and teaches at The School at Steppenwolf and Second City (both of which he is a graduate). In addition to his 2006 Jeff Award for Best Actor in a Solo Performance for his work in The Good Thief (The Gift Theatre), Thornton has received the following awards: Chicago Finalist: National Shakespeare Contest, Northlight’s Jack Springer Award for Outstanding Performance, The 2008 Tim Meier & Helen Coburn Meier Foundation Achievement Award and The Second City Foundation’s 2009 Jim Zulevic Chicago Arts Award.

At St. Pat’s Thornton was a member of The Green and Gold (student newspaper), the National Honor Society and the chorus. The school was pleased to have him return in 2002 as a Movers and Shakers presenter. Sponsored by St. Pat’s Institutional Advancement office, Movers and Shakers brings alums back to the school to provide career advice to students.


Actor Michael Patrick Thornton ’97