Nathan Lane is being tested (and he loves it)

Fresh Air

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Arts, Society & Culture, Books, Tv & Film

4.3 • 36.1K Ratings

🗓️ 7 May 2026

⏱️ 45 minutes

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Summary

Nathan Lane just received a Tony nomination for his starring role as Willy Loman in ‘Arthur Miller’s Death of a Salesman.’ He’s a veteran of the stage – often in comedic and musical roles. But in the role of Loman, which he does eight times a week, he’s noticed something different in the audience. “There’s an old joke – my job is just to keep 1600 people from coughing. It's kind of true, but when you hear what we hear during ‘Salesman,’ you hear people weeping in the dark.” At the age of 70, Lane says this production of ‘Salesman’ is the thing he’s most proud of. He spoke with ‘Fresh Air’ guest interviewer Sam Fragoso, host of the podcast ‘Talk Easy.’

Later, Ken Tucker reviews new songs by Ella Langley, Robyn, and Allison Russell.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	This is Fresh Air. I'm Terry Gross. Our guest today is three-time Tony Award winner Nathan Lane.
0:06.9	He was just nominated for a Tony for his starring role as Willie Lohman in the new Broadway revival of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman.
0:15.5	The role is a departure from the comedic, larger-than-life performances Lane is best known for, like in The Birdcage,
0:22.8	guys and dolls, and the producers.
0:25.2	Lane spoke with guest interviewer Sam Fragoso, host of the interview podcast Talk Easy.
0:30.7	Here's Sam.
0:31.8	Since his Broadway debut at the tender age of 26 and Noel Coward's present laughter,
0:37.3	Tony winner Nathan Lane has long been regarded as one of the great entertainers of the stage,
0:42.4	in the tradition of Ethel Merman, Zero Mostel, and Bill Silvers.
0:46.7	But in the last decade, Lane couldn't help but think of Peggy Lee singing,
0:51.0	Is that all there is?
0:52.5	Which inspired Lane to pivot to more dramatic roles. Hickey in
0:56.6	the Iceman Comet, Roy Cone in Angels in America, and now Willie Lohman in Death of a Salesman.
1:03.2	In the hit new Broadway revival, Lane transforms as the prideful patriarch in traveling salesman,
1:09.2	oscillating back and forth between bravado and desperation,
1:13.5	an emblem of the dissolution of the American family and their dreams.
1:18.3	Arthur Miller's 1949-pulled surprise-winning play
1:21.2	has had several acclaimed productions, led by great actors like Lee J. Cobb,
1:26.6	Dustin Hoffman, Wendell Pierce, and the late Brian Denahey, who was a mentor to Lane.
1:31.8	The Guardian has praised his portrayal as, quote, the crown, jewel, and a life spent on stage, end quote.
1:39.1	The Tonys seemed to agree when the nominations were announced earlier this week.
1:43.8	Nathan Lane, welcome back to Fresh Air.
	...

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