Edward Hibbert

Edward Hibbert (born 9 September 1955) is an Anglo-American actor and literary agent. He played Gil Chesterton in the TV series Frasier. He also voiced Zazu in both The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and The Lion King 1½, replacing Rowan Atkinson.

Early life
Hibbert was born on Long Island, New York, the son of actor Geoffrey Hibbert. He has one sister.[1] He was brought up in Britain, where he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He returned to the US in the mid-1980s.

Acting career
Hibbert had a starring role as Faulconbridge in the BBC's production of The Life and Death of King John, published in 1984. He has appeared on Broadway and in major regional theatre productions,[2] worked in television as a series regular and guest star and also had roles in major films.[2] In 1993 he won an Obie Award for his co-starring role of "Sterling" in Paul Rudnick's Jeffrey.[3] His "Frederick Fellows/Philip Brent" in the National Theatre revival of Noises Off(presented at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre) was called "delightfully discombobulated" by one reviewer.[4] Hibbert was in the Broadway musicals The Drowsy Chaperone and the 2007 premiere of Curtains (which reunited him with his Frasier co-star David Hyde Pierce). He appeared on Broadway as "Mr. Praed" (the architect) in Roundabout Theatre's 2010 production of Mrs. Warren's Profession starring Cherry Jones.[5] He appeared on Broadway in the new musical It Shoulda Been You in 2015, again working with David Hyde Pierce, this time with Pierce as the director.

He guest-starred on TV shows including Cosby, Murder She Wrote and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit[6] but is probably best known for his recurring role on Frasier as Gil Chesterton, KACL's haughty, effeminate restaurant critic.

As a voice actor, Hibbert has been the voice of Evil the Cat on the Earthworm Jim TV series, and the voice of Zazu in The Lion King II: Simba's Pride and in The Lion King 1½. His appearances in films include The Prestige, Taking Woodstock, and The First Wives Club.[2]

Literary work
He is also a literary agent and a partner in the literary agency Donadio & Olson, Inc. He has authors Chuck Palahniuk, Christopher Bram, Steven DeRosa, and Ed Sikov among his clients[5] and has also represented film rights for Fight Club and Gods and Monsters plus others.[7]