Onstage together in David Auburn’s Pulitzer Prize-winning play, the father-daughter duo explores legacy, gratitude, and the beauty of sharing the journey.
By John Lavitt
Los Angeles, CA (The Hollywood Times) 07-09-2026
For Ed Begley Jr and Hayden Begley, Proof is not simply a play they are bringing to life together. It is a moment they are choosing to share.
Written by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Auburn, Proof follows Catherine, a young woman grappling with the complicated inheritance left by her brilliant father, Robert. As she confronts his mathematical genius, his struggles, and her own fears about what she has inherited, Catherine discovers that family legacy is never simple.
For the Begleys, those questions extend beyond the stage.
Directed by Stuart Rogers and appearing for four performances only at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood from July 23 to 26, this production brings together a real father and daughter as they explore fictional characters whose emotional journeys reflect aspects of their own lives. With proceeds benefiting the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research, the production is more than another theatrical role. It is an act of gratitude.
During an exclusive interview with The Hollywood Times, Ed Begley Jr reflected on the opportunity to share the stage with his daughter.
“I was very excited about the prospect of working with Hayden this way,” Ed said. “We’ve been in a few television shows and movies together, but being on stage together is a big deal.”
With his trademark humor and humility, the veteran actor joked that Hayden might have more confidence in him than he does in himself.
“She’s the one who thinks I can do this,” he laughed. “I admire her positive attitude.”
It is a sentiment Hayden’s mother, actress Rachelle Carson, would undoubtedly understand as she watches father and daughter embrace this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity together. She has shared Ed’s journey as both a performer and a person for many years.
Best known for his Emmy-nominated role on St. Elsewhere and for decades of acclaimed performances across film, television, and theater, Ed Begley Jr has spent his life transforming into other people. However, Proof asks something different. It asks him to bring parts of himself — a father’s love, vulnerability, uncertainty, and resilience — into the room.
For Hayden, the choice of Proof began simply. She was working on a scene from the play in acting class and saw an opportunity to perform with her father. Only later did she recognize how deeply the material resonated with their own experience.
“I didn’t realize it was going to hit home, but it has, and it’s beautiful,” Hayden said. “The story isn’t about Parkinson’s, but it translates so easily to how such a condition affects a family.”
Diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease nearly ten years ago, Ed has faced an unpredictable future. Hayden was only sixteen when she learned of the diagnosis.
“I have felt that caretaking urge for him,” Hayden explained. “The same way he has been an amazing dad and taken care of me. I relate a lot to Catherine.”
Rather than running from those parallels, father and daughter have embraced them.
“The fact that I can be in a play with my daughter, go to the grocery store, bring the groceries home, and put them away — the mundane and the spectacular — are all wonderful treats that continue to amaze and thrill me,” Ed said.
The theme of inheritance runs through Proof and through the Begley family. Ed is the son of Academy Award-winning actor Ed Begley, making Hayden the third generation to carry on the artistic tradition.
When asked which aspects of her father she sees in herself, Hayden responded humorously before revealing the depth of her admiration.
“I’ve joked for years that maybe I was just a mole that grew on my father’s back and fell off one day,” she laughed. “Maybe that’s my hope because I love and admire him so much.”
Beyond the physical resemblance, she hopes she has inherited something more profound.
“As a person, an activist, and an actor, he’s always been my inspiration,” Hayden said. “I hope I have his sense of humor, even a little of his talent, and his kind heart.”
For Ed, watching Hayden step into the family tradition has deepened his appreciation for the gifts he received from his own father.
“I didn’t want to be like my father when I was younger,” Ed admitted. “At some point, I realized this was the best thing that had ever happened to me. I won the lottery.”
Now, he sees that legacy continuing.
“My dad would be very proud that we’re going for a third generation,” Ed said. “To have someone carry on in this important field, bringing people joy through plays, television, movies, and writing and directing — I’m so proud of Hayden. My buttons are bursting.”
Although Parkinson’s is part of their story, it does not define it. If anything, this production has become a celebration of what remains possible.
Hayden credits advances in Parkinson’s research and treatment for making this moment possible, which is why supporting the Michael J. Fox Foundation felt like the natural choice.
“Instead of trying to run against whatever physical limitations my dad might have or whatever fears he might have about taking on the role, we run right into them and incorporate them,” Hayden said.
In the end, the title “Proof” poses the perfect question. In mathematics, proof signifies certainty. In life, certainty is much harder to find.
For Hayden, the answer comes from something her father taught her.
“My dad instilled in me from an early age the idea that all we have is this moment,” Hayden said. “We can worry about the future or be sad about the past, but if we enjoy this moment and the people we have in it, we can truly enjoy life.”
Ed agreed.
“You spend a whole lifetime waiting for later, waiting for things to get better, waiting for your life to start, and that’s a big waste,” he said. “Be in this moment. Experience it. Appreciate it. We have everything we need.”
For a play called Proof, perhaps the greatest certainty Ed and Hayden Begley bring to the stage has nothing to do with math or equations.
It is the proof found in love, family, creativity, and the courage to treasure a moment before it passes.
Performance Information
Jason Jeske presents Ed Begley Jr and Hayden Begley in David Auburn’s Proof, directed by Stuart Rogers, for four performances only at the El Portal Theatre in North Hollywood.
Performances take place Thursday, July 23, at 8:00 p.m.; Friday, July 24, at 8:00 p.m.; Saturday, July 25, at 8:00 p.m.; and Sunday, July 26, at 7:00 p.m. The Friday performance features the special VIP event “Proof for Parkinson’s – An Evening with Ed Begley Jr” in collaboration with the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
The El Portal Theatre is located at 5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood, CA 91601.
Tickets range from $50 to $85, with student tickets available for $35. Special VIP tickets are available for $100 and $150. All proceeds benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.
For tickets and more information, visit elportaltheatre.com or call the box office at (818) 508-4200.
