What Broadway performers deaths have surprised/saddened?- Page 4

[Magical_Ms._Mistoffeles_72]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 11:21am

Maureen Stapleton
John Ritter
Marlon Brando
Frank Sinatra
Michael Hutchins

Posted: 3/14/06 at 11:43am

I'm very new to the Broadway world, and can't say that a particular star's death has saddened/shocked me since I haven't had the good fortune of seeing/knowing these wonderful performers. But when reading about a performer's death, especially if they had reached a ripe old age, I do think of how they had a full, rewarding life and had given pleasure to so many people. When reading about a performer's life taken so young, I do think of how an audience will never know what could have been. I believe that's the greater sadness.

[isntitromantic]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 11:43am

Susan Browning -- such a sweet woman
Margo Sappington -- funny and sexy
Ed Evanko -- what a voice
Danny Ruvolo -- too young, too soon -- how his sister Victoria moved us all, all these years later by forgiving the young man who threw the turkey on the highway
Deborah Henry -- the best Val and Cassie ever
Marian Mercer -- hysterical in Promises and on Mary Hartman

may they rest in peace

[Enjolras77]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 1:26pm

Howard Ashman...died too young and with so much more to contribute. It would have been interesting to see what else his collaboration with Alan Menken would have produced.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 1:30pm

The sad, sad loss of Gregory Hines.

[Princeton78]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 1:47pm

Jeffrey Mylett from the Original Cast of "Godspell," who died of AIDS in the early 80's. If you listen to the OBC of the show or see the movie, you will see what an adorable man and gifted physical comedian he was.

[alwy15]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 2:13pm

Dorothy Loudon's death saddened me the most. She had so much life in her when she performed - so much love and energy and warmth no matter what she did. She was dynamite, so wonderful. I was so sad to hear of her passing.

[d5johnston]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 2:28pm

I was and am extremely saddened by the deaths of Maureen Stapleton and Anne Bancroft, what spirits they had!

-d5johnston

[peggyandvelma]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 2:32pm

I cried when I heard about Marlon Brando. I had just started getting into old movies and he was really becoming one of my favorites. I saw it on CNN and just ran to the bathroom and cried.
He was such a talented actor and it was sad to see him go, especially in the state he was in. But, hey, we still have our Godfather and Streetcar DVDs, right?

[I<3bway]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 2:35pm

^^^^^right!

[Yero]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 2:39pm

I'm going to have to say Dana Reeve...
I was just so shocked when I heard it on the news... I never realized how fast a disease like Lung Cancer can kill.

[crazyfangirl]

Posted: 3/14/06 at 4:02pm

i think all of us can think of specific performers whose deaths have touched us, for whatever reasons. Of the top of my head...

Jason Raize was just shocking. I remember reading about it and thinking how shocking it was, and how incredibly sad--both from the perspective of someone who was his age and probably could identify with some of the issues that drove him to his death, and from someone who had heard him sing. Completely unexpected. He was just too young and had so much still to do with his life.

Madeline Kahn. I was just a kid when she passed, but I remember I wore black for a week. She was one of my all-time favorite actresses. She was just a glorious, glorious comedienne. I had read about her having cancer, but I think terminal illnesses are one of those things that you just don't think (or want to believe) are going to take a person until they ACTUALLY take the person. There is always that hope, that wish, that the person will win the fight against the disease and won't die. So it is just as shocking sometimes, I think, when they actually die.

Jonathan Larson: a man who was SO early in his career and had so much to give to the theater community. The most shocking thing about his death was probably the timing, and the circumstances. It's so tragic to think of how many more great musicals he could have written.

A relative of mine (wasn't a HUGE star or anything, but DID grace the NY stage) who died of AIDS. Back in the early 90's, when those who had gotten AIDS in the 80's really started to get sick die, and it was just one death after another after another, this was probably the most shocking and horrifying thing my family could have gone through, because you think, "it happens to other people. It won't happen to us. Look at these other people. I ache for them, but I am glad it's not us." That's when we all learned how wrong we were, to think "it can't happen to us." It was a huge wake-up call.

[pfrazier25]

Posted: 10/7/08 at 1:18pm

Jason Raize indeed. I recently discovered him only to quickly learn of his fate. I am torn up about it and think about him often. My heart truly aches to know he suffered so much. With allt he talent he had, who would have know there was such darkness underneath.

TruthLasso, thank you so much for sharing all you know about Jason - it has been some comfort.

Blessings to all.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 10:48am

I think the death that saddened me the most was Colleen Dewhurst. I learned of it from a bartender at the now-defunct JR's bar/restuaurant near the corner of 46th and 8th Avenue. I had to leave and just started crying all the way down 46th Street. I'd been seeing her since summer stock in 1957 and loved her work.

A death that surprised me was that of James Hayden back in 1985. He was a young upcoming actor who'd appeared in the 1982 revival of View from the Bridge (Tony LoBianco) and was currently being seen in American Buffalo (Al Pacino). I forget whether it happened during previews or shortly thereafter, but it really shocked me. Apparently, he had a heroin addiction and had overdosed, whether on purpose or by accident never having been determined. Such a waste.

Updated On: 10/8/08 at 10:48 AM

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 11:50am

isn'titromantic, as far as I know, Marian Mercer is still alive.

So many wonderful performers have been mentioned in this thread. I have to say that I never saw Jason Raize in The Lion King but I saw him as Joe in the Musicals in Mufti Carmen Jones and I was struck by his talent. It was very upsetting to hear of his death at such a young age.

I'll mention a name that few here will probably know, another performer who committed suicide, and that was the wonderful Margaret Linn, who played Corinna in the original production of The House of Blue Leaves, later played Bunny in the production, and whom I saw as a luminous Eliza in Pygmalion. She can be seen in the PBS Hogan's Goat issued by Broadway Theatre Archive.

The deaths of Lynne Thigpen and Susan Browning also particularly saddened me among those who have been mentioned in this thread.

[LotteTBS138]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 11:57am

I was really sad about Jonathan Larson!! But it was amazing to see how the show went on!

Estelle Getty - Non-Broadway. I remember watching Golden Girls religiously and she was hilarious!!

[WhitehallandMarks]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 12:10pm

Daniel McDonald (OBC of Steel Pier & High Society; also appeared in Contact tour and Mamma Mia B'way). I had heard online that he was ill (brain cancer) about 6 months before he actually passed. It still shocked me, having seen him in all of the above except Contact. So very, very sad and such a warm and likeable actor.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 12:16pm

My first awareness of Estelle Getty was when she played Arnold's mother in Torch Song Trilogy, which I saw quite a few times. She was wonderful in that play and also a very nice person. Hers was the definitive Ms. Beckoff (IMO) and will always be remembered.

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 12:38pm

Jerry Orbach Rest in Peace.

[Gobstopper]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 3:39pm

Jason Raize. Every time I listen to the Lion King OBCR and hear that beautiful clear tenor singing with such absolute hope that "I know that the night must end and that the sun will rise," I get goosebumps. Too too young.

Of course Jonathan Larson is another one, but this is supposed to be about performers specifically, so...

[BudFrump23]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 5:39pm

Dorothy Loudon is one of my ultimate favorite Broadway stars. I treasure the video of her from the Broadway Leading Ladies concert of her singing "Fifty Percent" and I wish I had seen her perform live.

Lynne Thigpen was one of my favorites as a child. I was always enthralled by her character on Carmen Sandiego - I just loved her voice! After I heard, I watched an episode of Bear In The Big Blue House - and cried at this part:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XrL_F6tnT4

Updated On: 10/8/08 at 05:39 PM

[DefyGravity777]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 7:51pm

While not Broadway the death of Rob Guest was the most shocking/saddening to me. He was so young and full of life and he was taken away just like that. Well you never know do you.

[FeelingElectric]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 7:54pm

For me, it's definitely George Grizzard.

I was lucky enough to see him in his last show, Regrets Only. He gave a spirited performance opposite a formitable cast including Christine Baranski, David Rasche and Sian Phillips.

I had no idea at the time that he was going through cancer treatment. From his performance and meeting him after the show, you would never know that.

It was a shock to me later that year when he passed. I feel so lucky to be able to say that I saw him perform in his last show, and have the opportunity to meet him.

[Bryan With A Why]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 11:33pm

I certainly have to second Carl Anderson. I will always remember seeing his Judas, a role he spent a lifetime defining, in New Orleans' Saenger Theatre (which, while we're talking about losses to the theatrical community, is a true post-Katrina tragedy). Every second spent onstage (even when interacting with Sebastian Bach's Jesus) was sheer perfection, and I remember thinking how remarkable it was for a performer of his age to have such a youthful onstage exuberance. We lost him less than a year later, and I will always treasure that night.

[Bwayidiot]

Posted: 10/8/08 at 11:43pm

Mary Martin - pure magic on stage in every show I saw her in.

Jerry Orbach