R.I.P. David Ogden Stiers

[Jeffrey Karasarides]

Actor David Ogden Stiers has passed away…
http://www.tmz.com/2018/03/03/mash-star-david-ogden-stiers-dead-at-75/

While he may be best remembered as Major Charles Winchester on M*A*S*H or as the voice of Cogsworth in Beauty & the Beast, he also had 8 (official) Broadway credits to his name. He made his Broadway debut in a 1973 revival of Anton Chekhov’s The Three Sisters which played in repertory with four other productions, which were The Beggar’s Opera, Measure for Measure, Scapin, and Next Time I’ll Sing to You. He even got to appear in all of them opposite Kevin Kline & Patti LuPone. Stiers was last seen on Broadway in the 2009 mounting of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas. Not to mention that he got to reprise his narrations from the animated film in the original Broadway production of Beauty & the Beast.

[sabrelady]

This makes me sad. I always enjoyed his work.

( and I bet they dim the lights for him)

[JennH]

RIP to my beloved clock 

[DramaTeach]

Loved him in Doc Hollywood.

[qafgenius122]

Don’t forget he was Governor Radcliffe in Pocahontas. “Mine, Mine, Mine” is one of my fav Disney songs. And as far as his theatre credits, he was also in Encores! Tenderloin with Patrick Wilson. That cast album is a real treasure.

[JennH]

^^Oh don't you worry, he had a slew of Disney voices that he did, (he did double duty in Pocahontas by doing Wiggins too  and I love every single one of them ::) 

[adamgreer]

sabrelady said: "This makes me sad. I always enjoyed his work.

( and I bet they dim the lights for him)"

He was on a popular television series. That’ll make him “special” enough for Queen Charlotte to dim the lights in his honor. 

[Musical Master]

He was a very talented man who made up a great portion of my childhood. May he rest in peace.

[TheGingerBreadMan]

What a special guy. Sorry to hear of his passing. I loved Beauty and the Beast as a kid - and still do. His many voices will live on.

[fredric47]

David Ogden Stiers was a very sensitive and thoughtful man. In 1973, I was the drama critic who reviewed his performance as Peachum in John Gay's "The Beggars' Opera" in the Juilliard School's Acting Company production at the Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center. I  was at a loss for words because I wasn't familiar with the play. So I came up with this line, "Oh what a role is Peachum, and oh what an actor is David Ogden Stiers" in that role!" I was embarrassed by the remark because I thought it showed that I didn't know anything about classical theatre. The next day after the review appeared, David Ogden Stiers appeared at the newspaper office and asked to meet the critic who wrote the review of his performance. He thanked me profusely about my comments. Now how many actors go out of their way to compliment their critics in person???

I was a fan of his for life after that experience.

In 2000, when City Center Encores cast their revival of Bock and Harnick's musical, "Tenderloin," I predicted that David would play the leading role of Reverend Andrew Brock because he was known for his stuffy qualities after appearing Major Charles Winchester on "M*A*S*H." I happen to sit next to David's manager at the Saturday matinee performance. I told him the story of how David came to see me at the newspaper office, hoping that his agent would escort me backstage after the performance, as he should have, for a reunion with David. But I sensed that the agent was either jealous of me having this prior history with David or I behaved too excited over the chance of re-meeting David after 27 years. So I never did have that reunion with David. I had no idea that he was suffering from bladder cancer. Otherwise, I would have written to him to tell him how much his kindness to a rookie drama critic has meant all these years to me. I hope after he announced that he was homosexual that he found someone with whom to share his remaining years.

 

 

[evic]

Loved him in The Magic Show and his rendition of "Style".