Dick Latessa
Birth Place: Cleveland, Ohio, USA
HAIRSPRAY Original Broadway Cast: Where Are They Now? (Feb 28, 2026)
LUCKY MAN – A WARRIOR’S JOURNEY Opens Tonight at Gene Frankel Theatre (Jun 12, 2025)
Thomas G. Waites' LUCKY MAN – A WARRIOR’S JOURNEY to Run at the Gene Frankel Theatre (Apr 23, 2025)
BIO
Latessa was born in Cleveland, Ohio. His mother was an automotive upholstery maker. He made his Broadway debut in The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N in 1968. Additional theatre credits include Follies, Rags, The Cherry Orchard, Damn Yankees, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Awake and Sing!, Cabaret, and Hairspray, for which he won both the Tony and Drama Desk Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
Throughout the years he also has been featured in several Neil Simon plays, including Chapter Two, I Ought to Be in Pictures, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Broadway Bound, Rumors, and Proposals.
Latessa's screen credits include The Substance of Fire, Alfie, and Stigmata. He has appeared in numerous television movies, including Izzy and Moe, The Trial of Bernhard Goetz, and Pudd'nhead Wilson, and primetime series such Get Smart, Mission: Impossible, Ironside, Spenser: For Hire, The Sopranos, Ed, and Law & Order.
Photos
Dick Latessa, Kristin Chenoweth, Neil Simon, Burt Bacharach, Sean Hayes, Hal David, Rob Ashford, Tony Goldwyn taking a bow on the Opening Night Broadway performance Curtain Call for "PROMISES, PROMISES" at the Broadway Theatre, New York City.
April 25, 2
From: Photo Flash: Remembering Legendary Playwright Neil Simon
STAGE CREDITS
Awards and Nominations
Dick Latessa, Promises, Promises
winner
Dick Latessa , Hairspray
winner
Dick Latessa, Hairspray
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Dick Latessa, Hairspray
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Dick LatessaCabaret
winner
Dick Latessa, Philemon
Videos
VIDEO: BWW's 12 Days of Christmas with Guest Editor Richard Jay-Alexander; Day 5 - Harvey, Shoshana, Jackie + HAIRSPRAY + Disney + Dreidel!
by Robert Diamond - 2014-12-17 10:49:20
STAGE TUBE: Wild Root Company Previews ROOM AT THE END OF THE HALL Workshop
by Nicole Rosky - 2014-02-19 09:44:20
TV EXCLUSIVE: The Glorious Opening Number from the RAGTIME Concert- Lea Salonga, Norm Lewis, Patina Miller and More!
by Nicole Rosky - 2013-02-19 10:07:35
TV: Chatting with the RAGTIME Concert Cast- Norm Lewis, Kerry Butler, Matt Cavenaugh, Patina Miller & More!
by Nicole Rosky - 2013-02-12 17:57:59
TV: Stars & Puppies! Bernadette Peters, Mary Tyler Moore, Andrew Rannells, Julie Halston, Jeremy Jordan & More at Broadway Barks 14!
by BroadwayWorld TV - 2012-07-16 09:20:34
TV: Inside Opening Night of THE LYONS with Linda Lavin & More!
by Jessica Lewis - 2012-04-26 12:34:01
TV: First Look at Linda Lavin, Dick Latessa & More in THE LYONS on Broadway!
by Jessica Lewis - 2012-04-23 19:30:10
STAGE TUBE: ABC Colleagues Serenade Sawyer With PROMISES PROMISES Tune
by Gabrielle Sierra - 2010-12-22 11:56:21
News
by Sidney Paterra - Feb 28, 2026
It’s… Hairspray! BroadwayWorld is taking a look back at what the cast of this beloved musical has been up to since the show first graced the Broadway stage!
by A.A. Cristi - Jun 12, 2025
This June, Emmy and Golden Globe winner John Goodman and Evan Azriliant, in association with Without A Net Productions, will present Lucky Man – A Warrior’s Journey, a rock & 'role' monologue written and performed by veteran actor and musician Thomas G. Waites, directed by Joe Danisi, with musical direction by Tony Daniels.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 23, 2025
Veteran actor and musician Thomas G. Waites will step into the spotlight with Lucky Man – A Warrior’s Journey Off-Broadway. Learn more and see how to purchase tickets.
by Stephi Wild - Apr 8, 2025
Dominic Chianese from 'The Sopranos' will appear for one night only at the Town Hall. The evening will be directed by Will Nunziata. Learn more about the event here!
by Claudio Erlichman - Oct 15, 2024
A girl achieves her dream of performing on a TV dance show in 1960s Baltimore — and works to integrate the show — in this musical version of the John Waters film. Outside of traditional beauty standards, she faces many prejudices, become an instant celebrity, and fight against racial segregation promoting inclusion of everyone in the city.
by Kay Kudukis - Feb 7, 2024
Palm Springs’ newest professional theatre, REVOLUTION STAGE COMPANY (RSC), presents veteran Broadway performer, JOEL VIG, who becomes TRUMAN CAPOTE in his acclaimed one-man show, TRUMAN TALKS TENNESSEE as the RSC celebrates the 100th anniversary of Capote's birth with a ‘FAT TUESDAY' fundraiser at 7 PM!
by Joni Lorraine - Jun 15, 2023
HAIRSPRAY is a chipper, wildly energetic show, and if you can leave your inner skeptic at the door, you might see a glimmer of hope. If not that, then you’ll certainly have basked in some joy for a couple of hours.
by A.A. Cristi - Nov 5, 2021
American Dance Machine for the 21st Century will release its latest joyous virtual video, “Our Favorite Son” from the Broadway musical The Will Rogers Follies, performed by Cady Huffman in the role of Will Rogers, and 10 original Broadway cast members, along with 10 of ADM21's featured dancers.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Oct 7, 2021
The Ensemble Company, the theatre company in residence at Penguin Point Productions located in the Oviedo Mall, follows its recent acclaimed production of the Pulitzer Prize-winning W;t with Nicky Silver's savage comedy about a dying breed, The Lyons.
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Sep 12, 2021
In our new series, 'Where Are They Now?' we're taking a look back at some of our favorite original Broadway casts, and catching up with their careers! Next up, the original cast of Hairspray!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Jul 14, 2021
The Vineyard has just announced its new season, which will include productions of Is This A Room, conceived and directed by Obie Award winner Tina Satter; and the Center Theatre Group, Goodman Theatre and Vineyard Theatre production of Dana H., by Obie Award winner Lucas Hnath and directed by Obie Award winner Les Waters. Both shows will come to Broadway's Lyceum Theatre (149 W 45th Street, New York, NY), playing on a rotating schedule.
by Nuria Pedret - Jun 7, 2021
La obra estuvo nominada a 13 premios en 2003, incluyendo los Premios al Mejor Musical, Guión, Música y Dirección
by Taylor Brethauer-Hamling - Apr 2, 2021
We're rounding up # tweets from the week of 3/29/2021 to 4/2/2021 from Broadway stars and theater fans!
by Chloe Rabinowitz - Apr 8, 2020
In this time of social distancing and remaining responsibly indoors, we are all looking for ways to brighten our days and get moving any way we can! In the spirit of celebrating theater and providing motivation to get up and get shakin', we're taking a look back and paying tribute to some of the greatest dance numbers in musical theater history! Today's number, You Can't Stop the Beat from Hairspray!
by Linnae Medeiros - Aug 15, 2019
Hey there, teenage Baltimore! It's officially been seventeen years since Broadway audiences were first welcomed the the 60s with the opening of Hairspray at the Neil Simon Theatre on August 15, 2002. To celebrate the special occasion, we're looking back what the nicest kids in town have been up to since leaving The Corny Collins Show, including Marissa Jaret Winokur, Harvey Fierstein, Matthew Morrison, Kerry Butler, and more! Check it all out!
by Richard Ridge - Jul 30, 2019
Monday nights belong to Jim Caruso's Cast Party at the legendary Birdland and now in less than a year the place to be on Tuesday night is Birdland's new downstairs theatre and The Line Up with Susie Mosher.
by Alan Henry - Apr 30, 2019
Over the course of each Broadway season, unexpected and unique storylines inevitably pop up. This morning, with the announcement of the 2019 Tony Award nominations, a number of new narratives have come to life.
by Walter McBride - Sep 1, 2018
As BroadwayWorld reported last week, the legendary playwright Neil Simon passed away at age 91 due to complications from pneumonia. Today, BroadwayWorld remembers Neil Simon with a look back on some photos from our archives.
by Julie Musbach - Jun 29, 2018
Broadway Kids Jam has released their latest jam, 'Mama, I'm A Big Girl Now' from the hit Broadway musical, Movie, and live TV broadcast, Hairspray. This jam features Molly Richardson (Matilda), Mckayla Twiggs (Anastasia, Les Miserables, Once), Joshua Turchin (The Pill, TrevorLIVE LA, A Christmas Story the Musical) and Shaina Turchin.
by BWW News Desk - Aug 15, 2017
On August 15, 2002, 'Hairspray' opened on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre, winning eight 2003 Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score, Best Actor (Harvey Fierstein), Best Actress (Marissa Jaret Winokur), Best Featured Actor (Dick Latessa), Best Costume Design and Best Direction of a Musical.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Dick Latessa has appeared on Broadway in 18 shows.
Dick Latessa has not appeared in the West End.
Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Promises, Promises, Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical (Outer Critics Circle Awards) for Hairspray, Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical (Tony Awards) for Hairspray, Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical (Drama Desk Awards) for Hairspray, Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production (Helen Hayes Awards) for Cabaret and Performance (Obie Awards) for Philemon.
Dick Latessa won the Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical award from the Outer Critics Circle Awards for Hairspray. He also received the Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical for Hairspray. Additionally, he earned the Outstanding Featured Actor - Musical award from the Drama Desk Awards for Hairspray. Latessa was honored with the Outstanding Supporting Performer, Non-Resident Production award at the Helen Hayes Awards for Cabaret, and he received a Performance award from the Obie Awards for Philemon.
Videos