All stories by Daniel E. Slotnik on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

Paxton Whitehead, Actor Who Found Humor in the Stodgy, Dies at 85 by Daniel E. Slotnik

An Englishman with a deep, cultured voice, he played uptight snobs in films like “Back to School” and on shows like “Friends” and “Mad About You.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:33PM
Friday, May 5, 2023

Laura Pels, Devoted Supporter of Nonprofit Theater, Dies at 92 by Daniel E. Slotnik

She led a foundation that underwrote productions for numerous theater groups, as well as playwrights like Harold Pinter and Arthur Miller.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:18PM
Friday, April 28, 2023

Charles Hull, Who Brought Theater to Young Audiences, Dies at 92 by Daniel E. Slotnik

The award-winning company he co-founded, Theaterworks USA, went on the road to introduce millions of students to professional productions of plays and musicals.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:18PM
Monday, May 24, 2021

Stephen Colbert’s late-night show will resume filming soon before a vaccinated live audience. by Daniel E. Slotnik

Starting June 14, about 400 people who present proof of vaccination against the coronavirus will be allowed to attend live tapings of the show, CBS said.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:59PM
Friday, March 27, 2020

Stuart Gordon, Whose Films Reanimated Horror, Dies at 72 by Daniel E. Slotnik

His low-budget movies, notably the cult favorite “Re-Animator,” combined grisly body horror with a mordant sense of humor.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 06:36PM
Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Julia Miles, 90, Dies; Pushed for Gender Parity in the Theater by Daniel E. Slotnik

Concerned that female directors and playwrights were underrepresented in New York theaters, she founded Women’s Project in 1978 to cultivate their work.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:54PM
Monday, October 21, 2019

Sam Bobrick, ‘Saved by the Bell’ Creator, Is Dead at 87 by Daniel E. Slotnik

A television mainstay, he was also a playwright. His best-known play, “Norman, Is That You?,” flopped on Broadway but went on to international success.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 01:48PM
Tuesday, February 26, 2019

Mark Bramble, Book Writer of Broadway’s ‘Barnum,’ Dies at 68 by Daniel E. Slotnik

A Broadway jack-of-all-trades, Mr. Bramble also collaborated on the book for the 1980s blockbuster “42nd Street” and directed its Broadway revival.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:52PM
Tuesday, February 19, 2019

Bibi Ferreira, Grande Dame of Brazilian Stage, Dies at 96 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Ms. Ferreira, who kept singing well into her 90s, brought Broadway musicals to Brazil and made the music of Édith Piaf and Frank Sinatra her own.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 04:48PM
Tuesday, September 4, 2018

Carole Shelley, a Tony Winner and a Pigeon Sister, Dies at 79 by Daniel E. Slotnik

A Broadway stalwart (“Elephant Man,” “Wicked”), she also appeared in all three versions of “The Odd Couple” (stage, film and TV) as a giggly neighbor.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:18PM
Friday, June 8, 2018

Robert Mandan, Philandering Husband on ‘Soap,’ Dies at 86 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. Mandan was best known as the patriarch Chester Tate on ABC’s soap-opera satire. But he also played many other roles, including King Lear.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:48PM
Monday, June 4, 2018

Russell Nype, Two-Time Tony-Winning Actor, Dies at 98 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. Nype sang with an ebullient baritone and won Tony Awards for performing alongside Elaine Stritch in “Goldilocks” and Ethel Merman in “Call Me Madam.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:48PM
Friday, February 23, 2018

Rick McKay, Who Documented Memories of Broadway, Dies at 62 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. McKay filmed the reminiscences of dozens of theater luminaries for the 2004 documentary “Broadway: The Golden Age, by the Legends Who Were There.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:51PM
Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Ann Wedgeworth, 83, Dies; Tony-Winning Actress Known for ‘Three’s Company’ by Daniel E. Slotnik

Ms. Wedgeworth’s characters were often flirtatious, maternal or a combination of both in plays like “Chapter Two” and films like “Steel Magnolias.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:24PM
Tuesday, October 24, 2017

Robert Guillaume, Emmy-Winning Star of ‘Benson,’ Dies at 89 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. Guillaume won awards for playing a character who began as a caustic butler on one sitcom and ended up as a candidate for governor on another.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:36PM
Thursday, February 2, 2017

Kevin Geer, Known for Stage Roles, Dies at 64 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. Geer was known for having an outsize persona onstage and a more contained mien in film.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:32PM
Friday, December 2, 2016

Alice Drummond, Character Actress, Dies at 88 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Ms. Drummond, a regular in Broadway and off Broadway productions in the 1960s and ’70s, had roles in films like “Ghostbusters,” “Awakenings” and “Doubt.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:12PM
Friday, September 2, 2016

Jon Polito, a Favorite in Coen Brothers Films, Dies at 65 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. Polito had more than 200 roles in film and television and appeared on Broadway as well.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:11PM
Sunday, December 13, 2015

Marjorie Lord, Actress on ‘The Danny Thomas Show,’ Dies at 97 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Ms. Lord played many parts in television, film and theater after her breakthrough role as the dutiful wife on the Emmy-winning sitcom, but she always struggled against being typecast.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:34PM
Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Michael Leonard, Whose Songs From Failed Musicals Endured, Dies at 84 by Daniel E. Slotnik

The composer and arranger’s tunes for “The Yearling” were covered by Barbra Streisand, Nancy Wilson and many others.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:33PM
Monday, May 25, 2015

Michael Tolan, Stage and Television Actor, Dies at 85 by DANIEL E. SLOTNIK

Mr. Tolan, who appeared on dozens of TV episodes, also helped found the American Place Theater.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:58PM

Peggy Rea, TV Actress With Matronly Aura, Dies at 89 by DANIEL E. SLOTNIK

Ms. Rea had supporting roles on popular television series like “The Dukes of Hazzard” and “Grace Under Fire.”

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 05:58PM
Thursday, April 16, 2015

Ira Lewis, Actor and Playwright, Dies at 82 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. Lewis turned out scripts that attracted the likes of Al Pacino and Jerry Orbach.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:33PM
Wednesday, October 8, 2014

Iva Withers, a Standby to the Rescue on Broadway, Dies at 97 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Ms. Withers made a career as a backup for actresses like Julie Harris and Carol Channing.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:37PM
Sunday, August 31, 2014

Sandy Wilson, Composer and Writer of ‘The Boy Friend,’ Dies at 90 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. Wilson wrote the book and composed the score for the musical “The Boy Friend,” Julie Andrews’s Broadway debut and later a Ken Russell movie.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:55PM
Sunday, June 1, 2014

Lee Chamberlin, ‘Electric Company’ Actress, Dies at 76 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Ms. Chamberlin, whose career took off when she joined Bill Cosby and Rita Moreno on the funky 1970s show, jumped from children’s television to Shakespeare.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 08:07PM
Friday, May 2, 2014

Nicholas Martin, 75, Director of New England Theaters, Dies by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. Martin was an artistic director of Huntington Theater Company in Boston and also brought productions to Broadway, including “The 39 Steps” and “Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike.…

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:53PM
Friday, March 7, 2014

Martin Gottfried, Theater Critic and Author, Dies at 80 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. Gottfried was a theater reviewer for Women’s Wear Daily and The New York Post before writing influential studies of American drama and the Broadway musical.    

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:15PM
Sunday, February 16, 2014

Jacques le Sourd, Theater Critic, Dies at 64 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. le Sourd was syndicated nationally in Gannett Company newspapers for three decades.    

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 11:51PM
Saturday, January 25, 2014

Sarah Marshall, Actress in ‘Twilight Zone’ and ‘Star Trek’, Dies at 80 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Ms. Marshall also appeared in films like “The Long, Hot Summer” and was nominated for a Tony for “Goodbye, Charlie.”    

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:47AM
Thursday, January 2, 2014

Micky Lay, Source for Falstaffian Lead in ‘Jerusalem,’ Dies at 73 by Daniel E. Slotnik

Mr. Lay’s hard-drinking, rebel persona was the inspiration for Jez Butterworth’s play “Jerusalem” and Mark Rylance’s Tony- and Olivier-winning performances.    

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 07:01PM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards