George Grizzard (1928-2007)
George Grizzard (1928-2007)Tony Award-winning actor George Grizzard passed away yesterday at the age of 79.
A veteran of the Broadway stage, Grizzard amassed a breathtaking array of 21 credits that spanned 51 years on the Great White Way, beginning with his Tony-nominated portrayal of Hank Griffin in The Desperate Hours alongside Paul Newman and Karl Malden, and concluding with his run opposite Frances Sternhagen (pictured) in the 2005 revival of Edward Albee's Seascape.
In between, he held his own against Hume Cronyn and Jason Robards Jr. in Big Fish, Little Fish (1961) -- as Ronnie Johnson, Grizzard earned his second Tony nomination. Other notable roles had him in the crossfire of Arthur Hill and Uta Hagen as Nick in the original cast of Albee's Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? (1962); portraying Tom Wingfield in the first revival of Tennesee Williams' The Glass Menagerie opposite Pat Hingle, Piper Laurie and Maureen Stapleton (1965); and taking on Bernie Dodd in the first revival of The Country Girl opposite Stapleton and Robards (1972).
Certainly, what could have been considered a career capper came in 1996 with Grizzard's Tony-winning turn as Tobias in the revival of Albee's A Delicate Balance with Elaine Stritch and Rosemary Harris. Yet, ever the trouper, Grizzard would soldier on as the judge in the 2001 revival of Judgment At Nuremburg and then in the aforementioned Seascape. His last stage appearance came just last year in Off-Broadway's Regrets Only.
My biggest regret is that I never had the opportunity to see this true legend perform on the stage, although I certainly admired his television and film work. His passing is a sad day for theatre fans everywhere.
This is Steve On Broadway (SOB).
Labels: A Delicate Balance, Big Fish Little Fish, Edward Albee, George Grizzard, In Memoriam, Seascape, The Country Girl, The Desperate Hours
posted by Steve On Broadway (SOB) @ Wednesday, October 03, 2007
2 comments
