Farewell to Gregg Burge, a Tony nominee for Oh, Kay! and an Astaire Award winner for that show and Song and Dance. Burge, 40, died July 4 of a brain tumor, according to an obituary in the NY Times, which only recently received news of Burge's passing. Inspired by seeing Sammy Davis Jr. on TV's Ed Sullivan Show, a young Burge, took dance lessons and was soon a multiple winner on the Ted Mack Amateur Hour. At 13, he appeared in the Off-Broadway musical Bojangles and later got his big break in The Wiz. Other credits included Sophisticated Ladies (1981) and the Radio City Music Hall Easter show (as the Easter Bunny). He also starred as Richie in the film version of A Chorus Line.
-- By David Lefkowitz