Mr. Gideon, who grew up in Virginia and North Carolina, was 52. Among his many projects was securing the rights for the first same-sex production of the Stephen Sondheim revue, Marry Me a Little, which he appeared in at L.A.'s Celebration Theatre in 1999. The Hollywood Reporter called the production "a thoughtful, touching and charming show that attains all of the complexities of the essential early Sondheim."

Mr. Gideon graduated from Harvard University and The Boston Conservatory of Music and made his living in musical theatre.

His other credits include Nite Club Confidential in New York, Boston, Long Beach and L.A. (where he appeared alongside Scott Bakula in a record-breaking run) and the musical revue, The All Night Strut! In the '90s, he released his first CD, "Feels Like Home," with two original compositions, and was working on a new album, "The Happening," based on music from his recent cabaret show of the same name.

Mr. Gideon appeared in many cabaret shows, and donated his time and talent to appear in the benefit performances of Annie Get Your Chip and Beach Blanket Boozer, which supported the West Hollywood Recovery Center.

He is survived by his longtime companion Bernard Vyzga of West Hollywood, CA, his father Luby Hayes (of Denver, NC), his sister Pam Poole (of Richmond, VA), his brother Ronald Hayes (of Gainesville, FL) and many close friends and fans.

Mr. Gideon requested that donations be made in his memory to the West Hollywood Recovery Center (www.thewhrc.org).