Obituaries
Obituaries of theatre actors, writers, directors, producers and other professionals who have enriched the stage.
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Obituaries
By Andrew Gans | Jan/19/2022The stage and screen icon earned a Tony nomination for creating the role of Walter Lee Younger in Lorraine Hansberry's groundbreaking A Raisin in the Sun.
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Obituaries
By Dan Meyer | Jan/14/2022
The writer contributed to The Wall Street Journal for almost 20 years.
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Obituaries
By Dan Meyer | Jan/14/2022
The theatre auteur helmed Torch Song Trilogy, Legs Diamond, and more.
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Obituaries
By Logan Culwell-Block | Jan/11/2022
Among the veteran art director's work was Avenue Q's historic 2004 Tony Awards campaign.
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Obituaries
By Talaura Harms | Jan/10/2022
The songwriter, along with her co-lyricist husband, wrote the lyrics for the Broadway musicalsSomething More! and Ballroom.
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Obituaries
By Talaura Harms | Jan/10/2022
Known for Full House, the television dad appeared on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone and Hand to God.
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Obituaries
By Dan Meyer | Jan/07/2022
The star appeared in the original Broadway production of A Raisin in the Sun.
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Obituaries
By Talaura Harms | Jan/03/2022Following Jonathan's death in 1996, Larson served as steward to his son's legacy, creating the Jonathan Larson Performing Arts Foundation and sharing Peasant's Feasts with Rent casts.
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Obituaries
By Logan Culwell-Block | Dec/31/2021Playbill remembers the actors, directors, playwrights, and other familiar faces of the stage who died this year.
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Special Features
By Mervyn Rothstein | Dec/27/2021Read an interview with the late actor-singer-dancer that originally ran in August 2007.
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Obituaries
By Dan Meyer | Dec/27/2021The singer, actor, and dancer appeared in Hello, Dolly!, Follies, West Side Story, and more.
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Obituaries
By Logan Culwell-Block | Dec/22/2021The British-born actor made her Broadway debut as Julie Andrew's first replacement in My Fair Lady.
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Obituaries
By Talaura Harms | Dec/08/2021The legendary American musical theatre composer-lyricist died November 26 at the age of 91.
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Obituaries
By Andrew Gans | Dec/03/2021The stage and screen star made his Broadway debut with a Tony-nominated and Theatre World Award-winning performance in Stanley.
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Special Features
By Seth Rudetsky | Dec/01/2021Stories from A Little Night Music, Into The Woods, Follies, and more.
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Obituaries
By Andrew Gans | Nov/30/2021Mr. Jacobs was a long-time production stage manager at The Phantom of the Opera.
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Lists
By Logan Culwell-Block | Nov/29/2021Filmed versions of beloved productions, movie adaptations, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and more videos to remember and celebrate the legendary composer.
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Obituaries
By Ryan McPhee | Nov/29/2021Mr. Johnson’s theatrical career also included turns as an actor and stage manager.
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Video
By Logan Culwell-Block | Nov/29/2021The late composer-lyricist sat down with one of his primary interpreters for a newly released video, filmed just before his 90th birthday in 2020.
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Video
By Andrew Gans | Nov/27/2021Revisit a Tony Awards tribute to the late, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer-lyricist, birthday concert celebrations, a 60 Minutes profile, and more.
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Obituaries
By Ryan McPhee | Nov/27/2021The two productions performed hours after news broke of the legendary composer’s death.
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Obituaries
By Dan Meyer, Bethany Rickwald | Nov/26/2021Bernadette Peters, Audra McDonald, Andrew Lloyd Webber, and more paid tribute to the legendary composer on social media.
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Obituaries
By Robert Simonson | Nov/26/2021Stephen Sondheim, a towering figure in musical theatre, has died.
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Obituaries
By Logan Culwell-Block | Nov/17/2021One of the leading playwrights of the Black Arts Movement, Bullins wrote works including the 1975 Obie-winning The Taking of Miss Janie.
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Industry News
By Andrew Gans | Nov/03/2021The Tony-winning playwright passed away March 24, 2020, at the age of 81.
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Broadway News
By Dan Meyer | Nov/01/2021The five-time Tony Award recipient passed away in March 2020.
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Obituaries
By Andrew Gans | Oct/22/2021Mr. Scolari's New York stage credits included Lucky Guy, Bronx Bombers, Wicked, Hairspray, and The True.
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Obituaries
By Logan Culwell-Block | Oct/19/2021The Oscar-winning and Tony-nominated writer also penned The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd and Stop the World - I Want To Get Off.
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Industry News
By Dan Meyer | Oct/11/2021The memorial service also live streams from Riverside Church.
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Film & TV News
By Andrew Gans, Dan Meyer, Logan Culwell-Block | Sep/23/2021Plus: Colin Donnell, Loretta Devine, Sheryl Lee Ralph, and more tapped for small screen gigs.
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Obituaries
By Dan Meyer | Sep/23/2021The three-time Tony nominee created Ain't Supposed to Die a Natural Death and more.
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Obituaries
By Robert Simonson | Sep/10/2021Ms. McCann was the recipient of nine Tony Awards throughout her lengthy producing career.
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Obituaries
By Talaura Harms | Aug/30/2021The character actor was last seen on Broadway in the 2012 play Grace.
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Obituaries
By Andrew Gans | Aug/23/2021The three-time Tony nominee was the first woman to write and star in an original Broadway musical.
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Obituaries
By Dan Meyer | Aug/06/2021The performer appeared on Broadway in Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, The Iceman Cometh, and more.
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Obituaries
By Andrew Gans | Aug/02/2021Mr. Ing also starred in the Broadway revival of Flower Drum Song, featuring a revised book by David Henry Hwang.
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Playbill Universe
By Dan Meyer | Jul/27/2021Nominations are now open for the Target ALS Rebecca Luker Courage Award.
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Obituaries
By Talaura Harms | Jul/12/2021The musician served as music director and conductor for the Tony Awards broadcast for 46 years.
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Obituaries
By Dan Meyer | Jul/09/2021The Tony honoree created hairstyles for over 200 Broadway productions.
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Obituaries
By Talaura Harms | Jun/15/2021The actress was the first Black performer to win an Olivier Award with her performance of Queenie in Show Boat.
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Obituaries
By Dan Meyer | Jun/15/2021The Gone Girl alum's Broadway credits included Rumors and Present Laughter.
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Video
By Dan Meyer | Jun/14/2021Lin-Manuel Miranda shared footage of the late performer from 2020.
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Obituaries
By Dan Meyer | May/26/2021The performer, Broadway's original Mufasa in The Lion King, voiced Sebastian in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
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Special Features
By Ruthie Fierberg | May/03/2021Chita Rivera, Camille A. Brown, and more share how the choreographer, who passed away May 2 at age 86, impacted Broadway and beyond.
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Photos
By Ryan McPhee, Marc J. Franklin | May/03/2021The Oscar winner and theatre veteran died May 1 at the age of 89.
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Obituaries
By Andrew Birsh and Andrew Gans | Apr/21/2021Mr. Birsh began working for Playbill in 1961 as manager of the magazine’s printing plant; by 1973 he had become the sole proprietor of the company synonymous with Broadway.
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Obituaries
By Ryan McPhee | Apr/20/2021The composer’s works include songs made famous by Celine Dion, Meat Loaf, Bonnie Tyler, and more.
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Obituaries
By Talaura Harms | Apr/20/2021The English designer recreated everything from Spanish conquistadors to silent film stars for Hollywood and Broadway.
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Obituaries
By Andrew Gans | Apr/06/2021Mr. Ritter, known for his work in the U.K. TV series Friday Night Dinner, made his Broadway debut in The Norman Conquests.
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Obituaries
By Talaura Harms | Apr/05/2021The twice-nominated actor's career spanned seven decades with roles on stage and screen.
