George Grizzard
George Cooper Grizzard Jr. (April 1, 1928 – October 2, 2007) was an American stage, television, and film actor.[1] He was the recipient of a Grammy Award, a Primetime Emmy Award and a Tony Award, among other accolades.
George Grizzard | |
|---|---|
| Born | George Cooper Grizzard Jr. April 1, 1928 Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, U.S. |
| Died | October 2, 2007 (aged 79) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Education | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1955–2006 |
| Partner | William Tynan |
Life and career
Grizzard was born in Roanoke Rapids, North Carolina, the son of Mary Winifred (née Albritton) and George Cooper Grizzard, an accountant.[citation needed]
Grizzard was raised in Washington, DC, and attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, returning to Washington after graduation to work in advertising. He began his acting career at Washington's Arena Stage.[2]
Grizzard memorably appeared as an unscrupulous United States Senator in the film Advise and Consent in 1962. His other theatrical films included the drama From the Terrace with Paul Newman (1960), the Western story Comes a Horseman with Jane Fonda (1978), and a Neil Simon comedy, Seems Like Old Times (1980).[1]
Grizzard made his Broadway debut in The Desperate Hours in 1955. He was a frequent interpreter of the plays of Edward Albee, having appeared in the original 1962 production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? as Nick, which won him a Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album along with his castmates. He also appeared in the 1996 revival of A Delicate Balance and the 2005 revival of Seascape. He also starred in You Know I Can't Hear You When the Water's Running. He won the 1996 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Play for A Delicate Balance. Additional Broadway credits include The Creation of the World and Other Business, The Glass Menagerie, The Country Girl, The Royal Family, and California Suite.[1]
Grizzard guest-starred several times during the 1990s on the NBC television drama Law & Order as defense attorney Arthur Gold. He also portrayed President John Adams in the Emmy Award-winning WNET-produced PBS miniseries The Adams Chronicles. In 1980, he won an Emmy for his work in The Oldest Living Graduate. He starred as reporter Richard Larsen in The Deliberate Stranger, a television movie about serial killer Ted Bundy.[1][3]
He was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2002.[4]
Death
Grizzard died in Manhattan of complications from lung cancer. According to his New York Times obituary, his only survivor was his long-time companion William Tynan. Grizzard had kept his homosexuality private during his life.[1]
Filmography
Film
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | From the Terrace | Alexander "Lex" Porter | |
| 1962 | Advise and Consent | Senator Fred Van Ackerman | |
| 1967 | Warning Shot | Walt Cody | |
| 1971 | Happy Birthday, Wanda June | Dr. Norbert Woodley | |
| 1978 | Comes a Horseman | Neil Atkinson | |
| 1979 | Firepower | Leo Gelhorn | |
| 1980 | Seems Like Old Times | Governor | |
| 1982 | Wrong is Right | President Bedford Forrest "Frosty" Lockwood | |
| 1984 | Bachelor Party | Ed Thompson | |
| 2000 | Wonder Boys | Fred Leer | |
| 2000 | Small Time Crooks | George Blint | |
| 2006 | Flags of Our Fathers | Older John Bradley | Final film role |
Television
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956-62 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Alan Chatterton / Hubert Winter / Ted Lambert | 3 Episodes |
| 1960 | The Millionaire | Jerry Mitchell | Episode: "The Story of Jerry Mitchell" |
| 1960 | Thriller | Merle Jenkins | |
| 1963 | The Twilight Zone | Alan Talbot / Walter Ryder, Jr. | Episode: "In His Image" |
| 1963 | Espionage | Lieutenant Bridger | Episode: "Festival of Pawns" |
| 1963 | Ben Casey | Jonas King | |
| 1964 | Dr. Kildare | Douglas Martin | |
| 1965 | Rawhide | Captain George Ballinger | |
| 1971 | Marcus Welby, MD | George Adams | Episode: "A Portrait of Debbie" |
| 1974 | The Stranger Within | David Collins | Television movie |
| 1975 | Attack on Terror: The FBI vs. the Ku Klux Klan | Attorney Clay | Television movie |
| 1975 | The Lives of Jenny Dolan | Ralph Stantlow | Television movie |
| 1976 | The Adams Chronicles | John Adams | Television miniseries Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series (1977) |
| 1978 | Hawaii 5-0 | Al Marsh | Episode: "Head to Head" |
| 1980 | The Oldest Living Graduate | Floyd Kincaid | Television movie Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or Movie (1981) |
| 1982 | American Playhouse | Mr. Wooster | Episode: "The Shady Hill Kidnapping" |
| 1984 | Trapper John, MD | Vernon Shaw | Episode: "Play Your Hunch" |
| 1985 | Spenser: For Hire | Frank Silverman | Episode: "The Choice" |
| 1985 | The Cosby Show | Mr. Barker | Episode: "Clair's Toe" |
| 1985–1988 | Murder, She Wrote | Edmund Hall / Prof. Tyler Stoneham / Dr. Aubrey Benton | 3 episodes |
| 1986 | The Deliberate Stranger | Richard Larsen | Television movie |
| 1989 | The Golden Girls | Jamie Devereaux | Episode: "That Old Feeling" |
| 1990 | Caroline? | Paul Carmichael | Television movie |
| 1990 | The Golden Girls | George Devereaux | Episode: "Mrs. George Devereaux" |
| 1990 | An Enemy of the People | Mayor Peter Stockman | Television movie |
| 1991 | Iran: Days of Crisis | President Jimmy Carter | Television movie |
| 1992–2000 | Law & Order | Arthur Gold | 6 episodes |
| 1993 | American Experience | John W. Davis | Episode: "Simple Justice" |
| 1993 | Alex Haley's Queen | Mr. Cherry | Television movie |
| 1993 | Not in the Family | Malcolm Worth | Television movie |
| 1994 | Scarlett | Henry Hamilton | Television miniseries Sequel to Gone With the Wind |
| 1994 | The 5 Mrs. Buchanans | Frank Collins | Episode: "Emma in Love" |
| 1997 | Sisters and Other Strangers | Ben Strickland | Television movie |
| 1997–1998 | 3rd Rock from the Sun | George Albright | Episodes: "Dick-In-Law" and "My Daddy's Little Girl" |
| 1998 | Touched by an Angel | Charley Nott | Episode: "An Angel on the Roof" |
| 2006 | Haskett's Chance | Peyton Haskett | Television movie |
References
- ^ a b c d e Berkvist, Robert (3 October 2007). "George Grizzard, Actor Noted for Albee Roles, Dies at 79". The New York Times.
- ^ Bryer, Jackson R.; Davison, Richard Allan (2001). The Actor's Art: Conversations with Contemporary American Stage Performers. Rutgers University Press. pp. 70-87. ISBN 978-0-8135-2873-1.
- ^ Stewart, Jocelyn Y. (October 4, 2007). "George Grizzard, 79; versatile stage, TV and film actor originated role of Nick in 'Virginia Woolf'". Los Angeles Times.
- ^ Ridge, Richard. The Theatre Hall of Fame Awards Broadway Beat. November 17, 2006, at the Wayback Machine
External links
- George Grizzard at the Internet Broadway Database
- George Grizzard at IMDb
- George Grizzard at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- George Grizzard at Find a Grave
- George Grizzard papers, circa 1900-2007, held by the Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts