Richard Robert Latessa (September 15, 1929 – December 19, 2016) was an American stage, film, and television actor.
Dick Latessa | |
|---|---|
| Born | Richard Robert Latessa September 15, 1929 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
| Died | December 19, 2016 (aged 87) New York City, U.S. |
| Resting place | Lake View Cemetery |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1968–2016 |
| Notable credits | |
| Awards |
|
Early life
editLatessa was born in Cleveland, Ohio, in 1929.[1] After serving in the Army in maybe 1952, he began performing in Cleveland before moving to New York in 1959 to pursue acting professionally.[2]
Stage career
editHe made his Broadway debut in The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N in 1968. His subsequent theatre credits include Follies, Rags, The Cherry Orchard, Damn Yankees, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Awake and Sing!, Cabaret, The Will Rogers Follies and Hairspray, for which he won both the Tony- and Drama Desk awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. In 2012, he appeared opposite Linda Lavin in the Nicky Silver drama, The Lyons.[3]
Latessa was featured in several Neil Simon plays, including Chapter Two, I Ought to Be in Pictures, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Broadway Bound, Rumors and Proposals. He was featured in the 2010 revival of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David musical, Promises, Promises as Dr. Dreyfuss.[4]
Film and television career
editLatessa's screen credits include The Substance of Fire, Alfie, and Stigmata. He appeared in numerous television movies, including Izzy and Moe, The Trial of Bernhard Goetz, and Pudd'nhead Wilson, and such primetime series as Get Smart, Mission: Impossible, Ironside, Spenser: For Hire, The Sopranos, Ed, and Law & Order. He is widely known as the second and most recognized actor to play Noel Douglas on The Edge of Night. He later played Neil Hayes on One Life to Live.
Death
editLatessa died on December 19, 2016, of heart failure in New York City, aged 87.[2]
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | The Substance of Fire | Mr. McCormack sr | |
| 1997 | Better Than Ever | Mr. Mayhew | |
| 1999 | Stigmata | Father Gianni Delmonico | |
| 2003 | The Event | Uncle Leo | |
| 2004 | Alfie | Joe | |
| 2005 | The Great New Wonderful | Jerry Binder | |
| 2007 | The Last New Yorker | Ruben | |
| 2010 | A Buddy Story | Grandpa |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Hairspray | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
| 2010 | Promises, Promises | Nominated |
References
edit- ^ "Dick Latessa Biography". Filmreference. 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
- ^ a b "Dick Latessa, a Broadway Veteran & Tony Winner for Hairspray, Dies at 87". broadway.com. December 19, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
- ^ Chris Kompanek (April 19, 2012). "Dick Latessa Lies Down With The Lyons". Theatermania. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
- ^ Kenneth Jones (February 4, 2010). "Promises, Promises Will Also Star Latessa, Hingston, Benson; Complete Cast Announced". Playbill. Retrieved May 6, 2012.