Gary Beach, a Tony Award-winning actor who starred in some of the most popular musicals of the past decades, passed away on July 17, 2018, at his home in Palm Springs, California. He was 70 years old. His agent, Steven Unger, confirmed his death but did not reveal the cause
Beach was best known for his hilarious portrayal of Roger De Bris, a flamboyant and incompetent theater director, in Mel Brooks’ hit comedy The Producers. He originated the role on Broadway in 2001 and won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He also reprised the role in the 2005 film adaptation, alongside Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick
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A Life Dedicated to Musical Theater
Beach was born in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 10, 1947. He developed a passion for musical theater at an early age, after seeing the touring production of The Music Man starring Forrest Tucker. He graduated from Groveton High School and then attended Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, where he majored in political science. However, he soon realized that he wanted to pursue a career in show business and transferred to the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree
He made his Broadway debut in 1978 in the musical Annie, playing multiple roles. He then appeared in several other shows, including Doonesbury, The Moony Shapiro Songbook, Broadway Bash, Sweet Adeline and Something’s Afoot. He also toured nationally with the comedy Legends!, starring Mary Martin and Carol Channing
In 1994, he landed one of his most memorable roles as Lumiere, the charming candelabra, in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. He received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance. He stayed with the show for three years and then moved to Los Angeles, where he appeared in several TV shows, such as The John Larroquette Show, Murder, She Wrote, Cheers, Sisters, Arli$$ and Saved by the Bell. He also voiced a character in the controversial Family Guy episode “Partial Terms of Endearment”
A Versatile and Beloved Performer
Beach returned to Broadway in 2001 to star in The Producers, which became one of the biggest hits in theater history. His role as Roger De Bris required him to dress up as Hitler and lead a chorus of dancing Nazis in the outrageous musical number “Springtime for Hitler”. His comedic timing and delivery earned him rave reviews and a Tony Award. He also performed at both the 2003 and 2009 Kennedy Center Honors ceremonies.
In 2004, he took on another challenging role as Albin/Zaza, the drag queen star of a nightclub, in the revival of La Cage aux Folles. He received his third Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of the flamboyant and loving character. He also sang the show’s anthem “I Am What I Am” at the 2004 Tony Awards ceremony.
In 2006, he joined the cast of the Broadway revival of Les Misérables as Thénardier, the unscrupulous innkeeper. He had previously played the same role in the Los Angeles production and also participated in the chorus for the 1989 Les Misérables: Complete Symphonic Recording.
In 2008, he took on the lead role of King Arthur in the national tour of Monty Python’s Spamalot, a musical spoof of Arthurian legends. He performed across the country until 2010.
A Legacy of Laughter and Joy
Beach was married to Jeffrey Barnett, whom he met in 1980 while performing in Sacramento. They lived together in Palm Springs until Beach’s death. Barnett described Beach as “the most wonderful human being” who was “kind and generous” to everyone he met. He also said that Beach loved animals and had several dogs and cats over the years.
Beach’s colleagues and fans also paid tribute to him on social media and expressed their sadness and gratitude for his work. Nathan Lane called him “a great comic actor and a great gentleman” who was “a joy to work with”. Mel Brooks said he was “a magnificent talent” who “gave millions of people laughter and joy”. Cady Huffman said he was “a brilliant performer” who “made me laugh every day”. Roger Bart said he was “a dear friend” who “taught me so much”.
Gary Beach will be remembered as one of the most versatile and beloved performers of musical theater. His roles in Beauty and the Beast, The Producers, La Cage aux Folles and Spamalot showcased his range of skills and his ability to make audiences laugh and cry. He left behind a legacy of laughter and joy that will live on in the hearts of his fans.
