Michael McGrath (September 25, 1957 – September 14, 2023) was an American actor. Best known for his work on the Broadway stage, he received a Tony Award in 2012 for his performance in the musical Nice Work If You Can Get It.[1]
Michael McGrath | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 25, 1957 Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | September 14, 2023 (aged 65) Bloomfield, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1990–2023 |
| Spouse |
Toni DiBuono (m. 1993) |
| Children | 1 |
| Awards | Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (2012) |
Career
editMcGrath was an ensemble member and understudy for many shows, including My Favorite Year, Swinging on a Star, and Little Me. He appeared in the musicals Anything Goes (2002) as Moonface Martin and in Wonderful Town (2003) as Chick Clark.[2] McGrath played the role of Patsy in the Broadway musical Spamalot (2005), for which he received a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.
McGrath starred in the play Is He Dead? on Broadway in December 2007 to February 2008 as Agamemnon Buckner.[3] McGrath originated the role of Mr. Simmons in Memphis (Broadway, 2009).
McGrath played the role of Cookie McGee in the Broadway musical Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012), for which he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He also won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for this performance.[4][5]
In 2014, he was in the A.R.T. pre-Broadway production of Finding Neverland replacing Roger Bart in the dual role of Charles Frohman and Captain James Hook.[6]
McGrath appeared in a new musical The Honeymooners, based on the television comedy The Honeymooners. The musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, New Jersey on September 28, 2017, and starred McGrath as Ralph Kramden, Michael Mastro as Ed Norton, Leslie Kritzer as Alice Kramden, and Laura Bell Bundy as Trixie Norton.[7] McGrath appeared in a workshop of the musical in 2014.[8]
On television, McGrath was the announcer/sidekick on The Martin Short Show.
While working in the Boston production of Forbidden Broadway, McGrath met his future wife, Toni DiBuono.
Personal life and death
editMcGrath hailed from Worcester, Massachusetts. He was married to actress Toni DiBuono.
Michael McGrath died at his home in Bloomfield, New Jersey, on September 14, 2023, at the age of 65, 11 days shy of his 66th birthday.[9]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Boyfriends | James | |
| 2002 | Changing Lanes | Seavers | |
| 2003 | Cowboys & Angels | Mud Club Student | |
| 2005 | The Interpreter | Jonathan Ferris | |
| 2006 | Ira & Abby | Tony the Doorman | |
| 2011 | Escape of the Gingerbread Man | Stan | Voice; short film |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 | Mathnet | Barney Oldmeal | Episode: "The Case of the Meter Massacre" |
| 1999–2000 | The Martin Short Show | Himself (announcer) | Unknown episodes |
| 1997 | Remember WENN | Blair Foley | Episode: "Like a Brother" |
| 2001 | Between the Lions | Lester the Jester | Episode: "Quest, Quest, Quest!" |
| 2002 | Monday Night Mayhem | Jim McKay | Television movie |
| 2018 | Madam Secretary | Earl | Episode: "Sound and Fury" |
Theatre
edit| Year | Title | Role | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | My Favorite Year | Ensemble | Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway |
| 1993 | The Goodbye Girl | Elliot (standby) | Marquis Theatre, Broadway |
| 1995 | Swinging on a Star | Various roles | Music Box Theatre, Broadway |
| 1998 | Little Me | Bruce / Bernie / Bert | Criterion Center Stage, Broadway |
| 2003 | Wonderful Town | Chick Clark | Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway |
| 2005 | Spamalot | Patsy / Mayor / Guard 2 | Shubert Theatre, Broadway |
| 2007 | Is He Dead? | Agamemnon Buckner | Lyceum Theatre, Broadway |
| 2009 | Memphis | Mr. Simmons | Shubert Theatre, Broadway |
| 2011 | Born Yesterday | Eddie Brock | Cort Theatre, Broadway |
| 2012 | Nice Work If You Can Get It | Cookie McGee | Imperial Theatre, Broadway |
| 2015 | On the Twentieth Century | Owen O'Malley | American Airlines Theatre, Broadway |
| 2016 | She Loves Me | Ladislav Sipos | Studio 54, Broadway |
| 2016 | The Front Page | Walter Burns (standby) | Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway |
| 2019 | Tootsie | Stan Fields | Marquis Theatre, Broadway |
| 2022 | Plaza Suite | Sam / Jesse / Roy (standby) | Hudson Theatre, Broadway |
| 2023 | Little Shop of Horrors | Mr. Mushnik | The Muny |
Awards and nominations
edit| Year | Award | Category | Work | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 | Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Swinging on a Star | Nominated |
| Theatre World Award | Honoree | |||
| 2005 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Spamalot | Nominated |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Nominated | ||
| 2012 | Tony Award | Best Featured Actor in a Musical | Nice Work if You Can Get It | Won |
| Drama Desk Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
| Outer Critics Circle Award | Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical | Won | ||
References
edit- ^ Cristi, A. A. "Tony Award-Winning Actor Michael McGrath Dies At Age 65". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
- ^ "McGrath Broadway" Playbill, retrieved October 4, 2017
- ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Broadway's 'Is He Dead?' to Close March 9" Playbill, February 26, 2008
- ^ Jones, Kenneth and Adam Hetrick. 2012 "Tony Awards Nominations Announced; Once Earns 11 Nominations" Archived 2012-05-07 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.com, May 1, 2012
- ^ Jacobsen, Aileen (May 15, 2009). "Like Oil and Water, but Oscar and Felix Still Bond". NY Times. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
- ^ Tony Winner Swap: Michael McGrath To Replace Roger Bart in A.R.T.'s Finding Neverland Opening July 23
- ^ McPhee, Ryan. "Watch Footage of Leslie Kritzer, Laura Bell Bundy, and More in 'The Honeymooners' " Playbill, October 3, 2017
- ^ Gioia, Michael. "Michael McGrath, Hank Azaria, Leslie Kritzer and Megan Hilty Will Be "The Honeymooners" in Industry Reading" Playbill, September 22, 2014
- ^ Frater, Patrick (September 15, 2023). "Michael McGrath, Tony-Winning Actor, Dies at 65". Variety. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
External links
edit- Michael McGrath at the Internet Broadway Database
- Michael McGrath at IMDb
- Michael McGrath at Playbill Vault
- Michael McGrath discography at Discogs
