Theater News

Broadway to Dim Its Lights for Five-Time Tony Nominee John McMartin

The prolific actor died last week at 86.

Broadway marquees will dim in honor of five-time Tony nominee John McMartin.
Broadway marquees will dim in honor of five-time Tony nominee John McMartin.
(© David Gordon)

Broadway will dim its lights on Wednesday, July 13, at 7:45pm, for exactly one minute in memory of actor John McMartin, who died last week at the age of 86.

A Broadway mainstay, McMartin made his debut on the Great White Way in the 1961 play The Conquering Hero, and went on to created roles in landmark musicals including Sweet Charity (1966) and Follies (1971). Most recently he was seen on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning 2014 production of All the Way. Some of his other notable Broadway credits include Thomas Jefferson in the original cast of John Guare's A Free Man of Color and Elisha Whitney in the 2011 Broadway revival of Anything Goes, opposite Jessica Walter.

His TV credits included The Partridge Family, Cheers, Frasier, The Golden Girls, Murder, She Wrote, and most recently, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

"John McMartin has been a frequent and beloved actor on Broadway for over six decades. He originated memorable roles in shows that are now considered classics," said Charlotte St. Martin, oresident of the Broadway League. "Our sincere thoughts are with his family, friends, colleagues, and fans."