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Drake was mostly a stage and television actor; he starred in only one film, ''[[Tars and Spars]]'' (1946), but played several roles on television, including providing the voice for the Great Ak in the [[Rankin-Bass]] [[stop-motion]] animated adaptation of the [[L. Frank Baum]] novel ''[[The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus]]''. He appeared in a minor film role as president of the stock exchange in the classic comedy ''[[Trading Places]]'' (1983), with [[Eddie Murphy]] and [[Dan Aykroyd]]. His first musical television appearance was as Captain Dick Warrington in the January 15, 1955 [[Naughty Marietta (Max Liebman Presents)|live telecast]] of the operetta ''[[Naughty Marietta (operetta)|Naughty Marietta]]''. His 1964 stage performance as Claudius in the [[Richard Burton]] ''[[Richard Burton's Hamlet|Hamlet]]'' was filmed live on the stage of the [[Lunt-Fontanne Theatre]], using a "quickie" process called [[Electronovision]], and shown in movie theatres in a very limited engagement. It was also recorded on [[Gramophone record|LP]]. His final stage appearance in a musical was in 1973 as Honore LaChaisse in [[Alan Jay Lerner|Lerner and Loewe's]] ''[[Gigi (musical)|Gigi]]''. Two years later he starred in a revival of ''[[The Skin of Our Teeth]]''.
Drake was mostly a stage and television actor; he starred in only one film, ''[[Tars and Spars]]'' (1946), but played several roles on television, including providing the voice for the Great Ak in the [[Rankin-Bass]] [[stop-motion]] animated adaptation of the [[L. Frank Baum]] novel ''[[The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus]]''. He appeared in a minor film role as president of the stock exchange in the classic comedy ''[[Trading Places]]'' (1983), with [[Eddie Murphy]] and [[Dan Aykroyd]]. His first musical television appearance was as Captain Dick Warrington in the January 15, 1955 [[Naughty Marietta (Max Liebman Presents)|live telecast]] of the operetta ''[[Naughty Marietta (operetta)|Naughty Marietta]]''. His 1964 stage performance as Claudius in the [[Richard Burton]] ''[[Richard Burton's Hamlet|Hamlet]]'' was filmed live on the stage of the [[Lunt-Fontanne Theatre]], using a "quickie" process called [[Electronovision]], and shown in movie theatres in a very limited engagement. It was also recorded on [[Gramophone record|LP]]. His final stage appearance in a musical was in 1973 as Honore LaChaisse in [[Alan Jay Lerner|Lerner and Loewe's]] ''[[Gigi (musical)|Gigi]]''. Two years later he starred in a revival of ''[[The Skin of Our Teeth]]''.


As a director he staged the 1974 premiere of ''The Royal Rape of Ruari Macasmunde'' at the [[Virginia Museum of Fine Arts|Virginia Museum Theater]]. He was inducted into the [[American Theatre Hall of Fame]] in 1981.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/03/theater/26-elected-theater-hall-fame-26-broadway-voted-into-theater-hall-fame.html "26 Elected to the Theater Hall of Fame"], ''The New York Times'', March 3, 1981.</ref>
As a director he staged the 1974 premiere of ''The Royal Rape of Ruari Macasmunde'' at the [[Virginia Museum of Fine Arts|Virginia Museum Theater]]. He was inducted into the [[American Theatre Hall of Fame]] in 1981.<ref>[https://www.nytimes.com/1981/03/03/theater/26-elected-theater-hall-fame-26-broadway-voted-into-theater-hall-fame.html "26 Elected to the Theater Hall of Fame"], ''[[The New York Times]]'', March 3, 1981, p. C9</ref>


He was also a published author – writing at least a few plays: ''Dr. Willy Nilly'', an adaptation of [[Molière]]'s ''[[Le Médecin malgré lui|The Doctor in Spite of Himself]]'', an adaptation of [[Goldoni]]'s ''[[The Liar (Goldoni play)|The Liar]]'', and even at least one book on cards (specifically [[Gin rummy]]).<ref>''Anyone Can Win at Gin Rummy and Canasta'' by Alfred Drake (c) 1949 Avon Books.</ref>
He was also a published author – writing at least a few plays: ''Dr. Willy Nilly'', an adaptation of [[Molière]]'s ''[[Le Médecin malgré lui|The Doctor in Spite of Himself]]'', an adaptation of [[Goldoni]]'s ''[[The Liar (Goldoni play)|The Liar]]'', and even at least one book on cards (specifically [[Gin rummy]]).<ref>{{cite book| title=Anyone Can Win at Gin Rummy and Canasta| first=Alfred| last=Drake| year=2013| edition=Illustrated; reprint| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=A-hgjgEACAAJ&dq=editions:POgCTCB-ZxcC&hl=en&newbks=1&newbks_redir=0&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiayPHzr9joAhVSba0KHdtZDToQ6AEwAHoECAAQAg| publisher=Wildside Press| isbn=978-1479415748| accessdate=April 8, 2020| url-access=subscription}}</ref>


==Death==
==Death==
Alfred Drake died of heart failure, after a long fight with cancer, in New York City at the age of 77.<ref name="NY-Times">[https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/26/nyregion/alfred-drake-baritone-star-of-oklahoma-and-kismet-dies-at-77.html Alfred Drake obituary], ''The New York Times'', July 26, 1992. Retrieved March 24, 2016.</ref>
Alfred Drake died of heart failure, after a long fight with cancer, in New York City on July 25, 1992, at age 77. He was survived by his wife Esther, his two daughters Candace Olmsted and Samantha Drake, and two grandchildren.<ref name="NY-Times">Lambert, Bruce (July 26, 1992). [https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/26/nyregion/alfred-drake-baritone-star-of-oklahoma-and-kismet-dies-at-77.html "Alfred Drake, Baritone Star of 'Oklahoma!' and 'Kismet,' Dies at 77"], ''The New York Times'', . Retrieved March 24, 2016.</ref>

==Family life==
Alfred Drake is survived by his wife Esther, his two daughters Candace Olmsted and Samantha Drake, and two grandchildren.<ref name="NY-Times"/>


==Theatre credits==
==Theatre credits==
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* ''The Straw Hat Revue'' (1939)
* ''The Straw Hat Revue'' (1939)
* ''[[Two for the Show (musical)|Two for the Show]]'' (1940)
* ''[[Two for the Show (musical)|Two for the Show]]'' (1940)
* ''[[Out of the Frying Pan]]'' (1941)
* ''Out of the Frying Pan'' (1941)
* ''[[As You Like It]]'' (1941)
* ''[[As You Like It]]'' (1941)
* ''[[Oklahoma!]]'' (1943)
* ''[[Oklahoma!]]'' (1943)
Line 69: Line 66:


==Radio==
==Radio==
*''Musical Comedy Theatre'' (1952) ("The Barkleys of Broadway")<ref>{{cite news|last1=Kirby|first1=Walter|title=Better Radio Programs for the Week|url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2376557/the_decatur_daily_review/|agency=The Decatur Daily Review|date=April 27, 1952|page=48|via = [[Newspapers.com]]|accessdate = May 9, 2015}} {{Open access}}</ref>
*''Musical Comedy Theatre'' (1952) ("The Barkleys of Broadway")<ref>{{cite news| last1=Kirby| first1=Walter| title=Better Radio Programs for the Week| url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/2376557/the_decatur_daily_review/| newspaper=The Decatur Daily Review| date=April 27, 1952| page=48| via=[[Newspapers.com]]| accessdate=May 9, 2015}}{{Open access}}</ref>


==References==
==References==

Revision as of 08:21, 8 April 2020

Alfred Drake
Drake photographed by Carl Van Vechten in 1951
Born
Alfred Capurro

(1914-10-07)October 7, 1914
New York City, U.S.
DiedJuly 25, 1992(1992-07-25) (aged 77)
New York City
Occupation(s)Actor, singer

Alfred Drake (October 7, 1914 – July 25, 1992) was an American actor and singer.

Biography

Born as Alfred Capurro in New York City, the son of parents emigrated from Recco, Genoa, Drake began his Broadway career while still a student at Brooklyn College. He is best known for his leading roles in the original Broadway productions of Oklahoma!; Kiss Me, Kate; Kismet; and for playing Marshall Blackstone in the original production of Babes in Arms, (in which he sang the title song) and Hajj in Kismet, for which he received the Tony Award. He was also a prolific Shakespearean, notably starring as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing opposite Katharine Hepburn.

Drake was mostly a stage and television actor; he starred in only one film, Tars and Spars (1946), but played several roles on television, including providing the voice for the Great Ak in the Rankin-Bass stop-motion animated adaptation of the L. Frank Baum novel The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus. He appeared in a minor film role as president of the stock exchange in the classic comedy Trading Places (1983), with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd. His first musical television appearance was as Captain Dick Warrington in the January 15, 1955 live telecast of the operetta Naughty Marietta. His 1964 stage performance as Claudius in the Richard Burton Hamlet was filmed live on the stage of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, using a "quickie" process called Electronovision, and shown in movie theatres in a very limited engagement. It was also recorded on LP. His final stage appearance in a musical was in 1973 as Honore LaChaisse in Lerner and Loewe's Gigi. Two years later he starred in a revival of The Skin of Our Teeth.

As a director he staged the 1974 premiere of The Royal Rape of Ruari Macasmunde at the Virginia Museum Theater. He was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981.[1]

He was also a published author – writing at least a few plays: Dr. Willy Nilly, an adaptation of Molière's The Doctor in Spite of Himself, an adaptation of Goldoni's The Liar, and even at least one book on cards (specifically Gin rummy).[2]

Death

Alfred Drake died of heart failure, after a long fight with cancer, in New York City on July 25, 1992, at age 77. He was survived by his wife Esther, his two daughters Candace Olmsted and Samantha Drake, and two grandchildren.[3]

Theatre credits

Radio

  • Musical Comedy Theatre (1952) ("The Barkleys of Broadway")[4]

References

  1. ^ "26 Elected to the Theater Hall of Fame", The New York Times, March 3, 1981, p. C9
  2. ^ Drake, Alfred (2013). Anyone Can Win at Gin Rummy and Canasta (Illustrated; reprint ed.). Wildside Press. ISBN 978-1479415748. Retrieved April 8, 2020.
  3. ^ Lambert, Bruce (July 26, 1992). "Alfred Drake, Baritone Star of 'Oklahoma!' and 'Kismet,' Dies at 77", The New York Times, . Retrieved March 24, 2016.
  4. ^ Kirby, Walter (April 27, 1952). "Better Radio Programs for the Week". The Decatur Daily Review. p. 48. Retrieved May 9, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.Open access icon

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alfred_Drake&oldid=949744940"