Don Gregory
Don Gregory | |
|---|---|
| Born | Donald Ginsberg December 3, 1934 Bronx, New York, US |
| Died | November 5, 2015 (aged 80) Boca Raton, Florida, US |
| Occupation | Theater producer |
| Spouse(s) | Carolyn Fitzpatrick (divorced) Kaye Romine |
| Children | with Fitzpatrick: --David Gregory --Stephanie Gregory Mitchell |
Don Gregory (December 3, 1934 – November 5, 2015) was an American Broadway producer.[1][2]
Biography
[edit]Gregory was born Donald Ginsberg to a Jewish family in the Bronx on December 3, 1934, the son of Dorothy (née Sheffrin) and Morris Ginsberg.[1] When he was four years old, his father died and his mother remarried and moved the family to Norwich, Connecticut.[1] He attended the University of Connecticut but left before graduating and moved to California to become an actor.[1] He changed his name so it sounded less "ethnic."[1] In the 1950s, he joined the U.S. Army and after he completed his service, he moved back to New York City where he worked as a talent agent.[1]
In the 1970s, leveraging his pool of clients and connections, he began to produce solo-performer shows that matched a celebrated actor with a celebrated historical personage. They included: Clarence Darrow by David W. Rintels and starring Henry Fonda as Clarence Darrow; and The Belle of Amherst by William Luce starring Julie Harris as Emily Dickinson.[1] In 1980, he paired Richard Burton as King Arthur in Camelot.[1] In 1981, he paired Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady; and Richard Harris in a return engagement in Camelot.[1] In 1983, he co-produced Othello with James Earl Jones in the title role and Christopher Plummer as Iago.[1] He also produced Paul Robeson starring James Earl Jones.[1] His other Broadway credits include the 1981 musical Copperfield; Buttons on Broadway with Red Buttons in 1995; and a 2012 revival of the comedy Harvey written by Mary Chase starring Jim Parsons.[1] Off-Broadway credits include Dore Schary's play FDR with Robert Vaughn as Franklin Delano Roosevelt; a revival of The Belle of Amherst starring Joely Richardson; and Nobody Don't Like Yogi, by Tom Lysaght with Ben Gazzara as Yogi Berra.[1]
Personal life
[edit]Gregory was married twice. His first wife was Carolyn Fitzpatrick,[1] an Irish Catholic.[3] They had two children: television journalist David Gregory and Stephanie Gregory Mitchell; they later divorced and she remarried (now Carolyn Surtees).[1] In 1981, he remarried to Kaye Romine.[1] He died of at stroke at his home in Boca Raton, Florida on November 5, 2015.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Weber, Bruce (November 9, 2015). "Don Gregory, Theater Producer of Solo Shows, Dies at 80". The New York Times. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ Dagan, Carmel (November 18, 2015). "Broadway Producer Don Gregory Dies at 80". Variety. Penske Business Media, LLC. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
- ^ North, Steve (November 5, 2015). "David Gregory's Jewish roots, and how they define him". The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles. Tribe Media Corp. Retrieved 22 October 2018.
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