Edward Hibbert

Edward Hibbert (born September 9, 1955) is an American-born British actor and literary agent. He played Gil Chesterton in the TV series ''Frasier'', later reprising the role in 2024. He also voiced Zazu in several instalments in ''The Lion King'' franchise, replacing Rowan Atkinson who voiced Zazu in the first movie.

Early life

Hibbert was born on Long Island, New York, the son of English actor Geoffrey Hibbert. He has one sister. He was raised in England, where he attended the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art. He returned to the US in the mid-1980s.

Career

Acting career

Hibbert had a starring role as Faulconbridge in the BBC's production of '' The Life and Death of King John'', published in 1984. He has appeared on Broadway and in major regional theatre productions, worked in television as a series regular and guest star and also had roles in major films. In 1993 he won an Obie Award for his co-starring role of "Sterling" in Paul Rudnick's '' Jeffrey''. His "Frederick Fellows/Philip Brent" in the National Theatre revival of ''Noises Off'' (presented at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre) was called "delightfully discombobulated" by one reviewer. Hibbert was in the Broadway musicals ''The Drowsy Chaperone'' and the 2007 premiere of '' Curtains'' (which reunited him with his ''Frasier'' co-star David Hyde Pierce). He appeared on Broadway as "Mr. Praed" (the architect) in Roundabout Theatre's 2010 production of '' Mrs. Warren's Profession'' starring Cherry Jones. He appeared on Broadway in the new musical '' It Shoulda Been You'' in 2015, again working with David Hyde Pierce, this time with Pierce as the director. He appeared in the 2019 Hollywood Bowl production of ''Into the Woods'' playing the Narrator.

He guest-starred on TV shows including '' Cosby'', ''Murder, She Wrote'' and '' Law & Order: Special Victims Unit'' but is probably best known for his recurring role on ''Frasier'' as Gil Chesterton, KACL's haughty, effeminate restaurant critic.

As a voice actor, Hibbert has been the voice of Evil the Cat on the ''Earthworm Jim'' TV series, and the voice of Zazu in '' Timon & Pumbaa'', '' The Lion King II: Simba's Pride'' and in '' The Lion King 1½'', replacing Rowan Atkinson, who voiced him in the original film. His appearances in films include ''The Prestige'', '' Taking Woodstock'', and ''The First Wives Club''.

Literary work

He is also a literary agent and was partner in the now-defunct literary agency Donadio & Olson, Inc. He has authors Chuck Palahniuk, Christopher Bram, Steven DeRosa, and Ed Sikov among his clients and has also represented film rights for ''Fight Club'' and '' Gods and Monsters'' plus others.

In 2018 it was revealed that Hibbert and his partner, Neil Olson, had ignored complaints from clients about missing or late payments, which ultimately led to the discovery that the accountant, under their purview, had embezzled more than $3 million from clients and estates of authors, including Mario Puzo. The author most affected was bestselling author Chuck Palahniuk, who was nearly bankrupted. While Hibbert maintained he knew nothing at all of this, writers with the agency revealed that they had long voiced concerns about their finances. James Curtis, who was represented by Olson for a number of years and sold four books with the agent (including the Pantheon-published 2015 title ''William Cameron Menzies''), said his initial interaction with the bookkeeper, Darin Webb, led him to believe he was dealing with a case of negligence. Theft, Curtis said, was not on his radar. He noted that after contacting Webb repeatedly about a check for a "piddly sum of money" that had gone missing, he just assumed "Darin was incompetent." Adding that he "always had problems dealing with Webb," Curtis said he "brought Neil in" but that "Neil had a hands-off" policy in dealing with his bookkeeper.

The Authors Guild has urged clients to continue with litigation against Hibbert and Olson. Neil Olson is working again as an agent with Massie & McQuilkin, but Hibbert has remained out of the literary world.

Personal life

Hibbert is gay. In a 2001 interview, he said that he had not come out to his family, but had not felt it necessary: "I think in England it's not the same. It's unspoken but understood." In a 2014 interview, he said "Being gay for me in Hollywood was not a problem. Someone once said, 'An Englishman and a homosexual is a distinction without a difference.' Everyone thinks all Englishmen are gay... "

Acting credits

Film

Television

Theatre

Video games

References

External links

Edward Hibbert official website
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Production: The Drowsy Chaperone
��''Working in the Theatre Seminar'' video at American Theatre Wing.org, April 2006

Donadio & Olson, Inc.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hibbert, Edward
1955 births
20th-century American LGBTQ people
20th-century American male actors
20th-century English LGBTQ people
20th-century English male actors
21st-century American LGBTQ people
21st-century American male actors
21st-century English LGBTQ people
21st-century English male actors
Alumni of the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art
American emigrants to England
American gay actors
American male film actors
American male musical theatre actors
American male television actors
American male voice actors
American people of English descent
British literary agents
English gay actors
English male film actors
English male musical theatre actors
English male television actors
English male voice actors
LGBTQ people from New York (state)
Living people
Male actors from New York (state)