Herman Nathaniel Levin (December 1, 1907 – December 27, 1990) was an American attorney and theatrical producer. He is most notable for the original production of ''

My Fair Lady ''My Fair Lady'' is a musical theatre, musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story, based on George Bernard Shaw's 1913 play ''Pygmalion (play), Pygmalion'' and on the Pygmalion (1938 film), 1938 film ...

'' (1956), one of the most successful musicals in

Broadway Broadway may refer to: Theatre * Broadway Theatre (disambiguation) * Broadway theatre, theatrical productions in professional theatres near Broadway, Manhattan, New York City, U.S. ** Broadway (Manhattan), the street ** Broadway Theatre (53rd Stre ...

history. He also produced '' Gentleman Prefer Blondes'', and the play ''

The Great White Hope ''The Great White Hope'' is a 1967 play written by Howard Sackler, later adapted in 1970 for a film of the same title. The play was first produced by Arena Stage in Washington, D.C., and debuted on Broadway at the Alvin Theatre in October ...

''. He won two

Tony Awards The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Broadway Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes excellence in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual cere ...

during his career.

Early years

Levin studied at the

University of Missouri The University of Missouri (Mizzou or MU) is a public university, public Land-grant university, land-grant research university in Columbia, Missouri, United States. It is Missouri's largest university and the flagship of the four-campus Univers ...

and the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (Penn or UPenn) is a Private university, private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. One of nine colonial colleges, it was chartered in 1755 through the efforts of f ...

but did not graduate. He earned a law degree from St. John's University Law School.

Career

Levin began his career working as an official in New York City, eventually progressing to become director of the Welfare Department's Bureau of Licenses. At age 39 he made the transition to producing plays.

Personal life and death

Levin was married three times, with each marriage ending in divorce. He had a daughter., He died at

New York Hospital Weill Cornell Medical Center (; previously known as New York Hospital, Old New York Hospital, and City Hospital) is a research hospital in New York City. It is the teaching hospital for Cornell University's medical school and is part of NewYork-P ...

, aged 83, following a stroke.

References

External links

*
Spotlight: Herman Levin (1990)
– CUNY TV
Herman Levin papers, 1943–1981
– UW–Madison's

Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research The Wisconsin Center for Film and Theater Research (WCFTR) is a major archive of motion picture, television, radio, and theater research materials. Located in the headquarters building of the Wisconsin Historical Society in Madison, Wisconsin, th ...

1907 births 1990 deaths Lawyers from Philadelphia St. John's University School of Law alumni American people of Ukrainian-Jewish descent American people of Latvian-Jewish descent University of Pennsylvania University of Missouri Broadway theatre producers Tony Award winners {{US-business-bio-1900s-stub