Richard Zobel

Richard J. Zobel Jr. (June 5, 1952 – October 4, 2005) was an American actor. He starred as the attorney Aaron Levinsky in the original Broadway run of ''Nuts'' in 1980. Over the course of his career, he was also a singer, instrumentalist, animator, writer, and producer.

Career

Zobel was born in West Chester, Pennsylvania, and moved to New York City for his acting career.

New York and Hollywood acting career

Zobel's Off-Broadway credits included ''All's Well That Ends Well'' and ''The Taming of the Shrew'' in the New York Shakespeare Festival in Central Park in 1978, and '' The Country Girl'' in 1984.

He starred as the attorney Aaron Levinsky in the original Broadway run of ''Nuts'' in 1980. He appeared in small and supporting film roles, and had guest appearances in over a dozen television series including ''The X-Files'', '' ER'', ''China Beach'', ''Hill Street Blues'', and '' Star Trek: Voyager'', from 1984 through 1999. He was also a singer and a musician."Who's behind the Best Electronic Greeting Cards?"
''RubberChickenCards.com''. Retrieved December 23, 2017.

He acted and sang in, and was the vocal arranger for, the 1987 film ''Walker'', and the 2008 making-of documentary about the film, ''Dispatches from Nicaragua'', is dedicated to his memory.

Lexington Conservatory Theatre

Zobel was a founding company member of Lexington Conservatory Theatre and friend and collaborator of co-founder Oakley Hall III. He performed with them in numerous roles and continued his association with the company when it moved to Albany, NY and became Capital Repertory Theatre. Zobel starred as the title role in Hall's first adaptations of Alfred Jarry's ''Ubu Roi'' (called ''Ubu Rex'') and its sequels, in New York City Off-Off-Broadway and at Lexington, co-producing as well as creating the masks for it. He also appeared in the world premiere of Hall's ''Grinder's Stand''. Zobel's work with the two companies totaled more than 200 performances over the course of two decades.Independent Lens
''The Loss of Nameless Things'': The Players
(page 2). ''PBS''. Retrieved December 23, 2017.

In 2004, Zobel appeared in the documentary '' The Loss of Nameless Things'', recalling his experience of working with Lexington Conservatory Theatre and Oakley Hall III. It was his last appearance on film.

Rubber Chicken Cards

In 2000, Zobel co-founded Rubber Chicken Cards, which sells online greeting cards that combine voice-over acting with irreverent humor, with fellow actor and Lexington alumni Steven Rotblatt.Verrier, Richard
"Actor Plays His Cards Right"
''Los Angeles Times''. July 5, 2006.Verrier, Richard
"Rubber Chicken Tickles the Funny Bone."
''The Standard''. July 19, 2006. For the cards Zobel sang, played several instruments, wrote scripts, did animation, and voiced numerous characters.

Zobel died of cancer in October 2005 in Hershey, Pennsylvania where he lived. He was survived by his wife and daughter.

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Zobel, Richard
American male stage actors
American male film actors
American male television actors
American male voice actors
People from West Chester, Pennsylvania
1952 births
2005 deaths
20th-century American male actors