Stephen Douglass (September 27, 1921 – December 20, 2011) was an American actor-singer. Born Stephen Fitch in

Mount Vernon, Ohio Mount Vernon is a city in Knox County, Ohio, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Kokosing River, northeast of Columbus, Ohio, Columbus. The population was 16,956 at the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. History Th ...

, Douglass had a distinguished theatrical career and appeared occasionally on television. He was the last performer to play Billy Bigelow in the original Broadway production of ''

Carousel A carousel or carrousel (mainly North American English), merry-go-round (International English), or galloper (British English) is a type of amusement ride consisting of a rotating circular platform with seats for riders. The seats are tradit ...

'' and he created the role in the West End production in London. He was nominated for the

Tony Award 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 ce ...

for Best Actor for his performance as Joe Hardy in ''

Damn Yankees ''Damn Yankees'' is a 1955 musical comedy with a book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. The story is a modern retelling of the Faust legend set during the 1950s in Washington, D.C., d ...

'', and he originated the role of Ulysses in Jerome Moross and John Latouche's '' The Golden Apple''. Other Broadway appearances included '' Make A Wish'', '' Destry Rides Again'', '' 110 in the Shade'', '' Rumple'', and '' I Do! I Do!''. He also portrayed Gaylord Ravenal in the 1966

Lincoln Center Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts (also simply known as Lincoln Center) is a complex of buildings in the Lincoln Square neighborhood on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It has thirty indoor and outdoor facilities and is host to 5 ...

revival of ''

Show Boat ''Show Boat'' is a musical theatre, musical with music by Jerome Kern and book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II. It is based on Edna Ferber's best-selling 1926 Show Boat (novel), novel of the same name. The musical follows the lives of the per ...

''. He retired to England in 1972, but continued working in musicals, most notably as Tevye in ''

Fiddler on the Roof ''Fiddler on the Roof'' is a musical theatre, musical with music by Jerry Bock, lyrics by Sheldon Harnick, and musical theatre#Book musicals, book by Joseph Stein, set in the Pale of Settlement of Russian Empire, Imperial Russia in or around 19 ...

''. His final musical appearance was in a U.K. production of ''

Oklahoma! ''Oklahoma!'' is the first musical theater, musical written by the duo of Rodgers and Hammerstein. The musical is based on Lynn Riggs's 1931 play, ''Green Grow the Lilacs (play), Green Grow the Lilacs''. Set in farm country outside the town of ...

'' in 2003 at The New Vic Theatre in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire. In addition to his work in musical theatre, Douglass also occasionally sang roles in operas. In 1960, he portrayed Olin Blitch in the Philadelphia Lyric Opera Company's production of

Carlisle Floyd Carlisle Sessions Floyd (June 11, 1926September 30, 2021) was an American composer primarily known for his operas. These stage works, for which he wrote not only the music but also the librettos, typically engage with themes from the American So ...

's ''

Susannah ''Susannah'' is an opera in two acts by the American composer Carlisle Floyd, who wrote the libretto and music while a member of the piano faculty at Florida State University. Floyd adapted the story from the Apocryphal tale of Susannah and the ...

'', with Phyllis Curtin in the title role and Richard Cassilly as Sam Polk. He appeared in several concerts for The Ivor Novello Appreciation Bureau at Littlewick Green. Douglass married Edith Reis in 1942, with whom he had 4 children, living in

Bogota, New Jersey Bogota is a Borough (New Jersey), borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, Bergen County, in the U.S. state of New Jersey. As of the 2020 United States census, the borough's population was 8,778, an increase of 591 (+7.2%) from the 2010 United Sta ...

until after her death in 1971. He later married Welsh singer Christine Yates. He died at the age of 90 after a long battle with leukemia. 'Equity News'', Jan./Feb. 2012, p.4/ref>

Selected Broadway credits

* ''Carousel'' (1949) *'' Make a Wish'' (1951) *'' The Golden Apple'' (1954) *''

The Pajama Game ''The Pajama Game'' is a musical based on the 1953 novel '' 7½ Cents'' by Richard Bissell. The book is by George Abbott and Richard Bissell; the music and lyrics are by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross. Dances were staged by Bob Fosse in his chor ...

'' (1954) *''

'' (1955) *'' Rumple'' (1957) *'' 110 in the Shade'' (1963) *'' I Do! I Do!'' (1966)

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Douglass, Stephen 1921 births American male musical theatre actors 2011 deaths American expatriates in England