Dick Latessa

Richard Robert Latessa (September 15, 1929 – December 19, 2016) was an American stage, film, and television actor.

Dick Latessa
Born(1929-09-15)September 15, 1929
Cleveland, Ohio, U.S.
DiedDecember 19, 2016(2016-12-19) (aged 87)
Manhattan, New York, U.S.
Resting placeLake View Cemetery, Cleveland, Ohio
OccupationActor
Notable credit(s)
Awards

Early life

Latessa was born in Cleveland, Ohio in 1929.[1] After serving in the Army in maybe 1952, he began performing in Cleveland before moving to New York in 1959 to pursue acting professionally.[2]

Stage career

He made his Broadway debut in The Education of H*Y*M*A*N K*A*P*L*A*N in 1968. His subsequent theatre credits include Follies, Rags, The Cherry Orchard, Damn Yankees, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Awake and Sing!, Cabaret, The Will Rogers Follies and Hairspray, for which he won both the Tony- and Drama Desk awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. In 2012, he appeared opposite Linda Lavin in the Nicky Silver drama, The Lyons.[3]

Latessa was featured in several Neil Simon plays, including Chapter Two, I Ought to Be in Pictures, Brighton Beach Memoirs, Broadway Bound, Rumors and Proposals. He was featured in the 2010 revival of the Burt Bacharach and Hal David musical, Promises, Promises as Dr. Dreyfuss.[4]

Film and television career

Latessa's screen credits include The Substance of Fire, Alfie, and Stigmata. He appeared in numerous television movies, including Izzy and Moe, The Trial of Bernhard Goetz, and Pudd'nhead Wilson, and such primetime series as Get Smart, Mission: Impossible, Ironside, Spenser: For Hire, The Sopranos, Ed, and Law & Order. He is widely known as the second and most recognized actor to play Noel Douglas on The Edge of Night. He later played Neil Hayes on One Life to Live.

Death

Latessa died on December 19, 2016 of heart failure in New York City, aged 87.[2]

Filmography
Year Title Role Notes
1996The Substance of FireMr. McCormack sr
1997Better Than EverMr. Mayhew
1999StigmataFather Gianni Delmonico
2003The EventUncle Leo
2004AlfieJoe
2005The Great New WonderfulJerry Binder
2007The Last New YorkerRuben
2010A Buddy StoryGrandpa

Awards and nominations
Year Award Category Work Result
2003 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Hairspray Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Won
2010 Promises, Promises Nominated

References
  1. "Dick Latessa Biography". Filmreference. 2008. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  2. "Dick Latessa, a Broadway Veteran & Tony Winner for Hairspray, Dies at 87". broadway.com. December 19, 2016. Retrieved December 19, 2016.
  3. Chris Kompanek (April 19, 2012). "Dick Latessa Lies Down With The Lyons". Theatermania. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
  4. Kenneth Jones (February 4, 2010). "Promises, Promises Will Also Star Latessa, Hingston, Benson; Complete Cast Announced". Playbill. Retrieved May 6, 2012.
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