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Born Alfred Capurro in [[New York City]], the son of parents emigrated from the town of [[Recco]], in the [[Province of Genoa]], Drake began his [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] career while still a student at [[Brooklyn College]]. He is best known for his leading roles in the original Broadway productions of such American musicals as ''[[Oklahoma!]]'', ''[[Kiss Me, Kate]]'', and ''[[Kean (musical)|Kean]]'', and for the roles of Marshall Blackstone in the original production of ''[[Babes in Arms]]'' (in which he sang the title song) and Hajj in ''[[Kismet (musical)|Kismet]]'' for which he received the [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical|Tony Award]]. He was also a prolific Shakespearean, notably starring as Benedick in ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' opposite [[Katharine Hepburn]].
Born Alfred Capurro in [[New York City]], the son of parents emigrated from the town of [[Recco]], in the [[Province of Genoa]], Drake began his [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] career while still a student at [[Brooklyn College]]. He is best known for his leading roles in the original Broadway productions of such American musicals as ''[[Oklahoma!]]'', ''[[Kiss Me, Kate]]'', and ''[[Kean (musical)|Kean]]'', and for the roles of Marshall Blackstone in the original production of ''[[Babes in Arms]]'' (in which he sang the title song) and Hajj in ''[[Kismet (musical)|Kismet]]'' for which he received the [[Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical|Tony Award]]. He was also a prolific Shakespearean, notably starring as Benedick in ''[[Much Ado About Nothing]]'' opposite [[Katharine Hepburn]].


Drake was mostly a stage and television star; he starred in only one film,''Tars and Spars'', but played several roles on television. His first musical television appearance was as Captain Dick Warrington in a live telecast, on January 15, 1955, of ''"[[Naughty Marietta (television)|Naughty Marietta]]"'' based on the the [[Naughty Marietta (operetta)|operetta]] of the same name. His 1964 stage performance as Claudius in the [[Richard Burton]] ''[[Richard Burton's Hamlet|Hamlet]]'' was filmed live on the stage of the [[Lunt-Fontanne Theatre]], using a "quickie" process called [[Electronovision]], and shown in movie theatres in a very limited engagement. It was also recorded on [[Gramophone record|LP]]. Today's audiences may remember him as the bearded and bespectacled President of the Exchange, who eventually fires [[Don Ameche]] and [[Ralph Bellamy]] in the 1983 [[Eddie Murphy]]-[[Dan Aykroyd]] film ''[[Trading Places]]''. His final stage appearance in a musical was in 1973 as [[Honore LaChaisse]] in [[Lerner]] and Loewe's [[Gigi]]. Two years later he starred in a revival of ''[[The Skin of Our Teeth]]''.
Drake was mostly a stage and television star; he starred in only one film,''Tars and Spars'', but played several roles on television. His first musical television appearance was as Captain Dick Warrington in the January 15, 1955 [[Naughty Marietta (television)|live telecast]] of the operetta ''"[[Naughty Marietta (operetta)|Naughty Marietta]]"''. His 1964 stage performance as Claudius in the [[Richard Burton]] ''[[Richard Burton's Hamlet|Hamlet]]'' was filmed live on the stage of the [[Lunt-Fontanne Theatre]], using a "quickie" process called [[Electronovision]], and shown in movie theatres in a very limited engagement. It was also recorded on [[Gramophone record|LP]]. Today's audiences may remember him as the bearded and bespectacled President of the Exchange, who eventually fires [[Don Ameche]] and [[Ralph Bellamy]] in the 1983 [[Eddie Murphy]]-[[Dan Aykroyd]] film ''[[Trading Places]]''. His final stage appearance in a musical was in 1973 as [[Honore LaChaisse]] in [[Lerner]] and Loewe's [[Gigi]]. Two years later he starred in a revival of ''[[The Skin of Our Teeth]]''.


Alfred Drake died of [[cancer]] in New York City at the age of 77.
Alfred Drake died of [[cancer]] in New York City at the age of 77.

Revision as of 13:48, 3 July 2009

Alfred Drake
Born
Alfred Capurro

Alfred Drake (October 7, 1914 - July 25, 1992) was an American actor and singer.

Born Alfred Capurro in New York City, the son of parents emigrated from the town of Recco, in the Province of Genoa, Drake began his Broadway career while still a student at Brooklyn College. He is best known for his leading roles in the original Broadway productions of such American musicals as Oklahoma!, Kiss Me, Kate, and Kean, and for the roles of Marshall Blackstone in the original production of Babes in Arms (in which he sang the title song) and Hajj in Kismet for which he received the Tony Award. He was also a prolific Shakespearean, notably starring as Benedick in Much Ado About Nothing opposite Katharine Hepburn.

Drake was mostly a stage and television star; he starred in only one film,Tars and Spars, but played several roles on television. His first musical television appearance was as Captain Dick Warrington in the January 15, 1955 live telecast of the operetta "Naughty Marietta". His 1964 stage performance as Claudius in the Richard Burton Hamlet was filmed live on the stage of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, using a "quickie" process called Electronovision, and shown in movie theatres in a very limited engagement. It was also recorded on LP. Today's audiences may remember him as the bearded and bespectacled President of the Exchange, who eventually fires Don Ameche and Ralph Bellamy in the 1983 Eddie Murphy-Dan Aykroyd film Trading Places. His final stage appearance in a musical was in 1973 as Honore LaChaisse in Lerner and Loewe's Gigi. Two years later he starred in a revival of The Skin of Our Teeth.

Alfred Drake died of cancer in New York City at the age of 77.

Theatre credits

External links

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