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Born as '''Alfred Capurro''' in [[New York City]], the son of parents emigrated from [[Recco]], [[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 ''[[Oklahoma!]]'', ''[[Kiss Me, Kate]]'', ''[[Kismet (musical)|Kismet]]'' and for playing 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 as '''Alfred Capurro''' in [[New York City]], the son of parents emigrated from [[Recco]], [[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 ''[[Oklahoma!]]'', ''[[Kiss Me, Kate]]'', ''[[Kismet (musical)|Kismet]]'' and for playing 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 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]]. His played the President of the Stock Exchange in the 1983 [[Eddie Murphy]]-[[Dan Aykroyd]] film, ''[[Trading Places]]''. His final stage appearance in a musical was in 1973 as Honore LaChaisse in [[Alan Jay Lerner|Lerner and Loewe's]] ''[[Gigi (musical)|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]]. He played the President of the Stock Exchange in the 1983 [[Eddie Murphy]]-[[Dan Aykroyd]] film, ''[[Trading Places]]''. His final stage appearance in a musical was in 1973 as Honore LaChaisse in [[Alan Jay Lerner|Lerner and Loewe's]] ''[[Gigi (musical)|Gigi]]''. Two years later he starred in a revival of ''[[The Skin of Our Teeth]]''.


==Death==
==Death==
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[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1914 births]]
[[Category:1992 deaths]]
[[Category:1992 deaths]]



[[es:Alfred Drake]]
[[es:Alfred Drake]]

Revision as of 14:12, 7 June 2010

Alfred Drake
Born
Alfred Capurro
Spouse(s)Alma Tollefsen (divorced)
Esther Harvey Brown (1944 – his death; 2 children)

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

Born as Alfred Capurro in New York City, the son of parents emigrated from Recco, 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 Oklahoma!, Kiss Me, Kate, Kismet and for playing 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. He played the President of the Stock Exchange 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.

Death

Alfred Drake died of heart failure, after a long fight with cancer, in New York City at the age of 77.[1]

Family life

Alfred Drake is survived by his wife Esther, his two daughters Candace Olmsted and Samantha Drake, and two grandchildren.[1]

Theatre credits

References

  1. ^ a b Alfred Drake obituary in the New York Times

External links

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Alfred_Drake&oldid=366565426"