Don Gregory | |
---|---|
Born | Donald Ginsberg December 3, 1934
Bronx, New York, US |
Died | November 5, 2015
Boca Raton, Florida, US | (aged 80)
Occupation | Theater producer |
Spouse(s) | Carolyn Fitzpatrick (divorced) Kaye Romine |
Children | with Fitzpatrick: -- David Gregory --Stephanie Gregory Mitchell |
Don Gregory (December 3, 1934 – November 5, 2015) was an American Broadway producer. [1] [2]
Gregory was born Donald Ginsberg to a Jewish family in the Bronx on December 3, 1934, the son of Dorothy (née Sheffrin) and Morris Ginsberg. [1] When he was four years old, his father died and his mother remarried and moved the family to Norwich, Connecticut. [1] He attended the University of Connecticut but left before graduating and moved to California to become an actor. [1] He changed his name so it sounded less "ethnic." [1] In the 1950s, he joined the U.S. Army and after he completed his service, he moved back to New York City where he worked as a talent agent. [1]
In the 1970s, leveraging his pool of clients and connections, he began to produce solo-performer shows that matched a celebrated actor with a celebrated historical personage. They included: Clarence Darrow by David W. Rintels and starring Henry Fonda as Clarence Darrow; and The Belle of Amherst by William Luce starring Julie Harris as Emily Dickinson. [1] In 1980, he paired Richard Burton as King Arthur in Camelot. [1] In 1981, he paired Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady; and Richard Harris in a return engagement in Camelot. [1] In 1983, he co-produced Othello with James Earl Jones in the title role and Christopher Plummer as Iago. [1] He also produced Paul Robeson starring James Earl Jones. [1] His other Broadway credits include the 1981 musical Copperfield; Buttons on Broadway with Red Buttons in 1995; and a 2012 revival of the comedy Harvey written by Mary Chase starring Jim Parsons. [1] Off-Broadway credits include Dore Schary's play FDR with Robert Vaughn as Franklin Delano Roosevelt; a revival of The Belle of Amherst starring Joely Richardson; and Nobody Don't Like Yogi, by Tom Lysaght with Ben Gazzara as Yogi Berra. [1]
Gregory was married twice. His first wife was Carolyn Fitzpatrick, [1] an Irish Catholic. [3] They had two children: television journalist David Gregory and Stephanie Gregory Mitchell; they later divorced and she remarried (now Carolyn Surtees). [1] In 1981, he remarried to Kaye Romine. [1] He died of at stroke at his home in Boca Raton, Florida on November 5, 2015. [1]
Don Gregory | |
---|---|
Born | Donald Ginsberg December 3, 1934
Bronx, New York, US |
Died | November 5, 2015
Boca Raton, Florida, US | (aged 80)
Occupation | Theater producer |
Spouse(s) | Carolyn Fitzpatrick (divorced) Kaye Romine |
Children | with Fitzpatrick: -- David Gregory --Stephanie Gregory Mitchell |
Don Gregory (December 3, 1934 – November 5, 2015) was an American Broadway producer. [1] [2]
Gregory was born Donald Ginsberg to a Jewish family in the Bronx on December 3, 1934, the son of Dorothy (née Sheffrin) and Morris Ginsberg. [1] When he was four years old, his father died and his mother remarried and moved the family to Norwich, Connecticut. [1] He attended the University of Connecticut but left before graduating and moved to California to become an actor. [1] He changed his name so it sounded less "ethnic." [1] In the 1950s, he joined the U.S. Army and after he completed his service, he moved back to New York City where he worked as a talent agent. [1]
In the 1970s, leveraging his pool of clients and connections, he began to produce solo-performer shows that matched a celebrated actor with a celebrated historical personage. They included: Clarence Darrow by David W. Rintels and starring Henry Fonda as Clarence Darrow; and The Belle of Amherst by William Luce starring Julie Harris as Emily Dickinson. [1] In 1980, he paired Richard Burton as King Arthur in Camelot. [1] In 1981, he paired Rex Harrison as Henry Higgins in My Fair Lady; and Richard Harris in a return engagement in Camelot. [1] In 1983, he co-produced Othello with James Earl Jones in the title role and Christopher Plummer as Iago. [1] He also produced Paul Robeson starring James Earl Jones. [1] His other Broadway credits include the 1981 musical Copperfield; Buttons on Broadway with Red Buttons in 1995; and a 2012 revival of the comedy Harvey written by Mary Chase starring Jim Parsons. [1] Off-Broadway credits include Dore Schary's play FDR with Robert Vaughn as Franklin Delano Roosevelt; a revival of The Belle of Amherst starring Joely Richardson; and Nobody Don't Like Yogi, by Tom Lysaght with Ben Gazzara as Yogi Berra. [1]
Gregory was married twice. His first wife was Carolyn Fitzpatrick, [1] an Irish Catholic. [3] They had two children: television journalist David Gregory and Stephanie Gregory Mitchell; they later divorced and she remarried (now Carolyn Surtees). [1] In 1981, he remarried to Kaye Romine. [1] He died of at stroke at his home in Boca Raton, Florida on November 5, 2015. [1]