Dick Latessa | |
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Born | Richard Robert Latessa September 15, 1929 Cleveland, Ohio, U.S. |
Died | December 19, 2016 87) (aged New York City, U.S. |
Resting place | Lake View Cemetery |
Occupation | Actor |
Years active | 1968–2016 |
Notable credits | |
Awards |
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Richard Robert Latessa (September 15, 1929 – December 19, 2016) was an American stage, film, and television actor.
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]
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]
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 .
Latessa died on December 19, 2016 of heart failure in New York City, aged 87. [2]
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1996 | The Substance of Fire | Mr. McCormack sr | |
1997 | Better Than Ever | Mr. Mayhew | |
1999 | Stigmata | Father Gianni Delmonico | |
2003 | The Event | Uncle Leo | |
2004 | Alfie | Joe | |
2005 | The Great New Wonderful | Jerry Binder | |
2007 | The Last New Yorker | Ruben | |
2010 | A Buddy Story | Grandpa |
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 | ||
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