Tammy Grimes, Donald Madden and Lee Richardson

Tammy Grimes, Star of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, Dies at 82 BY ROBERT VIAGAS OCT 31, 2016 A favorite of Noël Coward's, she starred in his musical High Spirits. Tammy Grimes, star of the Broadway musicals The Unsinkable Molly Brown, and High Spirits, died October 30 at age 82, according to The New York Times. Grimes appeared in more than a dozen Broadway shows. Born in Lynn, MA, on January 30, 1934, she had a distinctive voice that lent itself to a variety of accents she sported throughout her career. She made her Broadway debut in Ben Bagley’s short-lived 1956 musical comedy sketch revue The Littlest Revue, which introduced songs by a gallery of future songwriting stars including Charles Strouse, Sheldon Harnick, and Lee Adams. She was working in one of Julius Monk’s Upstairs at the Downstairs revues when she was spotted by Noël Coward, who cast her in his comedy Look After Lulu, which had a short run, but proved the beginning of a long artistic collaboration between the two that led to plays, a musical, and one of her two Tony Awards. Harve Presnell and Tammy Grimes in The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Though not particularly well-known in 1960, she was chosen to star in the title role of The Unsinkable Molly Brown, written by Meredith Willson in his first musical since his blockbuster The Music Man. Molly Brown tells the story of a penniless country girl from Colorado who dreams of conquering high society. The dream almost costs her her life when she books passage aboard the Titanic, and acquires her nickname performing heroics in one of the lifeboats. Grimes won the 1961 Tony Award as Best Supporting Actress in a Musical for her performances as Molly Brown, but had the misfortune watch as her great role was nabbed by Debbie Reynolds when it came time to make the film version of the musical. She won her second Tony in 1970, as Best Actress in a Play, for her performance as Amanda in a revival of Coward’s Private Lives. Grimes bounced back in 1964, starring as the sexy ghost Elvira in the musical adaptation of Coward’s Blithe Spirit, titled High Spirits, opposite Beatrice Lillie. According to her Playbill Who’s Who, Grimes is remembered for “stopping the show nightly with her rendition of ‘Home Sweet Heaven,’ sung while flying thirty feet through the air with the help of an invisible harness.” Later in her career she starred in Neil Simon’s 1976 play California Suite, and played the grand dame Dorothy Brock in David Merrick’s original Broadway production of 42nd Street in 1980. Grimes did not make a major splash in films, but appeared on many dramatic and variety programs (she reportedly turned down the leading role in the sitcom Bewitched), eventually starring in her own ABC-TV series, The Tammy Grimes Show. Grimes was part of a family of showbiz stars. She was married to Tony-winning actor Christopher Plummer from 1956 to 1960, and is the mother of Tony-winning actress Amanda Plummer.

Lee Richardson (actor) Lee Richardson (September 11, 1926, Chicago, Illinois – October 2, 1999, New York City) was an American character actor who frequently appeared in the films of Sidney Lumet. Richardson appeared in such films as Brubaker, Prince of the City, Prizzi's Honor, Tiger Warsaw, The Fly II, Q&A, The Exorcist III, Daniel and A Stranger Among Us and such television series as Law & Order and Hearts and Minds. He also narrated Network and appeared in the television film Skylark. He appeared in an uncredited role as Franklin D. Roosevelt in Truman. Richardson died of cardiac arrest on October 2, 1999 in New York City, aged 73. Filmography 1959: Middle of the Night - Joey Lockman 1976: Network - Narrator (voice) 1980: Brubaker - Warden Renfro 1981: Prince of the City - Sam Heinsdorff 1983: Daniel - Reporter 1983: I Am the Cheese - Mr. Grey 1985: Prizzi's Honor - Dominic Prizzi 1987: Sweet Lorraine - Sam 1987: Amazing Grace and Chuck - Jeffries 1987: The Believers - Dennis Maslow 1988: Tiger Warsaw - Michael Warsaw 1989: The Fly II - Anton Bartok 1990: Q&A - Leo Bloomenfeld 1990: The Exorcist III - University President 1992: A Stranger Among Us - Rebbe Theater 1960: Summer and Smoke by Tennessee Williams 1962: The Merchant of Venice References "Lee Richardson, 73, an Actor Noted for His English Accents". The New York Times. October 10, 1999. Retrieved June 30, 2014.

He was a Tony Award nominated Broadway actor. He only appeared in one theatrical film, 1776, but his performance was brilliant! A few of his early television works are still available. Although he has been deceased for over 35 years, he had a distinguished body of work. He will NEVER be forgotten!