Clifford David (June 30, 1928 – November 30, 2017)[1] was an American actor, singer,[2] and coach. His career began in the 1950s, with early live television appearances leading to roles in Broadway musicals. He also played character roles in television series, feature films, and theatre.[3]

Clifford David
David in 2007
Born(1928-06-30)June 30, 1928
Toledo, Ohio, United States
DiedNovember 30, 2017(2017-11-30) (aged 89)
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1953–2017

Early life

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David was born in Toledo, Ohio, the youngest son of Farris and Lily (née Abdow). His uncle was Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Samuel David of Toledo.[citation needed]

Career

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A protégé of Lee Strasberg, David made his Broadway debut as Scipio in Albert Camus' Caligula directed by Sidney Lumet.[4] He also played Pasquale in The Aspern Papers, directed by Margaret Webster, Antipholus in the 1963 Off-Broadway revival The Boys from Syracuse, Laertes in Joseph Papp's Hamlet, and Lord Byron in the Lincoln Center production of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real with Al Pacino.

A member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences,[5] Clifford's filmography includes Invitation to a Gunfighter (1964), Resurrection, and M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002). As an accomplished pianist, he was cast as Beethoven in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989).

A member of the Actors Studio from 1962, David worked with many of the greats of American theater, film, and television. He told stories of drinking with Richard Burton and shopping with Marilyn Monroe. He was working with Monroe on a play entitled The Cat, adapted from a Colette novel by Arthur Miller, when she died.

David was featured in the principal casts and on the original studio albums of such Broadway musicals as Wildcat[6] with Lucille Ball,[7] 1776,[8][9] with William Daniels, Alan Jay Lerner's On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Other feature film credits include The Last Mile (1959), The Party's Over (1965) with Oliver Reed, Riot (1969), The Betsy (1978), with Laurence Olivier, Fort Apache, The Bronx with Paul Newman (1981), and The Exorcist III (1990).

He was seen on television in the miniseries Blind Ambition, as well as in political dramas Fear on Trial and Missiles of October with Martin Sheen. He appeared in episodes of Bonanza, The Big Valley, Charlie's Angels, Mary Tyler Moore, Murphy Brown, Party of Five, Murder, She Wrote, Will & Grace, and Law & Order.[10][11]

Filmography

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Year Title Role Notes
1957 Street of Sinners Tom
1959 The Last Mile Richard Walters
1964 Invitation to a Gunfighter Crane Adams
1965 Hamlet Laertes
1965 The Party's Over Carson
1969 Riot Mary Sheldon
1978 The Betsy Joe
1980 Resurrection George
1981 Fort Apache, The Bronx Dacey
1986 Agent on Ice Kirkpatrick
1989 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure Beethoven
1990 The Exorcist III Dr. Bruno
1991 Pyrates Advisor
2002 Signs Columbia University Professor
2004 Kinsey Professor Smithson

References

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  1. ^ "Clifford David's New York Times Obituary". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  2. ^ "Clifford David, Discography". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  3. ^ "Clifford David, Performer: Playbills". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  4. ^ "Caligula, Internet Broadway Database". Retrieved 2018-05-25.
  5. ^ "Clifford David, Oscars in Memoriam 2018". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  6. ^ "Clifford David, Musical Credits". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  7. ^ Coleman, Cy (2015-04-15). "You Fascinate Me So: The Life and Times of Cy Coleman". Hal Leonard Corporation. Masterworks Broadway. ISBN 9781495026027. Retrieved 2015-04-15.
  8. ^ "Clifford David, listed as author for 1776". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
  9. ^ Swope, Martha (1969-01-01). "Actor Clifford David as Edward Rutledge in a scene from the Broadway musical "1776."(New York)". BILLY ROSE THEATRE DIVISION.
  10. ^ Clifford David at IMDb
  11. ^ "Clifford David, TV Guide Credits". Retrieved 2018-05-28.
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