| Full Name Alfred Capurro Name Alfred Drake | Role Actor | |
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| Born October 7, 1914 (1914-10-07) New York City, New York, U.S. Died July 25, 1992, New York City, New York, United States Spouse Esther Harvey Brown (m. 1944–1992), Alma Tollefsen (m. 1940) Children Candace Olmsted, Samantha Drake Albums The Adventures of Marco Polo Movies Trading Places, Tars and Spars, Hamlet, The Life and Adventur, Naughty Marietta Similar People Patricia Morison, Harold Lang, Lisa Kirk, Joan Roberts, Doretta Morrow | ||
Alfred drake at his magnificent best live from london 1950s songs from kismet and oklahoma
Alfred Drake (October 7, 1914 - July 25, 1992) was an American actor and singer.
Contents
- Alfred drake at his magnificent best live from london 1950s songs from kismet and oklahoma
- Alfred drake sings oh what a beautiful mornin rare video clip
- Biography
- Death
- Family life
- Theatre credits
- Radio
- References
Alfred drake sings oh what a beautiful mornin rare video clip
Biography
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 actor; he starred in only one film, Tars and Spars (1946), but played several roles on television. He appeared in a minor film role as president of the stock exchange in the classic comedy Trading Places (1983), with Eddie Murphy and Dan Aykroyd. 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. 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.
As a director he staged the 1974 premiere of The Royal Rape of Ruari Macasmunde at the Virginia Museum Theater. He was inducted into the American Theatre Hall of Fame in 1981.
He was also a published author - writing at least a few plays: Dr. Willy Nilly, an adaptation of Molière's The Doctor in Spite of Himself, an adaptation of Goldoni's The Liar, and even at least one book on cards (specifically Gin Rummy).
Death
Alfred Drake died of heart failure, after a long fight with cancer, in New York City at the age of 77.
Family life
Alfred Drake is survived by his wife Esther, his two daughters Candace Olmsted and Samantha Drake, and two grandchildren.