Michael McGrath (actor)

Michael McGrath
Born(1957-09-25)September 25, 1957
Worcester, Massachusetts, U.S.
DiedSeptember 14, 2023(2023-09-14) (aged 65)
Bloomfield, New Jersey, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1990–2023
Spouse
Toni DiBuono
​
(m. 1993)​
Children1
AwardsTony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical (2012)

Michael McGrath (September 25, 1957 – September 14, 2023) was an American actor. Best known for his work on the Broadway stage, he received a Tony Award in 2012 for his performance in the musical Nice Work If You Can Get It.[1]

Career

McGrath was an ensemble member and understudy for many shows, including My Favorite Year, Swinging on a Star, and Little Me. He appeared in the musicals Anything Goes (2002) as Moonface Martin and in Wonderful Town (2003) as Chick Clark.[2] McGrath played the role of Patsy in the Broadway musical Spamalot (2005), for which he received a nomination for a Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

McGrath starred in the play Is He Dead? on Broadway in December 2007 to February 2008 as Agamemnon Buckner.[3] McGrath originated the role of Mr. Simmons in Memphis (Broadway, 2009).

McGrath played the role of Cookie McGee in the Broadway musical Nice Work If You Can Get It (2012), for which he won the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He also won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical for this performance.[4][5]

In 2014, he was in the A.R.T. pre-Broadway production of Finding Neverland replacing Roger Bart in the dual role of Charles Frohman and Captain James Hook.[6]

McGrath appeared in a new musical The Honeymooners, based on the television comedy The Honeymooners. The musical premiered at the Paper Mill Playhouse in Milburn, New Jersey on September 28, 2017, and starred McGrath as Ralph Kramden, Michael Mastro as Ed Norton, Leslie Kritzer as Alice Kramden, and Laura Bell Bundy as Trixie Norton.[7] McGrath appeared in a workshop of the musical in 2014.[8]

On television, McGrath was the announcer/sidekick on The Martin Short Show.

While working in the Boston production of Forbidden Broadway, McGrath met his future wife, Toni DiBuono.

Personal life and death

McGrath hailed from Worcester, Massachusetts. He was married to actress Toni DiBuono.

Michael McGrath died at his home in Bloomfield, New Jersey, on September 14, 2023, at the age of 65, 11 days shy of his 66th birthday.[9]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1996 Boyfriends James
2002 Changing Lanes Seavers
2003 Cowboys & Angels Mud Club Student
2005 The Interpreter Jonathan Ferris
2006 Ira & Abby Tony the Doorman
2011 Escape of the Gingerbread Man Stan Voice; short film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1990 Mathnet Barney Oldmeal Episode: "The Case of the Meter Massacre"
1999–2000 The Martin Short Show Himself (announcer) Unknown episodes
1997 Remember WENN Blair Foley Episode: "Like a Brother"
2001 Between the Lions Lester the Jester Episode: "Quest, Quest, Quest!"
2002 Monday Night Mayhem Jim McKay Television movie
2018 Madam Secretary Earl Episode: "Sound and Fury"

Theatre

Year Title Role Venue
1992 My Favorite Year Ensemble Vivian Beaumont Theatre, Broadway
1993 The Goodbye Girl Elliot (standby) Marquis Theatre, Broadway
1995 Swinging on a Star Various roles Music Box Theatre, Broadway
1998 Little Me Bruce / Bernie / Bert Criterion Center Stage, Broadway
2003 Wonderful Town Chick Clark Al Hirschfeld Theatre, Broadway
2005 Spamalot Patsy / Mayor / Guard 2 Shubert Theatre, Broadway
2007 Is He Dead? Agamemnon Buckner Lyceum Theatre, Broadway
2009 Memphis Mr. Simmons Shubert Theatre, Broadway
2011 Born Yesterday Eddie Brock Cort Theatre, Broadway
2012 Nice Work If You Can Get It Cookie McGee Imperial Theatre, Broadway
2015 On the Twentieth Century Owen O'Malley American Airlines Theatre, Broadway
2016 She Loves Me Ladislav Sipos Studio 54, Broadway
2016 The Front Page Walter Burns (standby) Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway
2019 Tootsie Stan Fields Marquis Theatre, Broadway
2022 Plaza Suite Sam / Jesse / Roy (standby) Hudson Theatre, Broadway
2023 Little Shop of Horrors Mr. Mushnik The Muny

Awards and nominations

Year Award Category Work Result
1996 Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Swinging on a Star Nominated
Theatre World Award Honoree
2005 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Spamalot Nominated
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Nominated
2012 Tony Award Best Featured Actor in a Musical Nice Work if You Can Get It Won
Drama Desk Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Won
Outer Critics Circle Award Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical Won

References

  1. ^ Cristi, A. A. "Tony Award-Winning Actor Michael McGrath Dies At Age 65". BroadwayWorld.com. Retrieved September 15, 2023.
  2. ^ "McGrath Broadway" Playbill, retrieved October 4, 2017
  3. ^ Jones, Kenneth. "Broadway's 'Is He Dead?' to Close March 9" Playbill, February 26, 2008
  4. ^ Jones, Kenneth and Adam Hetrick. 2012 "Tony Awards Nominations Announced; Once Earns 11 Nominations" Archived 2012-05-07 at the Wayback Machine. Playbill.com, May 1, 2012
  5. ^ Jacobsen, Aileen (May 15, 2009). "Like Oil and Water, but Oscar and Felix Still Bond". NY Times. Retrieved May 17, 2010.
  6. ^ Tony Winner Swap: Michael McGrath To Replace Roger Bart in A.R.T.'s Finding Neverland Opening July 23
  7. ^ McPhee, Ryan. "Watch Footage of Leslie Kritzer, Laura Bell Bundy, and More in 'The Honeymooners' " Playbill, October 3, 2017
  8. ^ Gioia, Michael. "Michael McGrath, Hank Azaria, Leslie Kritzer and Megan Hilty Will Be "The Honeymooners" in Industry Reading" Playbill, September 22, 2014
  9. ^ Frater, Patrick (September 15, 2023). "Michael McGrath, Tony-Winning Actor, Dies at 65". Variety. Retrieved September 15, 2023.