At Billy Elliot tonight, my friend and I had a debate on who the current "longest running actor on Broadway" is. Who, currently on Broadway, has been on Broadway for the most years? Who had the earliest debut? This debate was obviously sparked by the legendary Merle Louise in the cast. We finally agreed that Merle Louise is currently the "longest running Broadway actor" (debut was in the original 1959 Gypsy), but when Blithe Spirit opens, the honor will shift to Angela Lansbury (who made her debut in 1957).
Can anybody else think of currently- on- Broadway "longest running actors", even one who will beat Merle Louise?
Upon some research, I've just discovered, that actually Estelle Parsons takes the title! She made her debut in 1956 in Happy Hunting. Amazing!
Not quite as long ago as Merle Louise and Estelle Parsons, but Elizabeth Ashley of Dividing the Estate made her debut in 1961 (and won a Tony for it).
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