SAMMY WILLIAMS passed away

[Owen22]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 9:19am

Though I haven't seen this anywhere on a google search, friends on Facebook are stating the original Paul in "A Chorus Line" has died.

[Owen22]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 9:39am

Ah, it's finally being reported.

[Zamedy154]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 9:49am

Just saw the news. So sad. Only 69. He gave us the gift of an iconic role that I for one, as a gay one-time closeted Hispanic man, could so richly relate. RIP, our Paul.

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 10:10am

Every time I am in the Schubert theater i remember as a teenager seeing him in A CHORUS LINE and just losing it during Paul's story. It was the moment I came out to myself. May he rest I peace.

[devonian.t]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 11:07am

I'll remember him with gratitude for what he brought to the world.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 1:25pm

So sad. Just way too young.

[Auggie27]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 2:06pm

I saw him play Paul when he went back into the show (he returned for two full years, November '83 - '85, many people forget, McKechie's return almost a decade after the opening got more attn; they never played it again together, as she went back a full year later). He created the role, and his performance of the iconic speech was the most -- what's the word? -- unfettered. He simply let it happen. I remember being gobsmacked by the simplicity of the gathering emotion. It's an easy part to overcook, and his take was, to state the obvious, definitive.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 2:23pm

Saw the show with the original cast which for me has never been surpassed. I went with my Mom and during Paul's big scene she had tears running down her cheek. She clenched my hand and for the first time I knew for sure that she knew about me and it was okay with her. A moment I'll never forget. 

I know a lot of the characters in the show were based on the actors/actresses own life stories. Does anyone know if this was true in Sammy's case? RIP Sammy. I hope you realized what an impression you made on so many others.

[Addison D.]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 2:36pm

That's a beautiful memory Demitri.

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 3:10pm

Demitri2 said: "Saw the show with the original cast which for me has never been surpassed. I went with my Mom and during Paul's big scene she had tears running down her cheek. She clenched my hand and for the first time I knew for sure that she knew about me and it was okay with her. A moment I'll never forget.

I know a lot of the characters in the show were based on the actors/actresses own life stories. Does anyone know if this was true in Sammy's case? RIP Sammy. I hope you realized what an impression you made on so many others."

 

Had to double check but I think most of Paul's  story was based on Nicholas Dante's life.

 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 4:22pm

Had to double check but I think most of Paul'sstory was based on Nicholas Dante's life.

"

That's correct.

[Demitri2]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 5:06pm

^ Thank you both. Appreciate your replies.

[bk]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 5:35pm

I worked with Sammy several times and adored him.  The first musical he did after A Chorus Line was a show of mine.  I saw him many times over the past decade and used him in a monthly cabaret I produce in LA just a year and a half ago and he was great, as always.  No one knew he was ill - he chose not to mention it to anyone but a couple of close friends - I got the full story this morning from Kay Cole.

Regarding Sammy and the monologue - Auggie 27 is absolutely right about his performance.  I have seen this show countless times, from previews at the Shubert to revivals, stock productions and even high schools.  And every time in every production the Paul is allowed or chooses to put so much sauce on the text that it precludes me from even caring about what happened.  I'm talking about buckets of tears and snot - the last revival was especially guilty of that and I hated it.  Sammy spoke the words simply, and let the text do its job and that's why people cried - he didn't cry - the audience cried.  He just was.  Quiet, non-dramatic, telling a story.  When he slightly chokes up at the end it was so subtle a moment that it took the breath away.  No other Paul I've seen has ever come within a country mile of his performance, and I'm here to tell you that no other Paul has EVER danced it like Sammy - it was he who came up with the famous "ring the bell" step in the montage (I think that's what they called it), one of my favorite steps in the entire show.  

RIP, dear Sammy.

[ACL2006]

Posted: 3/17/18 at 6:05pm

bk, thank you for that story. I have done ACL more times than I care to mention. I only know of Sammy's performance through YouTube and it's moving just listening to it. In all the productions I've done, I can't watch or even listen to anyone's monologue as Paul. Especially after seeing the revival.

[green waver]

Posted: 3/18/18 at 11:13pm

Word of his passing is certainly circulating slowly. The Times has yet to post an obit, for one, Has he so faded into obscurity? Makes me sad.