Sydney Chaplin, Tony-winning actor has died at 82

[dayao]

Posted: 3/6/09 at 4:03am

From the Associated Press:

Charlie Chaplin's actor-son Sydney Chaplin dies

by Bob Thomas

Sydney Chaplin, Charlie Chaplin's son and himself a Tony-winning actor who starred on Broadway opposite Judy Holliday in "Bells Are Ringing" and Barbra Streisand in "Funny Girl," has died at 82.

Chaplin died Tuesday at his home in Rancho Mirage, longtime family friend Jerry Bodie told The Associated Press on Thursday. He said Chaplin had recently suffered a stroke.

He won his Tony for "Bells Are Ringing," the 1956 Betty Comden and Adolph Green musical about a telephone answering service operator (Holliday) who falls in love with a customer (Chaplin). New York Herald Tribune critic Walter Kerr wrote that the actor "doubles the evening's warmth by the simple expedient of believing in its love story."

His best-remembered show, though, was the 1964 smash "Funny Girl" as Nicky Arnstein, the gambler who woos Streisand in her star-making role as Fanny Brice. The New York Times called him "a tall, elegant figure as Nick, gallant in courting and doing his best when he must be noble."

The show brought him another Tony nomination, but he departed in June 1965, citing unspecified differences with producer Ray Stark. When it came time to make the movie, Omar Sharif, a major heartthrob following his roles in "Lawrence of Arabia" and "Doctor Zhivago," was cast opposite Streisand.

Chaplin - also bypassed in the film version of "Bells Are Ringing" (for Dean Martin) - said he wasn't disappointed.

"I never had the burning desire for recognition and respect that had driven my father," he explained.

He starred in another Comden-Green musical, 1961's "Subways Are for Sleeping."

He was the second son born to Charlie Chaplin's second wife, Lita Grey. The other son, Charles Chaplin Jr., died in 1968.

Sydney Chaplin's survivors include his wife, Margaret, and a son, Stephan Chaplin.

[Steffie2]

Posted: 3/6/09 at 10:26pm

Thanks, Dayao, for posting this sad news. The Los Angeles Times, Variety and several other publications and blogs that are concerned with real Broadway and Musical Theater related news, instead of the being obsessed with American Idol and other Fox TV shows as Broadwayworld seems to be, have all published tributes and reactions to his passing. I find it appalling that a site with Broadway in its name, has so far not even commented on the death of a Tony Award-winning actor-singer, who starred in four of the greatest musicals of the 1950’s and 60’s (BELLS ARE RINGING, WONDERFUL TOWN, SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING & FUNNY GIRL).

Although I never had the privilege of seeing Chaplin perform on stage, I did see his brilliant performance in his father’s 1952 film “LIMELIGHT” at the urging of my mother, who did see Chaplin on Broadway in FUNNY GIRL and SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING, and told me that his performance as Tom Bailey in SUBWAYS was “beyond brilliant”. My mom also said that he was the best actor to ever play Nicky Arnstein in FUNNY GIRL and was as dynamic in the role as Streisand was as Fanny Brice and that their scenes together were “sheer dynamite”.

Updated On: 3/6/09 at 10:26 PM

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 3/6/09 at 11:48pm

Steffie:
You are smart enough to know that any performer that was only seen by a few of us is of any interest to others on this site.
If people only know him from the OBC albums, which are brilliant in their own subtle ways, never saw the charm and command he took on the stage.
My thoughts to his Family and Friends.

[WishingOnlyWounds2]

Posted: 3/6/09 at 11:48pm

May she rest in peace.

[Smaxie]

Posted: 3/7/09 at 5:17am

She?

[monestere]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 2:04am

Sydney Chaplin may not be as well known as other more prolific Tony winners but his wonderful performances will live on for future generations on the still available cast recordings of "Bells are Ringing", "Funny Girl" and especially "Subways are for Sleeping", which will always be one of my all time favourite cast albums. Chaplin was not a great singer but like Elaine Strich, he knew how to use his somewhat limited voice to sell a song and do it better than many much more vocally gifted singers and he was a fine actor as well. Sydney Chaplin is definitely worthy of remembrance as one of musical theater’s most talented stars of the 1950’s & 1960’s.

[daredevil]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 2:46pm

I saw Sydney Chaplin in all three of his Broadway musicals. He was terrific in Bells Are Ringing working really well with Judy Holiday. I remember seeing Funny Girl a few months after it opened. Everyone was talking about Streisand, and what a great performance she was giving, and of course that was true, but watching the performance I was struck by Chaplin, his acting really fed into Streisand's work. He was very strong in his own right, but always partnering her. I left feeling that he was every much a part of Funny Girl's success as she was.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 2:51pm

Oh this is truly sad news. He exudes such charm on his cast albums, especially Subways. How can you not fall for him singing I'm Just Taking My Time? My thoughts are with his loved ones.

[Gypsy9]

Posted: 3/9/09 at 3:07pm

Steffie2, I envy your mother's seeing Sydney Chaplin in SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING. I remember writing to get tickets for the opening night, but was turned down. Like others on this Board, I am a great fan of the cast album of SUBWAYS ARE FOR SLEEPING.

I did see Chaplin in FUNNY GIRL and while I was impressed with his acting, he was mostly in Act Two which had inferior writing to Act One, IMO.

I also love my recording of BELLS ARE RINGING which I unfortunately never saw on Broadway.I agree with Monestere that Chaplin made the most of a somewhat limited vocal prowess. He was able to sell a song.