Tony question-Yul Brynner- Best FEATURED actor?

[Albin]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:05am

I've never seen "The King and I." Is the King considered a featured part?

[munkustrap178]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:10am

No, but that was before he was a huge star, and his name was not billed above the title.

Back then, if you're name was not above the title, you were not eligible for the leading category.

That is why Barbara Cook won a Featured actress for the very leading Marian Paroo in THE MUSIC MAN as well.

That's also why now, the same general rules apply - but producers and performers can petition certain performers to be in the leading category.

[ljay889]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:14am

You also have to keep in mind, when the show opened, the show was ALL about Gertrude Lawrence. No one knew Brynner would become so identified with the show.

Lawrence had a lot to do with creating this show, considering the show was HER idea. So it was basically HER show.

Who knew Brynner would become such an icon with this show.
Updated On: 7/17/06 at 11:14 AM

[MargoChanning]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 11:16am

Tony categories at the time were determined solely by billing and not by the size of the role. Brynner was billed below the title (he wasn't famous then) so hence he was only eligible to be nominated for Featured Actor and not Lead. The same thing happened to Tammy Grimes (who won for playing Molly Brown in the UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN) and Tom Bosley in FIORELLO! (for playing the lead role of Fiorello LaGuardia), among others. William Daniels famously refused his nomination for playing John Adams in 1776 when he was made Featured and not Lead.

The rules now give the producers the right to petition the Administration Committee to have certain actors considered for categories different than from what their billing would indicate.

[jv92]

Posted: 7/17/06 at 12:41pm

Dick Van Dyke also won Featured Actor for Bye, Bye Birdie. Obviously, his role was the lead.