Winning a TONY AWARD for an evil or unlikable character/role.....?

Idina Menzel

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Updated On: 4/4/12 at 07:18 PM

Shuler Hensley for Oklahoma!

(Arguably) Michael Crawford for The Phantom of the Opera.

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Updated On: 4/4/12 at 07:21 PM

So does this mean like characters that you are not supposed to like but they really do a great job of being a villain so they get awarded for it? Because it's really cool I think. Characters you love to hate

You could make a case for the ladies who've won playing Rose Havoc. She is after all the stage mother from hell...
Dorothy Loudon as Miss Hannigan, Patti LuPone as Eva Peron, Bebe Neuwirth as Velma Kelly. The characters aren't evil per say, but do indulge in questionable activities: child abuse, political corruption, double homicide...

The Emcee, in some cases.

Though all these are really very very subjective.

Since you've defined the question so broadly and to include anti-heros and seriously flawed characters (who could argue that Billy Flynn isn't a seriously flawed human being?), many, just looking at the guys:

(note, of course, that many of these are of the musical comedy lovable bad guy, heavy, or pain in the butt type; others are nobly anti-heroic and driven; one or two are down and out nasty guys)

Ray Walston in Damn Yankees
Jonathan Pryce in Miss Saigon
Norbert Leo Butz Dirty Rotten Scoundrels
John Lithgow The Sweet Smell of Success
Bert Lahr in Foxy
Ben Harney in Dreamgirls
James Naughton in Chicago
Brent Carver Kiss of the Spider Woman
Len Cariou in Sweeney Todd
Barry Bostwick in The Robber Bridegroom (at least the Robber part of the title role)

featured:

Myron McCormick in South Pacific
Yul Brynner in The King and I
Cyril Richard in Peter Pan
David Burns in The Music Man
Jack Cassidy in She Loves Me
Hiram Sherman in How Now Down Jones
Rene Auberjonois in Coco
Keene Curtis in The Rothschids (some of his roles)
Henderson Forsythe in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas
Chuck Cooper in The Life
Shuler Hensley in Oklahoma
Chuck Cooper in The Life

Updated On: 4/5/12 at 09:52 AM

Some odd choices here. Though arguable, I'd add Owen Teale for A Doll's House. One of the most perfect productions of a play I've ever seen. And we may be adding Bertie Carvel to the list next year.

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