American actor and singer (1945–2023)
Walter Charles (born Walter Charles Jacobsen ; April 4, 1945 – August 3, 2023) was an American actor and singer.
Charles made his Broadway debut in Grease in 1972. Additional Broadway credits include 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (1976), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979), Cats (1982), La Cage aux Folles (1983), Me and My Girl (1987), Aspects of Love (1990), Kiss Me, Kate (2000), The Boys from Syracuse (2002), Big River (2003), The Woman in White (2005), The Apple Tree (2006) and Anything Goes (2011). He also originated the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in 1994. He played Max von Mayerling in the Toronto production of Sunset Boulevard in 1995. He reprised the role of Judge Turpin in the 2002 Kennedy Center and 2004 New York City Opera productions of Sweeney Todd .[ 1] [ 2] [ 3]
Charles' screen credits include A Fine Mess , Fletch Lives , Weeds , and Prancer . On television he appeared in Cagney and Lacey , Kate and Allie , Law & Order , and Law & Order: Criminal Intent .
Walter Charles died of complications from frontotemporal dementia on August 3, 2023, at the age of 78.[ 4] He is survived by his wife, Leslie Thompson.[ 5]
Sources:[ 2] [ 3]
Year
Title
Role
Location
1970-1972
1776
Joseph Hewes u/s Thomas McKean u/s John Hancock
US National Tour
1972
John Dickinson
Bergen Mall Shopping Center
1972-1974
Grease
Vince Fontaine
US National Tour
1975
Royale Theatre , Broadway
1976
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Delegate of New Jersey / Ordway / Singer
Mark Hellinger Theatre , Broadway
1977
Jesus Christ Superstar
Caiaphas
Paper Mill Playhouse
1978
Man of La Mancha
Dr. Carrasco / The Duke
US National Tour
1979-1980
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Ensemble u/s Sweeney Todd
Uris Theatre , Broadway
1980
Anyone Can Whistle
Treasurer Cooley
Berkshire Theatre Festival
1980-1981
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Passerby / Ensemble u/s Sweeney Todd u/s Judge Turpin
US National Tour
1982-1983
Cats
Chorus u/s Old Deuteronomy
Winter Garden Theatre , Broadway
1983-1984
La Cage aux Folles
Renaud u/s Albin u/s Georges u/s Edouard Dindon
Palace Theatre , Broadway
1984-1985
Albin
Golden Gate Park
Pantages Theatre
1985-1987
Palace Theatre , Broadway
1987
Kismet
Hajj
Heinz Hall
1987-1988
Me and My Girl
Herbert Parchester
US National Tour
1988
La Cage aux Folles
Georges
Paper Mill Playhouse
1990-1991
Aspects of Love
Marcel Richard u/s George Dillingham
Broadhurst Theatre , Broadway
Sir George Dillingham
1991
Man of La Mancha
Don Quixote / Miguel de Cervantes
Artpark
1992
Gypsy
Herbie
Valley Forge Music Fair
Westbury Music Fair
1993
Martin Guerre
M. Guerre / Jacques Boeri
Hartford Stage
1993-1994
La Cage aux Folles
Georges
US National Tour
1994
Kismet
Hajj
5th Avenue Theatre
A Christmas Carol
Ebenezer Scrooge
The Theater at Madison Square Garden
1995
Call Me Madam
Cosmo Constantine
New York City Center
Follies
Benjamin Stone
5th Avenue Theatre
1995-1997
Sunset Boulevard
Max von Mayerling
Ford Centre for the Performing Arts
1997
La Cage aux Folles
Georges
Benedum Center
1998
Follies
Benjamin Stone
San Jose Center for the Performing Arts
La Cage aux Folles
Georges
US National Tour
Man of La Mancha
Don Quixote / Miguel de Cervantes
Westbury Music Fair
1998-1999
Wit
Mr. Bearing / Harvey Kelekian
MCC Theater
Union Square Theatre
1999-2000
Kiss Me, Kate
Harrison Howell
Martin Beck Theatre , Broadway
2002
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Judge Turpin
Kennedy Center
Company
Larry
The Boys from Syracuse
Aegean
American Airlines Theatre , Broadway
2003
Big River
Preacher / Doctor / Voice of Judge / Voice of Duke / Voice of First Man / Ensemble
2004
Me and My Girl
Sir John Tremayne
Benedum Center
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Judge Turpin
New York City Opera
Annie
Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks
The Muny
2005
Big River
Voice of Duke / Doctor / Judge Thatcher
Ford's Theatre
2005-2006
The Woman in White
Mr. Fairlie
Marquis Theatre , Broadway
2006
Hello, Dolly!
Horace Vandergelder
Paper Mill Playhouse
Cabaret
Herr Schultz
Arena Stage
2006-2007
The Apple Tree
King Arik / Mr. Fallible / Producer
Studio 54 , Broadway
2007-2008
My Fair Lady
Colonel Hugh Pickering
US National Tour
2008
Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical
Old Max
2009
Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Judge Turpin
Casa Mañana
2010
Sunday in the Park with George
Charles Redmond / Mr.
Arden Theatre Company
Damn Yankees
Joe Boyd
The Muny
2011-2012
Anything Goes
Captain
Stephen Sondheim Theatre , Broadway
2012
Sunset Boulevard
Max von Mayerling
Benedum Center
2015
La Cage aux Folles
Georges
The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum
International National Artists People