Tributes pour in after death of Broadway veteran and ‘Sopranos’ actor Robert LuPone at age 76
Theresa Braine
New York City’s theater community and beyond paid tribute Sunday to Broadway veteran and “The Sopranos” co-star Robert LuPone, the Tony- and Emmy-nominated actor who died the day before of pancreatic cancer.
The older brother of Broadway icon Patti LuPone was 76.
Robert LuPone, former director of The New School for Drama, speaks at a celebration marking the opening of The New School's University Center on Jan. 23, 2014, in New York City.
Robert LuPone, former director of The New School for Drama, speaks at a celebration marking the opening of The New School's University Center on Jan. 23, 2014, in New York City. (Diane Bondareff/)
The versatile Brooklyn-born actor earned a Tony nomination for playing Zach in the original “A Chorus Line” on Broadway, portrayed the disciple James in the 1973 film version of “Jesus Christ Superstar,” and showed up as Tony Soprano’s neighbor and personal physician, Dr. Bruce “Cooze” Cusamano, on the hit HBO show.
LuPone’s other memorable TV role was as Len Schneider, smarm-master neighbor to “Sex and the City’s” Samantha Jones. He was also a fixture on the soap operas “Guiding Light” and “All My Children,” the latter netting him a Daytime Emmy nomination.
Ted Neeley, who played Jesus in “Superstar,” on Sunday remembered a “kind & gentle spirit with a great sense of humor,” he said on Twitter. “One of the best performers I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with. Bob always did everything to the very best of his ability.”
LuPone’s first love was the stage, where he appeared in “A View from the Bridge,” “True West” and “A Thousand Clowns” on Broadway and the Chicago premiere of Sam Shepard’s “The Tooth of Crime.”
Along the way he founded the Manhattan Class Company, later known as MCC Theater, in 1986 with Bernie Telsey, a student he had taught acting to at New York University. Together with third co-artistic director Will Cantler, MCC nurtured and generated Broadway-bound hits including “Frozen,” “Reasons to be Pretty,” “Hand to God,” “School Girls; or the African Mean Girls Play,” “The Snow Geese,” “The Other Place” and “Wit,” which won the Pulitzer Prize.
Cultural critic, historian and theater director Isaac Butler, who helped direct “Coraline” with MCC, said LuPone had been “as friendly and generous with his time to me when I was the least important person in the production as he was to the lead actors.”
Broadway star and "Sopranos" actor Robert LuPone, who earned a Tony nomination in the original run of “A Chorus Line” and went on to help lead the influential off-Broadway theatre company MCC Theatre for almost 40 years, died Saturday, Aug. 27, 2022. He was 76.
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Author Nicholas Evans, the British author of the bestselling novel “The Horse Whisperer,” has died at 72. His representatives at United Agents said Evans died “suddenly” on Aug. 9, 2022 following a heart attack. Published in 1995, “The Horse Whisperer” was Evans’ debut novel and sold more than 15 million copies worldwide.
Olivia Newton-John, the Grammy-winning superstar who reigned on pop, country, adult contemporary and dance charts with such hits as “Physical” and “You’re the One That I Want” has died. She was 73.
Roger E. Mosley, who played alongside Tom Selleck in "Magnum P.I.," died Sunday, Aug. 7, 2022, after a major car accident last week. He was 83.
NBA great Bill Russell died Sunday, July 31, 2022. He was 88. Russell anchored a Boston Celtics dynasty that won 11 titles in 13 years.
Paul Sorvino, an imposing actor who specialized in playing crooks and cops like Paulie Cicero in “Goodfellas” and the NYPD sergeant Phil Cerretta on “Law & Order,” has died. He was 83.
Ivana Trump, the first wife of Donald Trump, has died in New York City. “I am very saddened to inform all of those that loved her, of which there are many, that Ivana Trump has passed away," the former president announced on social media on Thursday, July 14, 2022. Ivana Trump was 73.
Tony Sirico, best known for his role as Paulie Gualtieri in "The Sopranos," died Friday, July 8, 2022. He was 79.
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Taylor Hawkins of Foo Fighters sits onstage during an interview during the 2021 iHeartRadio ALTer EGO. Hawkins, the longtime drummer for the rock band Foo Fighters, has died, Friday, March 25, 2022. He was 50.
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Jamal Edwards, who changed the game for British rap and helped start careers for artists Ed Sheeran, Stormzy and more, died Sunday, Feb. 20, 2022, following a sudden illness. He was 31.
Rangers legend Emile Francis, who entered the NHL Hall of Fame as coach and general manager of the New York hockey team, died Saturday, Feb. 19, 2022. He was 95.
Director Ivan Reitman, the influential filmmaker and producer behind beloved comedies from “Animal House” to “Ghostbusters,” has died. He was 75. Reitman passed away peacefully in his sleep Saturday night, Feb. 12, 2022, at his home in Montecito, Calif., his family told The Associated Press.
Peter Robbins, the original voice of the "Peanuts" character Charlie Brown, died at the age of 65, his family confirmed on Tuesday, Jan. 25, 2022. Robbins cause of death is reportedly suicide.
Kathryn Kates, known for her roles in "Seinfeld" and "Orange Is The Black," died on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, after a long battle with lung cancer. She was 73.
Former New York Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver, one of the most powerful figures in state government for two decades before his conviction on corruption charges, died in federal custody on Monday, Jan. 24, 2022. He was 77.
French fashion designer Manfred Thierry Mugler, whose dramatic designs were worn by celebrities like Madonna, Lady Gaga and Cardi B, has died. He was 73. A post all in black on his official Instagram account said he died Sunday, Jan. 23, 2022 and “May his soul Rest In Peace." It did not give a cause of death.
Vietnamese Zen master Thich Nhat Hanh, center, who helped pioneer the concept of mindfulness in the West and socially engaged Buddhism in the East, has died at age 95 on Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, according to an announcement on his verified Twitter page.
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Bob Saget, a comedian and actor known for his role as a widower raising a trio of daughters in the sitcom “Full House,” has died, according to authorities in Florida, Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. He was 65.
Dwayne Hickman. the actor and network TV executive who despite numerous achievements throughout his life would always be remembered fondly by a generation of baby boomers for his role as Dobie Gillis, died Sunday, Jan. 9, 2022. He was 87.
Michael Lang, co-creator and promoter of the 1969 Woodstock music festival that served as a touchstone for generations of music fans, Michael Lang has died. A spokesperson for Lang's family says the 77-year-old had been battling non-Hodgkin lymphoma and passed away Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 in a New York City hospital.
Oscar-winning lyricist Marilyn Bergman, right, died Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022 at age 93. She teamed with husband Alan Bergman on “The Way We Were,” “How Do You Keep the Music Playing?” and hundreds of other songs. Alan, left, and Marilyn Bergman photographed at the ASCAP Film and Television music awards in Beverly Hills, Calif. in 2008.
Director Peter Bogdanovich, the Oscar-nominated director of "The Last Picture Show," and "Paper Moon," died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022 at his home in Los Angeles. He was 82.
Sidney Poitier poses with his honorary Oscar during the 74th annual Academy Awards in 2002. Poitier, the groundbreaking actor and enduring inspiration who transformed how Black people were portrayed on screen, became the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for best lead performance and the first to be a top box-office draw, died Thursday, Jan. 6, 2022. He was 94.
Musical theater actress Donna Murphy remembered “an incredible man and artistic force,” she said on Twitter. “May you rest in peace and power Bob LuPone. Thank you for all you’ve given us. My deepest condolences to all your family & loved ones.”
LuPone also served as director of the master’s drama program at the New School for Drama from 2005 through 2011 and as president of the board of directors of A.R.T./New York.
Born in 1946, the actor first hit the professional stage in 1966, playing in the ensemble of “The Pajama Game” at Westbury Music Fair, starring Liza Minnelli. In 1968 he debuted on Broadway in Noel Coward’s “Sweet Potato,” followed by appearances in “Minnie’s Boys,” “The Rothschilds” and “The Magic Show.” That was also the year he graduated from The Juilliard School with a bachelor’s degree in dance.
LuPone is survived by his wife and son, and sister Patti.
“Bob was a force, an advocate, complex in the richest ways, overflowing with a youthful enthusiasm, and deeply wise as he looked into our souls,” MCC said in a statement. “He was our best friend.”
