Dennis King
Dennis King (born Dennis Pratt, 2 November 1897 – 21 May 1971) was an English actor and singer.
Dennis King | |
|---|---|
 King circa 1927 | |
| Born | Dennis Pratt 2 November 1897 Coventry, Warwickshire, England, UK |
| Died | 21 May 1971 (aged 73) New York City, US |
| Years active | 1919–1969 |
| Spouse(s) | Edith Wright (?–1963) (her death) |
| Children | John Michael King Dennis King Jr. (1921–1986) |
Born in Coventry, Warwickshire, King had a stage career in both drama (including Shakespeare) and musicals. He immigrated to the US in 1921 and went on to a successful career on the Broadway stage. Among his most notable performances was his role in the original production of Rudolf Friml's Rose-Marie, in which he introduced the songs "Rose-Marie" and "Indian Love Call",[1] and the role of Captain Fairfax in the Donaldson Award and Outer Critics Circle Award winning play Billy Budd (1951) by Louis O. Coxe and Robert H. Chapman.[2][3]
He appeared in two musical films and played non-singing roles in two other films. He also played several roles on television. He died in New York City, 21 May 1971, aged 73.
Family
He was the father of musical theatre actor John Michael King who originated the role of Freddy Eynsford Hill in My Fair Lady. Dennis King pursued his hobby of painting later in life.
Musical theatre credits
- 1919: Monsieur Beaucaire (London production)
- 1925: Rose-Marie as Jim Kenyon (Broadway production)
- 1925: The Vagabond King as François Villon (Broadway production)
- 1928: The Three Musketeers as d'Artagnan (Broadway production)
- 1930: The Three Musketeers as d'Artagnan (London production)
- 1932: Show Boat as Gaylord Ravenal (Broadway revival)
- 1933: Command Performance (musical) as Peter Mali (London production)
- 1937: Frederika as Goethe (Broadway production)
- 1938: I Married an Angel as Count Willi Palaffi (Broadway production)
- 1951: Music in the Air as Bruno Mahler (Broadway revival)
- 1956: Shangri-La as Hugh Conway (Broadway production)
Musical film credits
- 1930: The Vagabond King as François Villon
- 1930: Paramount on Parade as Man to be Hanged - Episode 'The Gallows Song'
- 1933: Fra Diavolo (also known as The Devil's Brother and Bogus Bandits), a version of Daniel Auber's Fra Diavolo – although Laurel and Hardy were the stars, King played the title role) as Fra Diavolo / Marquis de San Marco
Other film credits
- 1944: Between Two Worlds (a remake of the 1930 film Outward Bound), as a minister William Duke
- 1959: The Miracle as a nobleman who is one of Carroll Baker's admirers
- 1969: Some Kind of a Nut as Otis Havemeyer (final film role)
Television credits
- 1957: Twelfth Night (as Sir Toby Belch, on the Hallmark Hall of Fame) as Sir Toby Belch
- 1958: Aladdin (CBS color television special with songs by Cole Porter) (presented on the DuPont Show of the Month)
- 1960: The Mikado (NBC colour television special with Groucho Marx, Stanley Holloway and Helen Traubel) (presented by the Bell Telephone Hour)
- 1961: Give Us Barabbas! (as Pontius Pilate) (presented on the Hallmark Hall of Fame)
