Nick Cordero
{{Short description|Canadian actor and singer (1978–2020)}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Canadian English|date=July 2020}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Nick Cordero
| image = NickCordero.jpg
| caption = Cordero in 2014
| birth_name = Nicholas Eduardo Alberto Cordero
| birth_date = {{birth date|1978|9|17}}
| birth_place = Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| death_date = {{nowrap|{{Death date and age|2020|7|5|1978|9|17}}}}
| death_place = Los Angeles, California, U.S.
| death_cause = COVID-19
| occupation = {{hlist|Actor|singer}}
| education = Ryerson University
| years_active = 2005–2020
| spouse = {{marriage|Amanda Kloots|2017}}
| children = 1
}}
Nicholas Eduardo Alberto Cordero (September 17, 1978 – July 5, 2020) was a Canadian actor and singer. He was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role as Cheech in the 2014 Broadway musical Bullets Over Broadway{{Cite web |title=The Tony Award Nominations |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/2014/category/any/show/any/ |access-date=2024-11-08 |website=www.tonyawards.com |language=en-US}} and was twice nominated for Drama Desk Awards. His career also included television and film roles.
Cordero died at age 41 from COVID-19-related complications after more than three months in the hospital.
Early life
Cordero was born and raised in Hamilton, Ontario, to a Canadian mother and a father from Costa Rica.{{cite web| url=http://broadwaystyleguide.com/2017/04/nick-cordero-one-of-the-good-guys/| title=Nick Cordero: One of the Good Guys| author=Suzy Evans| date=April 2017| website=Broadway Style Guide}} He graduated from Westdale Secondary School in Hamilton{{cite news|last=Radley|first=Scot|url=https://www.thespec.com/entertainment/celebrity/2020/04/24/hamilton-actor-nick-cordero-now-negative-for-covid-19.html |title=Hamilton actor Nick Cordero now negative for COVID-19|newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator|date=April 24, 2020|archive-date=May 29, 2020|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200529114730/https://www.thespec.com/entertainment/celebrity/2020/04/24/hamilton-actor-nick-cordero-now-negative-for-covid-19.html|url-status=live}} and attended Ryerson University in Toronto for two years before dropping out to perform in the band Lovemethod.Cordero in {{cite web |first=Lindsay |last=Champion |url=http://www.broadway.com/buzz/175841/tony-nominated-bullets-star-nick-cordero-on-quitting-school-getting-in-trouble-woody-allens-comedy-tips/ |title=Tony-Nominated Bullets Star Nick Cordero on Quitting School, Getting in Trouble & Woody Allen's Comedy Tips |website=Broadway.com |date= May 8, 2014 |archive-date=September 21, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170921095119/http://www.broadway.com/buzz/175841/tony-nominated-bullets-star-nick-cordero-on-quitting-school-getting-in-trouble-woody-allens-comedy-tips/ |url-status=live |quote=I left college at Ryerson University after two years to sing in a rock band, Lovemethod.}}
Career
Cordero's acting debut was in the title role in the off-Broadway production of The Toxic Avenger. He also played the role of Dennis in Rock of Ages on Broadway in 2012 and on tour.{{cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Nick-Cordero/#.U2U-tPldUgR |website=BroadwayWorld |title=Nick Cordero Broadway and Theatre Credits |access-date=June 1, 2020 |archive-date=April 30, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200430174410/https://www.broadwayworld.com/people/Nick-Cordero/ |url-status=live}} Cordero appeared on Broadway in 2014 in the musical Bullets Over Broadway in the role of Cheech,{{cite magazine | url=http://www.playbill.com/news/article/186325-Woody-Allen-Musical-Bullets-Over-Broadway-With-Zach-Braff-and-Marin-Mazzie-Begins-March-11?tsrc=hph | title=Woody Allen Musical Bullets Over Broadway, with Zach Braff and Marin Mazzie, Begins March 11 | magazine=Playbill | date=March 11, 2014 | access-date=April 30, 2014 | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502004336/http://www.playbill.com/news/article/186325-Woody-Allen-Musical-Bullets-Over-Broadway-With-Zach-Braff-and-Marin-Mazzie-Begins-March-11?tsrc=hph | archive-date=May 2, 2014 }} for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical{{cite news | url=http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/arts/culture/la-et-cm-tony-awards-bullets-over-broadway-20140429,0,7978720.story | title=Tony Awards 2014: 'Bullets over Broadway' has lackluster showing | work=Los Angeles Times | date=April 29, 2014 | access-date=April 30, 2014}} and the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical.{{cite magazine|last=Gans|first=Andrew| url=https://www.playbill.com/article/2014-annual-drama-desk-awards-nominations-announced-gentlemans-guide-earns-12-nominations-com-217625|title=2014 Annual Drama Desk Awards Nominations Announced; 'Gentleman's Guide' Earns 12 Nominations|magazine=Playbill|date= April 25, 2014|archive-date=May 28, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190528003733/http://www.playbill.com/article/2014-annual-drama-desk-awards-nominations-announced-gentlemans-guide-earns-12-nominations-com-217625|url-status=live}} He won the Outer Critics Circle Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and a Theatre World Award for the role.{{cite news|title=A busload of love for actor Nick Cordero|url=https://www.thespec.com/entertainment/2014/07/08/a-busload-of-love-for-actor-nick-cordero.html|first=Gary|last=Smith|date=July 8, 2014|access-date=July 5, 2020|newspaper=The Hamilton Spectator}}
In March 2016, Cordero joined the Broadway production of Waitress, playing the role of Earl.{{cite magazine | url=http://www.playbill.com/article/bullets-over-broadway-star-nick-cordero-joins-broadway-bound-waitress-musical | title=Bullets Over Broadway Star Nick Cordero Joins Broadway-Bound Waitress Musical | magazine=Playbill | date=January 12, 2016 | access-date=April 3, 2016|archive-date= July 28, 2018|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20180728191153/http://www.playbill.com/article/bullets-over-broadway-star-nick-cordero-joins-broadway-bound-waitress-musical|url-status=live}} He left Waitress to join the Broadway premiere of the musical A Bronx Tale, playing Sonny at the Longacre Theatre starting on November 3, 2016.{{cite web |url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Nick-Cordero-Richard-H-Blake-Bobby-Conte-Thornton-Ariana-DeBose-and-More-to-Lead-A-BRONX-TALE-on-Broadway-20160831 |title=Nick Cordero, Richard H. Blake, Bobby Conte Thornton, Ariana DeBose and More to Lead 'A Bronx Tale' on Broadway |website=BroadwayWorld |date=August 31, 2016}} For this role, Cordero was nominated for the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical in 2017.{{cite magazine |last1=McPhee |first1=Ryan |title=2017 Drama Desk Awards Presented June 4 |magazine=Playbill |date=June 4, 2017 |url=https://www.playbill.com/article/2017-drama-desk-awards-presented-june-4 |access-date=July 6, 2020 |language=en}} Also in 2017, he portrayed Victor Lugo in "Out of the Blue" and "Heavy Is the Head", the fourth and tenth episodes of the eighth season of the CBS police procedural drama Blue Bloods.{{cite web |url=https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/blue_bloods/s08/e10|title=Blue Bloods – Season 8 Episode 10 |publisher=Rotten Tomatoes|access-date=July 5, 2020}}{{cite news |title=Blue Bloods Season 8 Episode 4 Photos Out of the Blue |url=https://seat42f.com/blue-bloods-season-8-episode-4-photos-out-of-the-blue.html |first=Thomas |last=Miller |date=October 18, 2017 |access-date=July 5, 2020 |work=Seat42F}} He reprised the role in 2018 in "Your Six", the twentieth episode of the eighth season of the show.{{cite news |title=Here's Why 'Blue Bloods' Is Not on Tonight |url=https://popculture.com/tv-shows/news/why-blue-bloods-not-on-tonight-cbs-schedule/ |first=Daniel S. |last=Levine|date=April 20, 2018 |access-date=July 5, 2020 |publisher=PopCulture.com}} In March 2020 Cordero moved to Los Angeles to work in a production of Rock of Ages.{{cite news |title=AMANDA KLOOTS Shares What Its Like Living With Zach Braff & Florence Pugh |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2T5_eqehmmk |date=August 20, 2021 |access-date=March 20, 2022}}
Personal life
On September 3, 2017, Cordero married dancer Amanda Kloots in a formal ceremony.{{cite news|title=A Bronx Tale's Nick Cordero and His Bride Perform a First Dance to Wow Their Wedding Guests|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/a-bronx-tales-nick-cordero-and-his-bride-perform-a-first-dance-to-wow-their-wedding-guests|first=Ruthie|last=Fierberg|date=September 6, 2017|access-date=July 5, 2020|magazine=Playbill|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200701225951/https://www.playbill.com/article/a-bronx-tales-nick-cordero-and-his-bride-perform-a-first-dance-to-wow-their-wedding-guests|archive-date=July 1, 2020}} Their son was born on June 10, 2019.{{cite news|title=Broadway's Nick Cordero and Amanda Kloots Welcome First Child|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/broadways-nick-cordero-and-amanda-kloots-welcome-first-child|first=Ruthie|last=Fierberg|date=June 11, 2019|access-date=July 5, 2020|magazine=Playbill}}
= Illness and death =
Cordero was initially diagnosed with pneumonia while staying with his wife and son at the guest house of former Bullets Over Broadway co-star Zach Braff.{{cite web |title='Never Known A Kinder Person': Actor Nick Cordero Dies Of COVID-19 At 41|url=https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/07/06/887583569/never-known-a-kinder-person-actor-nick-cordero-dies-of-covid-19-at-41 |publisher=NPR |access-date=March 20, 2022 |date=July 6, 2020}}{{cite web |title=AMANDA KLOOTS Opens Up On the Life Altering Spiral With Her Late Husband|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEnVxV-NkfA |publisher=Inside of You |access-date=March 20, 2022 |date=August 18, 2021}} He was admitted to a hospital on March 30, 2020, where he was later diagnosed with COVID-19 during the pandemic in Los Angeles.{{cite web |title=Coronavirus: Broadway actor Nick Cordero wakes from coma |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52645276 |publisher=BBC News |access-date=May 13, 2020 |date=May 13, 2020}} He was initially offered hydroxychloroquine.{{Cite web |last=Kettmann |first=Steve |date=2021-06-22 |title=From heartbreak to heroes: Three books make sense of the pandemic |url=https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/books/from-heartbreak-to-heroes-three-books-make-sense-of-the-pandemic |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230709232457/https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/books/from-heartbreak-to-heroes-three-books-make-sense-of-the-pandemic |archive-date=2023-07-09 |access-date=2023-07-09 |website=Datebook {{!}} San Francisco Arts & Entertainment Guide |language=en-US}}{{Cite book |last1=Kloots |first1=Amanda |title=Live Your Life: My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero |last2=Kloots |first2=Amanda |publisher=HarperCollins |date=2021-06-15 |isbn=9780063078253 |pages=30, 63, 146}} Due to his worsening condition, his doctors put him in a medically-induced coma and placed him on a ventilator, and treated him with dialysis and extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO).{{cite magazine|last=Pasquini|first=Maria|date=April 12, 2020|url= https://people.com/theater/nick-cordero-critical-condition-emergency-surgery-coronavirus-health-crisis/ |title=Nick Cordero in 'Very Critical Condition' After Emergency Surgery amid Coronavirus Health Crisis|magazine=People|access-date=April 12, 2020}} He was also enrolled into the clinical trial for the antiviral drug remdesivir, which was taking place at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center.{{Cite book |last1=Kloots |first1=Amanda |title=Live Your Life: My Story of Loving and Losing Nick Cordero |last2=Kloots |first2=Anna |date=2021-06-15 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=9780063078253 |pages=58–59}}
On April 18, 2020, his right leg was amputated due to a blood clot as a result of complications from his illness.{{cite news |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/nick-cordero-leg-amputation-1.5537671 |title=Nick Cordero, Broadway star from Ontario, has leg amputated due to COVID-19 complications |publisher=CBC News |date=April 19, 2020}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.vox.com/2020/5/8/21251899/coronavirus-long-term-effects-symptoms|title = The emerging long-term complications of Covid-19, explained|date = May 8, 2020}} By May 1, 2020, he had major lung damage including "holes in his lungs" and lung scarring.{{cite news |first=Lisa Respers |last=France |title=Nick Cordero's wife says his lungs are 'severely damaged' |url=https://www.cnn.com/2020/05/01/entertainment/nick-cordero-update-trnd/index.html |date=May 1, 2020 |access-date=May 3, 2020 |publisher=CNN}} A tracheostomy tube was inserted to help him breathe.{{cite news |last1=Trepany |first1=Charles |title=Nick Cordero's coronavirus recovery: Amanda Kloots shares update she hopes is 'great sign' |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2020/05/01/amanda-kloots-gives-positive-update-nick-cordero-coronavirus-recovery/3071277001/ |access-date=May 3, 2020 |work=USA Today}}{{cite news |last1=Pasquini |first1=Maria |title=Nick Cordero 'Doing Well' After Tracheostomy as His Wife Hopes for 'Another Day of Rest and Recovery' |url=https://people.com/theater/nick-cordero-doing-well-after-tracheostomy-wife-amanda-kloots/ |date=May 3, 2020 |access-date=May 4, 2020 |work=People}}
On July 5, 2020, after 95 days in the hospital, Cordero died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, at age 41.{{cite web|last=Paulson|first=Michael|date=July 5, 2020|title=Nick Cordero, Nominated for Tony as Tap-Dancing Tough Guy, Dies at 41|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/05/theater/nick-cordero-dead-coronavirus.html|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200707002928/https://www.nytimes.com/2020/07/05/obituaries/nick-cordero-dead-coronavirus.html|archive-date=July 7, 2020|access-date=July 6, 2020|work=The New York Times}}{{cite web|url=https://people.com/theater/nick-cordero-dead-coronavirus-complications/|title=Broadway Star Nick Cordero Dies at 41 After Over 90 Days in Hospital from Coronavirus Complications|work=People|first1=Maria|last1=Pasquini|first2=Gabrielle|last2=Chung|date=July 5, 2020|access-date=July 6, 2020}} His body was cremated.{{Cite web |last=Chung |first=Gabrielle |date=2020-09-14 |title=Amanda Kloots Says She Scattered Some of Late Husband Nick Cordero's Ashes in the Pacific Ocean |url=https://people.com/theater/amanda-kloots-scattered-nick-cordero-ashes-pacific-ocean/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240104164538/https://people.com/theater/amanda-kloots-scattered-nick-cordero-ashes-pacific-ocean/ |archive-date=2024-01-04 |access-date=2024-01-04 |website=People |language=en}}
Legacy
On July 7, 2020, an effort was launched to rename the Longacre Theatre in Manhattan after Cordero.{{cite web |url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Fans-Launch-Petition-to-Rename-Longacre-Theatre-in-Memory-of-Nick-Cordero-20200707 |title=Fans Launch Petition to Rename Longacre Theatre in Memory of Nick Cordero |work=BroadwayWorld |access-date=July 8, 2020}} On September 2, 2021, the Broadway production of Waitress paid tribute to Cordero, with Kloots and the show's cast performing his single "Live Your Life". Additionally, the "Live Your Life Pie" has become a permanent part of the show's set and script.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/waitress-nick-cordero-pie-tribute-broadway-run-national-tour-1235007455/ |title='Waitress' to Honor Nick Cordero in Broadway Run With Special Pie Tribute |last=White |first=Abbey |date=September 2, 2021 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |access-date=January 24, 2022}} A film of a rooftop performance of a song from Bullets Over Broadway is dedicated to his memory, commemorating his portrayal of Cheech.{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadwayworld.com/article/VIDEO-American-Dance-Machine-For-the-21st-Century-Performs-TaintNobodys-Biz-ness-If-I-Do-From-BULLETS-OVER-BROADWAY-20210720|title=VIDEO: American Dance Machine for the 21st Century Performs 'T'aint Nobody's Biz-ness if I Do' from BULLETS OVER BROADWAY}}
On September 2, 2020, American singer-songwriter Finneas released the song "What They'll Say About Us", which was partly inspired by Cordero's death.{{cite web|url=https://etcanada.com/news/686825/finneas-on-the-deep-meaning-behind-new-single-what-theyll-say-about-us/|title=Finneas On The Deep Meaning Behind New Single 'What They'll Say About Us'|last=Darmon|first=Aynslee|website=Entertainment Tonight Canada|date=September 2, 2020|access-date=July 24, 2023|archive-date=September 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200905200354/https://etcanada.com/news/686825/finneas-on-the-deep-meaning-behind-new-single-what-theyll-say-about-us/|url-status=dead}}
On November 8, 2021, the first 'Nick Cordero Award' scholarship was awarded at Toronto Metropolitan University. The fundraising efforts of his former classmates and friends enabled this award to be given in perpetuity. {{cite web |url=http://supportryerson.ca/nickcordero|title=The Nick Cordero Award |date=September 2, 2021 |work=Toronto Metropolitan University |access-date=October 10, 2020}}
Filmography
= Film =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !scope=col| Year !scope=col| Title !scope=col| Role !scope=col class="unsortable"| Notes !scope=col class=unsortable| Ref |
| 2007
|Apartments at 254 |John |Short |
| 2011
|Don Juan | |
| 2016
|data-sort-value="Stand Up Guy, A" | A Stand Up Guy |Sal | |
| 2017
|Butcher | |
| 2019
|Pete Ruggieri | |
| 2019
| |
= Television =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !scope=col| Year !scope=col| Title !scope=col| Role !scope=col class="unsortable"| Notes Notes !scope=col class=unsortable| Ref |
| 2005
|Tuna Wrap |1 episode |
| 2014
|Pasquale 'Patsy' Lento |1 episode |
| 2014
|data-sort-value="Broadway.com Show, The" | The Broadway.com Show |Himself |5 episodes |
| 2015
|data-sort-value="Talk, The" | The Talk |Himself |1 episode |
| 2015
|Himself |Performer |
| 2017
|Side by Side by Susan Blackwell |Himself |1 episode; web series |
| 2017–2018
|Victor Lugo |3 episodes |
| 2015, 2019
|Law & Order: Special Victims Unit |Anthony Marino / Robby Marino |2 episodes |
= Theatre =
| class="wikitable sortable"
|+ !Year !Title !Role !class="unsortable"| Notes |
| 2007
|Sammy |Hamilton's Theatre Aquarius |
| 2009
|data-sort-value="Toxic Avenger, The" | The Toxic Avenger |Melvin Ferd III/The Toxic Avenger |Off-Broadway |
| 2012
|Dennis/Record Company Man |rowspan=2|Broadway |
| 2014
|Cheech |
| 2015
|Brooklynite |Avenging Angelo |Off-Broadway |
| 2016
|Earl Hunterson |rowspan=2|Broadway |
| 2016–18
|data-sort-value="Bronx Tale, A" | A Bronx Tale |Sonny |
| 2018
|Orin Scrivello |Kennedy Center[https://playbill.com/article/megan-hilty-and-josh-radnor-star-in-kennedy-center-little-shop-of-horrors-beginning-october-24 Megan Hilty and Josh Radnor Star in Kennedy Center Little Shop of Horrors Beginning October 24] |
Awards and nominations
{{unreferenced section|date=October 2020}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|1949008}}
- [https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/nick-cordero-493482 Nick Cordero] at the Internet Broadway Database
- [http://www.iobdb.com/CreditableEntity/37133 Nick Cordero] at the Internet Off-Broadway Database
- [https://www.playbill.com/article/playbillcoms-cue-a-bullets-over-broadway-tony-award-nominee-nick-cordero-com-218038 Nick Cordero Interview] at Playbill.com
- {{Discogs artist|Nick Cordero}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Cordero, Nick}}
Category:21st-century Canadian male actors
Category:Canadian emigrants to the United States
Category:Canadian male film actors
Category:Canadian male musical theatre actors
Category:Canadian male television actors
Category:Male actors from Hamilton, Ontario
Category:Theatre World Award winners
Category:Canadian people of Costa Rican descent