Russell Nype
{{Short description|American actor and singer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Russell Nype
| image =
| imagesize = 180px
| caption =
| birth_name = Russell Harold Nype
| birth_date = {{birth date|1920|04|26}}
| birth_place = Zion, Illinois, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2018|05|27|1920|04|26}}
| death_place = West Palm Beach, Florida, U.S.
| occupation = Actor, singer
| yearsactive = 1949–1991
| spouse = {{marriage|Diantha Fitch Lawrence|1953|2015|reason=d}}
| children = 1
| alma_mater = Lake Forest College
}}
Russell Harold Nype (April 26, 1920 – May 27, 2018){{cite web |last1=Gans |first1=Andrew |title=Two-Time Tony-Winning Actor Russell Nype Dies at 98 |url=http://www.playbill.com/article/two-time-tony-winning-actor-russell-nype-dies-at-98 |website=Playbill |publisher=Playbill, Inc. |access-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809020821/http://www.playbill.com/article/two-time-tony-winning-actor-russell-nype-dies-at-98 |archive-date=August 9, 2019}} was an American actor and singer.
Early years
Born in Zion, Illinois, Nype majored in speech and English at Lake Forest College,{{cite news |last1=Barnard |first1=Ken |title=Nype's Fine Duet With Miss Kitt |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/33218098/russell_nype/ |access-date=June 25, 2019 |work=Detroit Free Press |date=January 23, 1966 |location=Michigan, Detroit |page=23|via = Newspapers.com}} earning a bachelor's degree.{{cite news |last1=Barnes |first1=Mike |title=Russell Nype, Two-Time Tony Winner and Star of 'Call Me Madam,' Dies at 98 |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/russell-nype-dead-two-time-tony-winner-star-call-me-madam-dies-at-98-1116951 |access-date=August 9, 2019 |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=June 4, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809024930/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/russell-nype-dead-two-time-tony-winner-star-call-me-madam-dies-at-98-1116951 |archive-date=August 9, 2019}} During World War II, he served in the United States Army. Early in his New York career, press stories frequently mentioned his Illinois roots and religiously strict upbringing: "I come from the severest aspects of the Midwestern Bible belt. My family hasn't actually written me off because I'm in show business, but they'd be much happier if I concentrated my performances on singing hymns in church. My answer is that I couldn't support my wife and children."Stern, Harold. "Russell Nype Unusual Show Type", Yonkers (NY) Herald-Statesmen, February 10, 1959.
Career
After teaching ballroom dance and singing in nightclubs, Nype made his Broadway debut in Marc Blitzstein's opera Regina in 1949. The following year he won critical acclaim and both the Tony and Theatre World Awards for his performance opposite Ethel Merman in Call Me Madam.{{cite web|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1144&dat=19680602&id=NuIeAAAAIBAJ&pg=7215,591020|title=Russell Nype moves up ladder|publisher=The Pittsburgh Press|date=June 2, 1968|access-date=March 5, 2014}} One Broadway columnist provided a measure of how quickly he rose from obscurity in the show: "A week ago, Russell Nype was such an unknown that Celebrity Service, which keeps files on performers, didn't even list his name. The day after he opened in Call Me Madam Celeb Service received 60 phone calls from agents, writers, and producers asking for background material on him, and his phone number. He gets featured billing in the show next week."Kilgallen, Dorothy. "Voice of Broadway", Olean (NY) Times Herald, October 23, 1950. Merman and Nype were reunited in 1970 when, late in the run of the original production of Hello, Dolly!, Merman joined the show in the title role and Nype was cast as Cornelius Hackl. Nype later appeared in revivals of Carousel, Brigadoon, and Morning's at Seven, and opposite Elaine Stritch in the short-lived musical Goldilocks, for which he won his second Tony.{{IBDB name|54776}} A Bucks County (PA) Playhouse engagement in 1960 was a revival of the 1935 play Petticoat Fever, with added new songs."Novelties on Straw Hat Circuit", Philadelphia Inquirer, June 19, 1960.
Nype caught Hollywood's attention early and was offered a role in MGM's Young Man in a Hurry. MGM released him after eight days of filming, and the movie eventually debuted with Glenn Ford as Young Man with Ideas in 1952. As Nype explained, "I realized from the outset that I was too young for the role. It was originally written for Jimmy Stewart and the character was supposed to be married 10 years and have three children--eight, five, and one years old....When the studio bosses saw the first eight days' rushes, they agreed with me that I was too young for the part."Thomas, Bob. "Russell Nype Bows out of Debut Movie", Cortland (NY) Standard, September 15, 1951.
Nype's feature film credits include Love Story (1970), Can't Stop the Music (1980) and The Stuff (1985). On television he appeared in Studio One, Fantasy Island, One Day at a Time, The Cosby Show, Murder, She Wrote, Who's the Boss?, and productions of One Touch of Venus, Kiss Me, Kate and Morning's at Seven.
Personal life
Nype married Diantha Fitch Lawrence on March 7, 1953; the couple had one child, a son. Diantha Lawrence Nype died in 2015."Noted Singer to Wed", Utica (NY) Daily Press, February 18, 1953.
Death
Nype died in West Palm Beach, Florida, on May 27, 2018, at the age of 98, survived by his son, two grandchildren, and two stepchildren.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/06/04/obituaries/russell-nype-two-time-tony-winning-actor-dies-at-98.html|title=Russell Nype, Two-Time Tony-Winning Actor, Dies at 98|work=The New York Times|date=June 4, 2018|access-date=June 4, 2018}}
Filmography
| class="wikitable"
|+ Film |
| Year
! Title ! Role ! Notes |
|---|
| 1970
| Dean Thompson | |
| 1980
| Richard Montgomery | |
| 1983
| Balboa | Senator Highsmith | |
| 1985
| Richards | |
Stage
Awards and nominations
| class="wikitable" |
| Year
! Award ! Category ! Nominated work ! Results ! Ref. |
|---|
| 1951
| {{n/a}} | rowspan="2"| Call Me Madam | {{won}} | align="center"| {{cite web |url=http://www.theatreworldawards.org/past-recipients.html |title=Theatre World Award Recipients |publisher=Theatre World Awards |access-date=August 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190809233746/http://www.theatreworldawards.org/past-recipients.html |archive-date=August 9, 2019}} |
| 1951
| rowspan="2"| Tony Awards | rowspan="2"| Best Supporting or Featured Actress in a Musical | {{won}} | align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1951/category/any/show/any/ |title=1951 Tony Awards |publisher=Tony Awards |access-date=December 28, 2024}} |
| 1959
| {{won}}{{efn|Tied with Leonard Stone for Redhead}} | align="center"| {{cite web |url=https://www.tonyawards.com/nominees/year/1959/category/any/show/any/ |title=1959 Tony Awards |publisher=Tony Awards |access-date=December 28, 2024}} |
Notes
{{Notelist}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{IMDb name|0638812}}
- {{IBDB name|54776}}
- {{iobdb name|5648}}
{{TonyAward MusicalFeaturedActor 1947-1975}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Nype, Russell}}
Category:Male actors from Illinois
Category:American male film actors
Category:American male musical theatre actors
Category:American male stage actors
Category:American male television actors