George Hearn facts for kids

George Hearn (born June 18, 1934) is an American actor and singer. He is best known for his work in Broadway musical theatre. He has played many famous roles, including Albin in La Cage aux Folles and the main character in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

George Hearn has won two Tony Awards for his roles in La Cage aux Folles and Sunset Boulevard. He was also nominated for three other Tony Awards and an Olivier Award.

Early Life

George Hearn was born in St. Louis, Missouri. Before becoming an actor, he studied philosophy at Southwestern at Memphis, which is now called Rhodes College. He then trained for the stage with acting coach Irene Dailey. Many of his first performances were in classic plays at the New York Shakespeare Festival.

His Acting Career

George Hearn's acting career began in 1963. He first gained attention for his role as John Dickinson in the musical 1776 in 1969. He also starred opposite Liv Ullmann in the musical I Remember Mama in 1979.

Famous Roles on Stage

In 1980, George Hearn took over the main role in Stephen Sondheim's musical Sweeney Todd. He later toured with the show's original star, Angela Lansbury. They also performed their roles for a Showtime TV production of the musical, which won him an Emmy Award.

In 1983, Hearn created the role of Albin in the original Broadway show La Cage aux Folles. In this musical, he was the first to sing the famous song "I Am What I Am". For this role, he won a Tony Award, a Drama Desk Award, and an Outer Critics' Circle Award for Best Actor in a Musical. He also performed in the London production of La Cage aux Folles.

He won another Tony Award for playing Max Von Mayerling in the Broadway production of Sunset Boulevard. He was also nominated for an award for playing Mr. Otto Frank in the 1997 show The Diary of Anne Frank.

In 2004, Hearn returned to Broadway to play the Wonderful Wizard of Oz in the musical Wicked. He stayed in the role until 2005 and returned for a short time in 2006.

On Screen

George Hearn has also appeared in several films and television shows. He was a guest star on the TV series Murder, She Wrote with his friend Angela Lansbury. He also had roles in movies like Sneakers and Flags of Our Fathers. He has also lent his voice to animated characters.

Here are some of his notable film and television roles:

Stage Performances

Here are some of the stage productions George Hearn has been a part of:

Awards and Recognition

George Hearn has received many awards for his acting:

George Hearn was also added to the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2007, which is a great honor for actors.

Personal Life

George Hearn is married to Leslie Simons. He has three children. He currently lives in Essex, New York.