Ron Holgate facts for kids

Ronald Holgate, born on May 26, 1937, in Aberdeen, South Dakota, is an American actor and opera singer. He is famous for winning a Tony Award for his role as Richard Henry Lee in the Broadway musical 1776. He also played this role in the movie version of 1776 in 1972.

Early Life and Training

Ron Holgate grew up in South Dakota. His father was a school superintendent, and his mother was a drama teacher. Ron first wanted to be a classical actor. He studied drama at Northwestern University.

While at college, a music expert named Boris Goldovsky discovered his talent. Ron then went on to study opera at places like Tanglewood and the New England Conservatory. In 1959, Ron, who sings with a deep voice called a bass-baritone, won second prize in a big singing competition. This was the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He then toured with Goldovsky's opera group.

Ron Holgate's Career

In the early 1960s, Ron Holgate returned to acting in plays. He started singing opera regularly again in the 1970s. He became known for playing "vain ladies' men." One of his first big roles was Miles Gloriosus in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum on Broadway.

Until 2005, Ron worked a lot in theater. He performed on and Off-Broadway, in local theaters, and in many shows that toured around the country and the world. As an opera singer, he played main roles in famous operas like La Boheme and Don Giovanni. He also sang in concerts, including at Carnegie Hall. He even had a Broadway show with his first wife, Dorothy Collins.

Winning a Tony Award

Ron Holgate played Richard Henry Lee in the musical 1776. Even though he only had one song, "The Lees of Old Virginia," and a few lines, he won a Tony Award. This award was for Best Featured Actor in a Musical that season.

A famous critic, Walter Kerr, said that Ron Holgate was amazing. He said Ron "explodes with the sheer happiness of having come to exist." Another actor from 1776, William Daniels, was also nominated for the same award. But Daniels felt his role was a lead, not a supporting one, so he turned down his nomination.

Other Famous Roles

Ron Holgate created the role of Tito Morelli in the play Lend Me a Tenor. Tito was a very proud opera star. In 1999, Ron played Buffalo Bill Cody in a new version of Annie Get Your Gun. He starred alongside famous actors Bernadette Peters and Tom Wopat.

In the early 2000s, he toured as Caldwell B. Cladwell in the musical Urinetown. Later in 1999, he played Harrison Howell in the Broadway show Kiss Me, Kate. As a fun joke, when he first appeared, the orchestra played the start of "The Lees of Old Virginia." This made the audience laugh because they remembered his famous role from 1776.

Film and TV Appearances

Ron Holgate has not been in many movies or TV shows. He played Richard Henry Lee again in the movie 1776. He also appeared in a direct-to-video movie called Men of Means. He has acted a few times in daytime TV shows, also known as soap operas. These include Another World, Guiding Light, and One Life to Live.

Personal Life

Ron Holgate was married to singer Dorothy Collins from 1966 to 1977. He then married Anny DeGange in 1989, and they are still together. He has three daughters named Melissa, Chloe, and Lily.

Stage Productions

Here are some of the plays and musicals Ron Holgate has been in:

Broadway

• Milk and Honey: chorus
• A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum: Miles Gloriosus
• Sweet Charity: Vittorio Vidal (for one week)
• 1776: Richard Henry Lee
• Saturday Sunday Monday: Luigi Ianniello
• The Grand Tour: Colonel Tadeusz Boleslav Stjerbinsky
• Musical Chairs: Joe Preston
• 42nd Street: Julian Marsh (replacement)
• Lend Me a Tenor: Tito Merelli (also in London's West End)
• Guys and Dolls: Big Jule (replacement)
• Annie Get Your Gun: "Buffalo Bill"
• Kiss Me, Kate: Harrison Howell

Off-Broadway

• Hobo: Jonah
• Hooray! It's a Glorious Day...and all that: Carl Strong
• Blue Plate Special: Larry Finney
• The Sounds of Rodgers and Hammerstein, Part II
• Milk and Honey: Phil Arkin
• Heroes

Awards and Nominations

• 1959 Frederick K. Weyerhauser Scholarship, Metropolitan Opera Auditions
• 1974 New Jersey Drama Critic's Circle Award: A Little Night Music
• 1969 Tony Award: winner, 1776: Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical
• 1979 Tony Award: nominee, The Grand Tour
• 1992 Detroit Drama Critic's Circle Award: Man of La Mancha
• 2005 IRNE Award (Independent Reviewers of New England): Urinetown