Edmund Lyndeck (October 4, 1925 – December 14, 2015) was an American actor and musical theatre performer. He is best known for originating the roles of Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Cinderella’s Father in Into the Woods.
Edmund Lyndeck | |
|---|---|
| Born | October 4, 1925 |
| Died | December 14, 2015 (aged 90) Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, singer |
| Years active | 1970–2015 |
| Known for | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Into the Woods |
His other Broadway credits include 1776, Mrs. Warren's Profession, A Doll's Life, and Merlin, and he also played Sir Danvers Carew in the 1990 world premiere of Jekyll & Hyde.
Stage edit
Lyndeck, a former college professor, spent over a dozen years in stock and regional theater before making his Broadway debut in the original production of 1776.[2] After originating the role of John Witherspoon, Lyndeck went on to play Stephen Hopkins, Dr. Lyman Hall, and Charles Thomson before ending up on tour as John Dickinson.
His best-known role is the evil Judge Turpin in the original production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, which he also repeated for the first national tour, the 1980 television broadcast, and a 1994 production at the North Shore Music Theatre. He earned a Drama-Logue Award for his performance in the tour's Los Angeles berth. He followed up Sweeney Todd with another Stephen Sondheim musical, Into the Woods, originating the role of Cinderella's Father and later playing the Mysterious Man as well. His other Broadway credits include Mrs. Warren's Profession, A Doll's Life, and Merlin.[3]
Lyndeck worked frequently in Pennsylvania regional theater. For many years he was a fixture at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera — most notably as Scrooge in their annual musical version of A Christmas Carol, a role he performed almost every year from 1992 to 2007.[4]
Film and television edit
Lyndeck appeared occasionally on film and television. He was a contract player on a now-defunct soap opera, The Doctors, and has had guest roles in series like Ed, The Cosby Show, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. His best-known film role is as the marijuana-smoking grandfather in Road Trip; he is also known for his appearance in Adam Sandler's Big Daddy as Mr. Herlihy, You Don't Mess with the Zohan as the Pharmacist, and his most recent appearance in The Notorious Bettie Page. He also did voiceovers for numerous television and film documentaries.[5]
Death edit
Lyndeck died December 14, 2015, aged 90.[6]
Acting credits edit
Theatre edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | Ziegfeld Follies | Ben Yost's Vi-King | |
| 1963 | Around the World in 80 Days | M. Gasse / Maharajah of Panjipur / Silk Hat Harry | |
| 1969-1972 | 1776 | Rev. John Witherspoon
u/s Charles Thomson |
Broadway |
| Stephen Hopkins | |||
| Dr. Lyman Hall | |||
| Stephen Hopkins
u/s Charles Thomson | |||
| 1972 | The King and I | The Kralahome | |
| 1976 | Mrs. Warren's Profession | u/s Mr. Praed | Broadway |
| 1776 | John Dickinson | Tour | |
| 1977 | Piaf...A Remembrance | Louis Leplee | |
| 1979 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Judge Turpin | Broadway |
| 1980-1981 | National Tour | ||
| 1982 | A Doll's Life | Eric | Broadway |
| Los Angeles | |||
| 1983 | Merlin | The Wizard | Broadway |
| Oliver! | Fagin | Regional | |
| 1985 | Carousel | Dr. Seldon | |
| My Fair Lady | Colonel Hugh Pickering | ||
| 1987-1989 | Into the Woods | Cinderella's Father
s/b The Narrator / The Mysterious Man |
Broadway |
| The Mysterious Man / Cinderella's Father
s/b The Narrator | |||
| 1989 | Artist Descending A Staircase | u/s Beauchamp u/s Martello u/s Donner |
|
| 1990 | Jekyll & Hyde | Sir Danvers Carew | Premiere |
| 1991 | Grand Hotel | Colonel-Doctor Otternschlag | Broadway |
| 1992-2007 | A Musical Christmas Carol | Ebeneezer Scrooge | Annual Regional Musical |
| 1993 | Grand Hotel | Colonel-Doctor Otternschlag | Regional |
| 1994 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Judge Turpin | |
| 1995 | The Secret Garden | Ben Weatherstaff | |
| 1996 | 1776 | Stephen Hopkins | |
| 1997 | Into the Woods | Cinderella's Father | 10th Anniversary Concert
Broadway |
| 1999 | Grand Hotel | Colonel-Doctor Otternschlag | Regional |
| 2003 | My Fair Lady | Colonel Hugh Pickering | |
| 2004 | 1776 | Stephen Hopkins | |
| 2005 | Carousel | Starkeeper / Dr. Seldon |
Film edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Judge Turpin | TV movie Musical |
| 1999 | Big Daddy | Mr. Herlihy | |
| 2000 | Road Trip | Barry's Grandpa | |
| 2005 | The Notorious Bettie Page | Father Egan | |
| 2006 | The Ex | Mr. Hordhaus | |
| 2007 | Enchanted | Derelict Old Man | |
| 2008 | You Don't Mess with the Zohan | Pharmacist | |
| 2009 | The Good Heart | Barber | |
| 2009 | Splinterheads | Albert | |
| 2010 | Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps | Patient | |
| 2013 | The Big Wedding | Elderly Husband |
Television edit
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1970-73 | The Doctors | Dr. Carl Hendryx | 69 episodes (uncredited and credit only) |
| 1990 | The Cosby Show | Mr. Bingham | Episode: What It's All About |
| 1991 | American Playhouse | Cinderella's Father | Episode: Into the Woods |
| 2000 | Ed | Charlie Hudson/Molly's Grandfather | 2 episodes |
| 2001 | Law & Order | Howard Eastman | Episode: Armed Forces |
| 2004 | Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Mr. Zelman | Episode: Bound |
| 2005 | Third Watch | Priest | Episode: How Do You Spell Belief? |
| 2011 | The Onion News Network | Old Gilgoff | Episode: Enter the Factzone |
Further reading edit
- Brown, Dennis. Actors Talk: Profiles and Stories from the Acting Trade. New York: Limelight, 1999. (Lyndeck is one of the actors interviewed.)
References edit
- ^ "Edmund Lyndeck - Autograph Resume Signed | HistoryForSale Item 303077".
- ^ "Edmund Lyndeck, 90". Classic Images (488): 50. February 2016.
- ^ "Edmund Lyndeck". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
- ^ Rawson, Christopher (December 4, 2008). "Atkins discovers it's no picnic playing Scrooge". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
- ^ Edmund Lyndeck at IMDb
- ^ Simonson, Robert (December 17, 2015). "Edmund Lyndeck, Original Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, Dies". Playbill. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
