Broadway and ‘The Producers’ star Gary Beach has died at the age of 70
The actor was best known for his role in 'The Producers' as flamboyant director Roger DeBris
By Steve Brown
Veteran Broadway star Gary Beach has sadly passed away at the age of 70.
The actor earned three Tony Award nominations and won one for his icon role as flamboyant cross-dresser Roger DeBris in the hit Mel Brooks musical The Producers which he reprised in the 2005 movie and sang the iconic song ‘Keep It Gay’.
His first nod came in 1994 when he performed the role as Lumiere in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast and his third and final nomination was for his performance as Albin in the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles.
Beach starred in a number of roles including Thenardier in Les Miserables and King Arthur in Monty Python’s Spamalot.
His agent, Steven Unger, revealed the actor passed away at his home in Palm Springs and is survived by his husband Jeffrey Barnett.
Following his death, theatre and movie stars took to social media to express their sadness at the news.
Watch Beach’s performance of ‘Keep It Gay’ below: