Brilliant Gary Beach Dies At 70
I remember having lunch at Joe Allen in New York with Gary Beach shortly after he won a Tony in 2001 for his turn as a super-gay Hitler impersonator in “The Producers.” (He also did Garland.) He was so full of life and fun, and we had a wide-ranging conversation. He had with him John Lahr’s biography of Joe Orton, “Prick Up Your Ears.” So we talked about Orton. And just as coffee was being served guess who walked in? John Lahr! Whom I introduced to Beach and who sat down and talked show-biz lore with Beach, who knew plenty. And now Beach has gone to that great show-biz heaven in the sky where I’m sure he’s jawing with Joe and Judy. R.I.P., Gary!
