Richard Kiley Biography

Fast Facts

• When he died of bone marrow disease at the age of 76, the lights on Broadway were dimmed in his honor
• Served as a gunnery instructor in the U․S․ Navy and then worked as a radio actor in Chicago before moving to New York City
• Was able to transition flawlessly between musicals and serious dramas
• Had a rich baritone singing voice that he utilized in his stage work, but rarely on film, though he did use his spoken vocal talents as the narrator in several key movies and documentaries, including "Jurassic Park․"
• Became possessive about the role of Don Quixote that he played in "Man of La Mancha," and had difficulty watching other actors play the role
• When he moved to New York, he had only two suitcases and $600 and he and his expecting wife had to live in a single room on the lower East Side while he searched for work