George S. Irving
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George S. Irving | |
|---|---|
 Irving as Dario the conductor in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Me and Juliet in 1953 | |
| Born | Irving Shelasky November 1, 1922 |
| Died | December 26, 2016 (aged 94) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1943–2016[1] |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 2 |
George S. Irving (born Irving Shelasky; November 1, 1922 – December 26, 2016) was an American actor known primarily for his character roles on Broadway and as the voice of Heat Miser in the American Christmas television specials The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974) and A Miser Brothers' Christmas (2008).
Early life
[edit]He was born Irving Shelasky [2] in Springfield, Massachusetts, to Abraham and Rebecca Shelasky, as one of four siblings.[3] His parents were Russian Jewish immigrants.[4]
When Irving was 13 or 14, he sang in synagogues and churches as a boy soprano. By his final high school year in 1940, he heard about a dramatic school in Boston for those who were not quite draft age and who were tall and had deep voices, so he immediately received a scholarship. In 1942, he worked in the chorus of the St. Louis Muny Opera.[5]
Career
[edit]On stage
[edit]Irving made his debut in the original 1943 production of Oklahoma!, only to be drafted days later to serve in the United States Army in World War II. He received this role when one of the original actors lost his voice, and Irving went on as his replacement. He explains the following: "I wrote to The Theatre Guild when they were casting Oklahoma! and asked them to remind Oscar Hammerstein that he knew me a little, and I got an audition and was cast in the chorus".[5]
Irving is best known to Broadway audiences for his performance with Debbie Reynolds and Jane Powell (successively) in Irene (1974), and his Tony nominated performance as Sir John in