Tony Winning Gay Actor Gary Beach Dies At Age 70

Theater Mania reports:

Gary Beach, the longtime Broadway vet who won a Tony for playing Roger De Bris in The Producers, has died at the age of 70. Born in Alexandria, Virginia, on October 10, 1947, Beach graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts.

He made his Broadway debut as an understudy during the original run of 1776. His additional Broadway credits include Annie, Doonesbury, the 2004 revival of La Cage aux Folles, for which he received a Tony nomination, and the 2006 revival of Les Misérables.

Beach’s biggest Broadway roles came in 1994 and 2001. He originated the role of Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast and received a Tony nomination. He went on to win a Tony for his portrayal of the flamboyant, crossdressing theatrical director Roger De Bris in the Mel Brooks-Thomas Meehan musical The Producers. Beach also played the role in the 2005 film remake and across the country on tour.

Beach is survived by his husband Jeffrey Barnett. At this writing no cause of death has been publicly disclosed.