Broadway's Larry French Passes Away At 58

Larry French, Broadway actor and concert artist, died in his sleep on May 28, 2010 of a massive heart attack. He was 58. A graduate of Howard Paine University, he first came to New York City in 1978 from Dallas, Texas, to pursue a career in acting, and shortly thereafter met his wife of 30 years, Jeanne lehman French, in the Carleton Davis tour of CAMELOT.

Larry first appeared on Broadway in the 1980 revival of BRIGADOON and later in The Public Theatre's 1982 production of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE. He also appeared in the National Tours of THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, EVITA and the 1999 revival of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, one of many appearances he made with his wife. A member of the 2001 Acting Company of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada, Larry also appeared with Jeanne there in THE SOUND OF MUSIC, and in THE MERCHANT OF VENICE, THE SEAGULL and MASTER CLASS. Other appearances with his wife included "Colonel Pickering" in MY FAIR LADY, "Captain Orton" in THE KING AND I and "The Gangster" in KISS ME KATE, all at the Augusta Opera. Additional favorite acting roles included "Nicely Nicely" in GUYS AND DOLLS with the Alaska Light Opera, and "Pirelli" in SWEENEY TODD with Terrence Mann at the North Carolina Theatre.

An International vocal consultant for theatre companies in Seoul, Korea and Japan, Larry also sang in concerts with Jeanne and the Alaska Light Opera, the Baltimore Symphony and in Kenai Peninsula, Alaska.

An active supporter of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, he most recently appeared in the 2010 Easter Bonnet Competition, singing on stage at the Minskoff Theatre.

He is survived by his wife, Jeanne lehman French of New York City, and his mother, Bernice French, of Dallas Texas. There will be memorial service on Monday, June 7, 2010 at 4 p.m. at the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church, 7 West 55 Street in New York City. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in his name to the Actors Fund of America.