ANI
29 Nov 2021, 21:25 GMT+10
Washington [US], November 29 (ANI): Geoffrey Johnson, the casting director for 'Cats' and 'Les Miserables', recently died at the age of 91 due to respiratory failure at Henry J. Carter Hospital in New York.
According to Deadline, Johnson's log career saw him appear on Broadway as an actor. He also worked with David Merrick as a stage manager and casting director and served as Noel Coward's US representative.
Born in New York City on June 23, 1930, and raised in Larchmont NY, he received a BA from the University of Pennsylvania and an MFA from the Yale School of Drama.
From there, he worked as an actor, appearing in 'Saint Joan' on Broadway in 1956. He was also the stage manager of several Broadway shows including 'Cactus Flower' and 'I Do, I Do'.
His work as a stage manager led him to Noel Coward, with whom he worked on the Broadway production of 'Sail Away'. The relationship continued after that, with Johnson serving as Coward's US representative until the actor's death in 1973.
After working with David Merrick as a stage manager and casting director, he formed Johnson-Liff Casting in 1975 with business partner Vincent Liff and fellow casting directors Linda Otto and Geri Windsor.
In 2003, Johnson and Vincent Liff were awarded a Tony Award for Excellence in Theatre, as well as the Hoyt Bowers Award and several Artios Awards from the Casting Society of America.
Johnson continued to be an active member of the theater community after the Johnson-Liff office closed in 2002. He served on the Tony nomination committee for several years, and was a trustee of the Noel Coward Foundation and the Life President of the Noel Coward Archive Trust.
In 2016, he established the Geoffrey Ashton Johnson/ Noel Coward Scholarship at the Yale School of Drama to honor Coward's contribution to the art form and his legacy as playwright and performer.
He is survived by his niece Valerie Cortalano, nephew Bruce Johnson, great nephews Charles Cortalano, Geoffrey Cortalano, Nicholas Cortalano, Ryan Johnson and cousins and many friends in the U.S. and England. As per Deadline, a memorial service for him will be announced at a later date. (ANI)Get a daily dose of Pittsburgh Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Pittsburgh Star.
More InformationWASHINGTON, D.C.: As the global weight-loss market explodes, drugmakers are now racing to solve a less visible problem: protecting...
Vancouver [Canada], June 20 (ANI): An Indian student studying at the University of Calgary in Canada has died, the Consulate General...
WASHINGTON, 7th June, 2025 (WAM) -- The United States recorded 122 new measles cases this week, with only four reported in Texas. Health...
WASHINGTON, 27th May, 2025 (WAM) -- Two people were killed and nine others, including three teenagers, injured in a shooting at Philadelphia's...
Teresa Varley Learn more about linebacker Jack Sawyer in this edition of Five Fast Facts. 1. The Steelers selected Sawyer in the...
Jim Gehman When the Eagles signed Allen Barbre in January 2013, they were getting an offensive lineman who had experience. Everything...
LONDON, U.K.: In a landmark moment for Britain, lawmakers in the House of Commons have voted in favour of legalising assisted dying,...
Western support for Israel's right to strike Iran backs up a pattern of pre-emptive violence that critics say is further eroding international...
OTTAWA, Canada: Canada may boost its counter-tariffs on steel and aluminum imported from the U.S. if a comprehensive trade agreement...
BANGKOK, Thailand: Thailand's government is facing its biggest crisis in nearly a year, as Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra's...
WASHINGTON, DC - U.S. President Donald Trump how bowed to pro-Israel elements in his administration and Congress, announcing that the...
ZURICH, Switzerland: The Swiss National Bank (SNB) lowered its key interest rate to zero percent on June 19 to respond to falling inflation,...