Barry Dennen (February 22, 1938 – September 26, 2017) was an American actor and writer. He is best known for playing Pontius Pilate on the original 1970 recording of Jesus Christ Superstar as well as the subsequent 1971 stage musical and 1973 film adaptation. He also appeared in notable films including Fiddler on the Roof, The Shining, Shock Treatment, Titanic, and performed the voice of the Skeksis Chamberlain in The Dark Crystal.
Early life Barry Dennen was born in Chicago, Illinois, on February 22, 1938.
Career
He moved to London for 15 years and in 1968 landed the starring role of the master of ceremonies in the London West End version of Cabaret. In 1970, he played Pontius Pilate on the album of Jesus Christ Superstar, and he played the same role in the Broadway production (1971). In the same year, he played Mendel in Norman Jewison's film of Fiddler on the Roof. According to Dennen's website, he suggested to Jewison that he direct a film version of Jesus Christ Superstar. Jewison did so, and Dennen played Pilate again (1973).
Dennen also played a variety of small parts on American television shows including: Batman; Wonder Woman (where he portrayed a clone of Adolf Hitler); Galtar and the Golden Lance; Tales from the Darkside and Justice League: Throne of Atlantis; and films, such as Madhouse (1974); Brannigan (1975); The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977); The Shining (1980); Ragtime (1981); Trading Places (1983); Superman III (1983); Twin Sitters (1994) and Titanic (1997). He also played the used auto dealer Irwin Lapsey in Shock Treatment (1981). In 1982, Dennen played the role of Buddy in the TV adaptation of Beau Geste.
Dennen also ventured into voice acting. His most notable voice role was dubbing Frank Oz as the villainous Chamberlain SkekSil in The Dark Crystal (1982). He also notably voiced the character Tulku in The Shadow (1994). His notable work for animation included DuckTales, Batman: The Animated Series, The Pirates of Dark Water, Animaniacs, Avatar: The Last Airbender and Star Wars: The Clone Wars. He also did voices for many video games, including Fatman in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty; Hjollder in Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter; Master Li in Jade Empire; Police Chief Bogen in Grim Fandango; Mimir in the video game Too Human; Dean Domino in Fallout: New Vegas expansion Dead Money, The Dark One in The Mark of Kri; the Kangxi Emperor in Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties; Benedict Burgess Batteric III in Infinity Blade III; Chaos Knight, Phantom Lancer, and Rubick in Dota 2; and the venerable Odo and meister Glimmerheim in Dungeon Siege III.
In 1984, Dennen wrote the lyrics for the children's musical revue Wanna Play?!, which was produced in Kansas City and later produced on television twice. The show, written with writer Linda Bergman and composer Jeff Rizzo, is licensed by Samuel French. He wrote the screenplay for an episode of Amazing Stories titled "The Secret Cinema" (1985) and cowrote an episode of The Comic Strip Presents... titled "Demonella" (1993).
Personal life In New York City from 1960 to 1961, he had a platonic relationship with Barbra Streisand. His autobiographical book My Life with Barbra: A Love Story (1997) deals with their relationship and with his gradual realization that he was gay. During the year they lived together, he helped her develop the nightclub actMy Name Is Barbra (book) that began her successful career as a singer and actress.
Death In June 2017, Dennen suffered a fall in his home in Burbank, California, and required hospital care. He never fully recovered and died on September 26, 2017.
Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes1970 The Juggler of Notre Dame The Juggler 1971 Fiddler on the Roof Mendel 1973 Jesus Christ Superstar Pontius Pilate1974 Madhouse Gerry Blount 1975 Brannigan Julian 1977 The Kentucky Fried Movie Claude LaMont Segment: "High Adventure"1978 Rabbit Test Mad Bomber 1980 The Shining Bill Watson 1981 Shock Treatment Irwin Lapsey Ragtime Stage Manager 1982 The Dark Crystal Chamberlain / Podling Voice1983 Trading Places Demitri Superman III Dr. McClean 1984 Memed, My Hawk Hikmet Not for Publication Señor Wopperico 1991 Liquid Dreams The Major 1994 Clifford Terry the Pterodactyl Voice The Shadow Tulku Voice, uncredited Twin Sitters Thomas 1997 Titanic Praying Man 2003 Manhood Singing Groom 2014 Heavenly Sword Flying Fox / Prophet Takashi Voice2015 Justice League: Throne of Atlantis Defense Advisor Voice Superstars: The Documentary Himself/Pontius Pilate 2016 Alleluia! The Devil's Carnival Heaven's Denizen Uncredited
Television Year Title Role Notes Source 1968 Batman Fred 2 episodes 1976 Monster Squad Mr. Mephisto Episode: "Mr. Mephisto" 1977 The New Adventures of Wonder Woman Adolf Hitler Episode: "Anschluss '77" 1987 Tales from the Darkside Aldo the Puppeteer Episode: "No Strings" 1992 Batman: The Animated Series Shadow Agent Voice, episode: "Off Balance" 1993 Animaniacs Czar Voice, episode: "Pavlov's Mice" 1999 Batman Beyond Captain Voice, episode: "Disappearing Inque" 2006 The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy Geppetto, Blubbery Joe, Salesperson Voice, 2 episodes Avatar: The Last Airbender General Sung, Additional Voices 2 episodes 2010–16 The Daltons Jack Dalton, Peabody Voice, 191 episodes 2012 Star Wars: The Clone Wars King Ramsis Dendup, Citizen, Rebel Voice, 3 episodes 2013 Mad Master Shifu, Gatored Community Announcer Episode: "POblivion/Umbrellamentary" Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload Mandarin Voice
Video games Year Title Role Notes Source 1995 Wing Commander IV: The Price of Freedom Melek 1998 Grim Fandango Chief Bogen, 1st Thunder Boy, Blue Casket's Waiter 1999 Star Trek: Hidden Evil Adm. Ratok 2001 Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty Fatman English Dub Icewind Dale: Heart of Winter Hjollder Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura King Loghaire Thunderstone 2002 Star Trek: Bridge Commander Gul Oden, Captain Terrik The Mark of Kri The Dark One 2003 Lionheart: Legacy Of The Crusader Goblin King Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time Vizier 2005 Jade Empire Master Li Fantastic Four Mole Man 2007 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Crime Scene Tech, George Bennett, Frederick Grant, others Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Burning Earth additional voices Age of Empires III: The Asian Dynasties Kangxi Emperor 2008 Too Human Mimir 2009 Dragon Age: Origins Uldred, Rogek, Senior Enchanter Torrin 2010 Fallout: New Vegas Dean Domino Dead Money DLC 2011 White Knight Chronicles II Lorias Dungeon Siege III The Venerable Odo, Mayor Moritz Grimmelhaus, additional voices 2012 Darksiders II The Chancellor, Eternal Throne Guard 2, Human Soul 2 Kingdoms of Amalur: Reckoning various characters 2013 Dota 2 Chaos Knight, Phantom Lancer, Rubick Infinity Blade III Benedict Burgess Batteric III 2014 Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII Poltae Headman English dub Diablo III: Reaper of Souls additional voices 2015 Final Fantasy Type-0 HD Commandant English dub 2016 World of Warcraft: Legion Valewalker Farodin
References
External links
Barry Dennen at Find a Grave