Howard McGillin is an American actor and music vocalist. He is known for originating the role of John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood (1985) and for portraying the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera from 1999 to 2009 on Broadway.
Biography
Early life and career McGillin was born in Los Angeles, California. His father William was an accountant, and his mother Margaret was an administrator at Santa Barbara City College."Richard Samson, Howard McGillin." The New York Times September 22, 2013 McGillin graduated from Dos Pueblos High School and the University of California, Santa Barbara. While in college, he appeared at the Sacramento Music Circus in seven musicals."McGillin" actorsequity.org. Retrieved April 9, 2015
He began his career on television, working as a contract player for Universal Studios,"Howard McGillin" masterworksbroadway.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015 and his early film and TV credits include roles in McMillan & Wife (1976), The Six Million Dollar Man (2 episodes, 1976), Emergency! (2 episodes, 1976 and 1977), The Bionic Woman (2 episodes, 1976), The Rockford Files (1977), Columbo (1977), Mary White (1977), Wheels (1978), Women in White (1979) and Where the Boys Are '84 (1984). He moved to New York City with the intention of pursuing a career on Broadway, and was cast as one of the male leads in the New York Shakespeare Festival's 1984 production of La Boheme, which starred Linda Ronstadt. The New York Times reviewer, Frank Rich, called McGillin "dashing".Rich, Frank. "Opera: Linda Ronstadt In Puccinni's 'La Boheme'" The New York Times, November 30, 1984
Career Other featured and leading roles on the stage followed. Often considered a "tall, dark and handsome" leading man, McGillin originated the role of John Jasper in The Mystery of Edwin Drood at the Imperial Theatre; for his performance he was nominated for a 1986 Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical. He earned a second Tony nomination in 1988 for his portrayal of Billy Crocker in the Broadway revival of Cole Porter's Anything Goes. In 1991, he replaced Mandy Patinkin as Archibald Craven in the Broadway company of The Secret Garden.
McGillin starred in the award-winning West End 1995 production of Mack & Mabel and sings on the cast album recording."'Mack & Mabel' Cast Recording, 1995, Credits", AllMusic. Retrieved April 9, 2015. He received praise as Molina in the Kander and Ebb musical Kiss of the Spider Woman, replacing Brent Carver in 1994.
The New York Times reviewer wrote: "In an impressive change of pace from the smooth philanderer he played in 'She Loves Me,' Howard McGillin is Molina...Mr. McGillin can be almost boyishly blithe at times. He embraces Aurora's campy films with the flair of the musical-comedy aficionado...While Mr. McGillin is playing up Molina's more exuberant charm, Mr. [Brian Stokes] Mitchell is playing down Valentin's brusque condescension. As a result, the growing affection between them seems the more believable."Richards, David. "Theater review. Vanessa Williams's Enticing 'Spider Woman'" The New York Times, July 26, 1994 Due to their performances and that of leading lady Vanessa Williams, the show received a rare second cast recording.Spencer, David. "Recording Review. Kiss of the Spider Woman " aislesay.com. Retrieved April 9, 2015
McGillin originated a leading role in the world premiere of Stephen Sondheim's musical Bounce at the Goodman Theatre, Chicago, and the Kennedy Center in 2003.Portantiere, Michael. Bounce theatermania.com, November 2003 He was featured in the Encores! production of the Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 in 1999.Jones, Kenneth. "Cast Announced for 'Encores!' Revival of 'Ziegfeld Follies of 1936'", Playbill, March 12, 1999.
He appeared in the Irish Repertory Theatre (New York City) concert, A Child's Christmas in Wales in Concert in December 2011.Gioia, Michael. "Howard McGillin, Edwin Cahill Among Cast for Irish Rep's A Child's Christmas in Wales in Concert", Playbill, November 22, 2011.
McGillin has continued to perform in television and film as a voice-over artist. He provided the singing voice of Gregory in South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut and he has narrated many books on tape and programs/commercials on television (including the PBS series Nature). He voiced Prince Derek in the animated film The Swan Princess (1994).The Swan Princess, AllMovie. Retrieved April 9, 2015. McGillin has released one solo CD, Where Time Stands Still. He has contributed to numerous cast recordings, including those of The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Anything Goes, and Bounce.
McGillin holds the record for the most performances by an actor in the title role of the Broadway production of the musical The Phantom of the Opera, joining the Broadway cast in 1999.Ehren, Christine. "Howard McGillin Dons the Mask as Bway's 11th Phantom Aug. 23" Playbill, July 22, 1999 He was part of the musical when it became the longest-running production in Broadway history on January 9, 2006, and its twenty-first anniversary on January 26, 2009. McGillin played his last performance in the role on July 25, 2009, marking his 2,544th show.Jones, Kenneth. Cudia Will Succeed McGillin, World's Longest-Running Phantom, on Broadway", Playbill, May 7, 2009.
He performed in the York Theatre production of I Remember Mama, which ran from October 8–10, 2010.Gans, Andrew. "Howard McGillin, George S. Irving, Erin Mackey and More Cast in Mufti 'I Remember Mama'" playbill.com, October 4, 2010.
McGillin starred as Sir Francis Chesney in the New York City Center Encores! production of Where's Charley? from March 17–20, 2011.Gans, Andrew. "Encores! 'Where's Charley?' to Feature Rebecca Luker and Howard McGillin" Playbill, February 3, 2011 He played Applegate in the Paper Mill Playhouse production of Damn Yankees! in Millburn, New Jersey, which ran from March 7, 2012, through April 1, 2012.
In 2023, McGillin returned to Broadway in the revival of Parade playing the Old Soldier and Judge Roan.McGillin joins Parade
Personal life McGillin married Mary Lloyd-Butler in 1976; the couple divorced in 1990. McGillin married his longtime partner, lawyer and theatrical producer Richard Samson, in September 2013. McGillin has two sons, Brian and Christopher.Wong, Wayman. "The Leading Men: A 'Phantom' phenom - McGillin, Tartaglia & Gurland." Playbill, April 1, 2003
Selected stage credits
Broadway Source: Playbill Vault"McGillin Broadway Credits" playbillvault.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015 Sunday in the Park with George (Soldier/Alex, u/s Georges/George replacement) (1985) Follies (Young Ben) (1985 Concert) The Mystery of Edwin Drood (John Jasper) (1985): Tony Award nomination; Drama Desk Award nomination; Theatre World Award Anything Goes (Billy Crocker) (1987): Tony Award nomination; Drama Desk Award nomination" 'Anything Goes' Listing" ibdb.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015 The Secret Garden (Lord Archibald Craven replacement) (1991-1993)"'The Secret Garden' Listing" ibdb.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015 She Loves Me (Kodaly) (1993-1994)" 'She Loves Me' 1993-1994" ibdb.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015 Kiss of the Spider Woman (Molina replacement) (1994) Sunday in the Park with George (Soldier/Alex) (1994 Concert)" 'Sunday in the Park with George' Concert, 1994" sondheimguide.com. Retrieved April 8, 2015 The Phantom of the Opera (The Phantom of the Opera replacement) (1999- July 25, 2009) (Longest running Phantom, in Broadway history) Gigi (Honoré Lachaille) (2015) Parade (Old Confederate Soldier/Judge Roan) (2023)
West End Anything Goes (Billy Crocker) (1989)Trucco, Terry. "A London Accent for 'Anything Goes'" The New York Times, July 25, 1989 Mack & Mabel (Mack) (1995)
Other Into the Woods (June 1986 Workshop) (The Wolf/Cinderella's Prince)Into the Woods Playwrights Horizons 1986 As Thousands Cheer (June 1998) (Drama Dept., Off-Broadway)Wallach, Allan. "A CurtainUp Review. 'As Thousands Cheer' " curtainup.com, June 19, 1998 Ziegfeld Follies of 1936 (Encores!, 1999) Bounce (2003 world premiere: Helen Hayes Award nomination) Peter Pan (2004 national tour) (Captain Hook/Mr. Darling)Hughes, David-Edward. "Interview" talkinbroadway.com, 2004 A Child's Christmas in Wales (Concert, December 2011) Where's Charley? (Sir Francis Chesney) (Encores!, 2011) Damn Yankees! (Mr. Applegate) (Paper Mill Playhouse, March 2012) Ragtime (Father) (Avery Fisher Hall, 2013) Parade (Governor John Slaton) (Roundabout Theatre Company Workshop, 2018) Parade (Luther Rosser) (Encores!, 2022)
Filmography Film +YearTitleRoleNotes1977Mary WhiteRichard Solan IIITV movie1978Long Journey BackSteve1979Woman in WhiteDr. Frank EvanhauerLove's Savage FuryFerris1982Take Your Best ShotDean Hilliard1984Where the Boys AreChip1989Little Nemo: Adventures in SlumberlandSingerVoiceUncredited1991Perry Mason: The Case of the Maligned MobsterMike CalderTV movieCompany BusinessBruce WilsonMimi & MeHoward RaneyTV movie1994The Swan PrincessPrince DerekVoice1996The Hunchback of Notre DameAdditional voices1997Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted ChristmasChorus (singing voice)Direct-to-videoVoice1998The Swan Princess: Sing AlongPrince DerekShortVoice1999South Park: Bigger, Longer & UncutGregory (singing voice)VoiceUncredited2021tick, tick... BOOM!'Sunday' Legend #7
Television YearTitleRoleNotes1976McMillan & WifeBellboy1 episodeCity of AngelsMan at BeachThe Six Million Dollar Man2nd Young ManWorker2 episodes1977How the West Was WonLt. Cartwright1 episode1976-1977Emergency!Paramedic Dwyer2 episodesThe Bionic WomanStaff Sgt.Sgt. Don Woods1977The Rockford FilesDavey Woodhull1 episodeColumboGeorge CamponellaKingston: ConfidentialJim DarrowThe Oregon TrailStephen McKay1978What Really Happened to the Class of '65?Bo1 episodeWheelsGreg TrentonTV miniseries1 episode1975-1978Switch1st PolicemanPaul Alexander2 episodes1979The MacKenzies of Paradise Cove1 episodeCalifornia FeverTony1979-1980InsightJohn HopkinsDefense Attorney2 episodes1980Number 96Mark Keaton1 episode1981-1982The Young and the RestlessGreg Foster #41983St. ElsewhereScott1984Days of Our LivesMinister4 episodes1986Great PerformancesYoung Ben1 episode1986Search for TomorrowDr. Cooper1987As the World TurnsColin Crowley1990Murder, She WroteCharles Lockner1991StatRandall Forbes1992Jack's Place1998ERHerrgut1999Too Rich: The Secret Life of Doris DukeJames CromwellTV miniseries2 episodes1999One Life to LiveRoy Calhoun2003-2004NatureNarrator5 episodes2013ElementaryDavis Renkin1 episode2016The Good WifeLloyd Garber2 episode2019The BlacklistSenator Chuck Christensen2023Rock Hudson: All That Heaven AllowedSelf - Rock Hudson's FriendDocumentary film
References
External links Howard McGillin's Official Website
Biography at Playbill.com "A Veteran Phantom Embraces "The Music of the Night" Once Again Oct. 3" Kenneth Jones, Playbill.com, October 3, 2005 Howard McGillin: Interview by Ladyghost