Donald Richard Madden (November 5, 1928 â€" January 22, 1983) was an
American theater, television, and film actor known for his role as
John Dickinson in the film 1776 (1972) and his portrayal of Hamlet
onstage in New York.Born as Donald Richard Madden in New York City, he
attended City College of New York and graduated with a degree in
Theater. After serving in the United States Army for two years from
July 27, 1951 to July 27, 1953, he worked in regional theater,
including a tour of Tea and Sympathy opposite Linda Darnell. Madden
made his Broadway debut as Jimmy Porter in Look Back In Anger in 1958.
He made his Broadway musical debut as Charles Bingley in First
Impressions, a musical adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, in 1959. The
following year he appeared in an off-Broadway production of Julius
Caesar and won the Theatre World Award for his performance. In 1960,
he played Hotspur in Henry IV, Part 1 at The Phoenix Theater. In 1961
he played the title role in Hamlet on Broadway to critical acclaim. He
received further accolades as the title role in Joseph Papp's 1970
production of Richard III at the Delacorte Theater. Shortly after he
appeared as Eilert Lovborg in the 1971 production of Hedda Gabler and
as Torvald Helmer in A Doll's House opposite Claire Bloom and Patricia
Elliott. Additional theater credits include the 1967 comedy Black
Comedy/White Lies, for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, and revival of Arms and
the Man in 1971. His last Broadway appearance was in the thriller
Trick in 1979. After its short run he was diagnosed with cancer.Madden
appeared with Colleen Dewhurst in the 1959 television adaptation of
John Steinbeck's "Burning Bright". He guest starred in the British TV
spy series, "Espionage" in 1963. He had the recurring role of Bryan
Cannon on the television series Dr. Kildare in 1966. He also appeared
in the soap operas One Life to Live and Another World. In 1972 he
portrayed John Dickinson in 1776, his only feature film. His final TV
appearance was as Mr. Brown in Mark Twain's "Life On The Mississippi"
in 1980.Madden died of lung cancer in Central Islip, New York in 1983,
aged 54. He had been diagnosed with the disease during the run of his
final Broadway show "Trick" in 1979.
American theater, television, and film actor known for his role as
John Dickinson in the film 1776 (1972) and his portrayal of Hamlet
onstage in New York.Born as Donald Richard Madden in New York City, he
attended City College of New York and graduated with a degree in
Theater. After serving in the United States Army for two years from
July 27, 1951 to July 27, 1953, he worked in regional theater,
including a tour of Tea and Sympathy opposite Linda Darnell. Madden
made his Broadway debut as Jimmy Porter in Look Back In Anger in 1958.
He made his Broadway musical debut as Charles Bingley in First
Impressions, a musical adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, in 1959. The
following year he appeared in an off-Broadway production of Julius
Caesar and won the Theatre World Award for his performance. In 1960,
he played Hotspur in Henry IV, Part 1 at The Phoenix Theater. In 1961
he played the title role in Hamlet on Broadway to critical acclaim. He
received further accolades as the title role in Joseph Papp's 1970
production of Richard III at the Delacorte Theater. Shortly after he
appeared as Eilert Lovborg in the 1971 production of Hedda Gabler and
as Torvald Helmer in A Doll's House opposite Claire Bloom and Patricia
Elliott. Additional theater credits include the 1967 comedy Black
Comedy/White Lies, for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for
Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Play, and revival of Arms and
the Man in 1971. His last Broadway appearance was in the thriller
Trick in 1979. After its short run he was diagnosed with cancer.Madden
appeared with Colleen Dewhurst in the 1959 television adaptation of
John Steinbeck's "Burning Bright". He guest starred in the British TV
spy series, "Espionage" in 1963. He had the recurring role of Bryan
Cannon on the television series Dr. Kildare in 1966. He also appeared
in the soap operas One Life to Live and Another World. In 1972 he
portrayed John Dickinson in 1776, his only feature film. His final TV
appearance was as Mr. Brown in Mark Twain's "Life On The Mississippi"
in 1980.Madden died of lung cancer in Central Islip, New York in 1983,
aged 54. He had been diagnosed with the disease during the run of his
final Broadway show "Trick" in 1979.
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