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William Youmans is an American Broadway, film and television actor and singer, best known for originating the roles of John Jacob Astor in Titanic: the Musical, Sir Richard Bingham in The Pirate Queen, and Doctor Dillamond in Wicked. He made a return to Wicked on March 7, 2023.
William Youmans | |
|---|---|
| Other names | Bill Youmans |
| Occupation(s) | Film, stage, television actor, singer |
| Years active | 1981–present |
Youmans was born into a performing family; his great-uncle was Broadway composer Vincent Youmans. William made his Broadway debut in 1981, playing Leo Hubbard in The Little Foxes. He performed numerous roles in the original production of Big River and sang the role of Alcindoro in the Baz Luhrmann-directed revival of La Bohème. He also portrayed Sir Richard Bingham in The Pirate Queen and performed in the play The Farnsworth Invention. In 1986 he was in the Off Broadway play The Widow Claire by Horton Foote. He played a few different roles in the musical Coraline. He originated the roles of Albert and Ben in the world premiere of The Secret Garden. In 1993, Youmans played several roles in the Off-Broadway recording of Alan Menken's Weird Romance.[1]
In 1997 he originated the role of John Jacob Astor in Titanic, and 2003, originated the role of Doctor Dillamond in Wicked. After a San Francisco tryout, in which the role was played by John Horton, the original Broadway production opened October 30, 2003, starring Kristin Chenoweth and Idina Menzel. Youmans left the role on July 24, 2005, and later reprised the role in the Chicago production for a limited engagement from December 12, 2006, through January 14, 2007. He can be heard on the show's original Broadway cast recording. He made a return on March 7, 2023.
In 2015, he originated the role to critical acclaim as The Director in Being Seen by Richard Gustin at the International Fringe Festival NYC.
In 2018, he played Bascombe and understudied the Starkeeper in the Broadway revival of Carousel. In November 2019, he joined the cast of To Kill a Mockingbird as Dr. Reynolds/Mr. Roscoe and understudy Link Deas and Sheriff Heck Tate. [2]
Youmans appeared in the films Mrs. Soffel, Compromising Positions, Nadine, Fresh Horses and the independent film Last Supper.
Youmans' first television appearance was a made-for-television movie of a Mark Twain story, The Private History of a Campaign That Failed. He has since appeared on episodes of The Equalizer, Spenser: For Hire, NYPD Blue, Law & Order and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Mrs. Soffel | Guard George Koslow | |
| 1985 | Compromising Positions | Motel clerk | |
| 1987 | Nadine | Boyd | |
| 1988 | Fresh Horses | Gary | |
| 1992 | Last Supper | The writer's son | |
| 2011 | Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close | Bartender | |
| 2014 | Birdman | Bartender (Tommy) | |
| A Midsummer Night's Dream | Robin Starveling |
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