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American actor (1938–2017) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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 recording and later in the film of Jesus Christ Superstar.[2]
Barry Dennen | |
|---|---|
Dennen at a performance of Jesus Christ Superstar of May 6, 2017 | |
| Born | February 22, 1938[1] |
| Died | September 26, 2017 (aged 79)[1] Burbank, California, U.S.[1] |
| Resting place | Hollywood Forever Cemetery |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1966–2017 |
Dennen was born in Chicago, Illinois in February 22, 1938.[1]
In New York City from 1960 to 1961, he had a platonic relationship with Barbra Streisand. They lived together for a year, during which time he helped her develop the nightclub act that began her successful career as a singer and actress.[3]
He moved to London for 15 years and in 1968 landed the starring role of the master of ceremonies in the London 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 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. He portrayed the Chamberlain SkekSil in The Dark Crystal (1982) as well as Tulku in The Shadow (1994). He also did voice work on cartoons such as 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, 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). His autobiographical book My Life With Barbra: A Love Story (1997) deals with their relationship and with his gradual realization that he was gay.[4]
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.[1][5]
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1970 | The Juggler of Notre Dame | The Juggler | |
| 1971 | Fiddler on the Roof | Mendel | |
| 1973 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Pontius Pilate | |
| 1974 | 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 | |
| 1981 | Ragtime | Stage Manager | |
| 1982 | The Dark Crystal | Chamberlain / Podling | Voice[6] |
| 1983 | Trading Places | Demitri | |
| 1983 | Superman III | Dr. McClean | |
| 1984 | Memed, My Hawk | Hikmet | |
| 1984 | Not for Publication | Señor Wopperico | |
| 1991 | Liquid Dreams | The Major | |
| 1994 | Clifford | Terry the Pterodactyl | |
| 1994 | The Shadow | Tulku | Voice, uncredited |
| 1994 | Twin Sitters | Thomas | |
| 1997 | Titanic | Praying Man | |
| 2003 | Manhood | Singing Groom | |
| 2014 | Heavenly Sword | Flying Fox / Prophet Takashi | Voice[6] |
| 2015 | Justice League: Throne of Atlantis | Defense Advisor | Voice, direct-to-video[6] |
| 2015 | 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" | [6] |
| 1993 | Animaniacs | Czar | Voice, episode: "Pavlov's Mice" | |
| 1999 | Batman Beyond | Captain | Voice, episode: "Disappearing Inque" | [6] |
| 2006 | The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy | Geppetto, Blubbery Joe, Salesperson | Voice, 2 episodes | |
| 2006 | Avatar: The Last Airbender | General Sung, Additional Voices | 2 episodes | [6] |
| 2010 | The Daltons | Jack Dalton, Peabody | Voice, episode: "Cowed" | [6] |
| 2012 | Star Wars: The Clone Wars | King Ramsis Dendup, Citizen, Rebel | Voice, 3 episodes | |
| 2013 | Mad | Master Shifu, Gatored Community Announcer | Episode: "POblivion/Umbrellamentary" | |
| 2013 | Lego Marvel Super Heroes: Maximum Overload | Mandarin | Voice | [6] |
| 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 | [6] | |
| 1999 | Star Trek: Hidden Evil | Adm. Ratok | ||
| 2001 | Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty | Fatman | English Dub | [6] |
| 2001 | Arcanum: Of Steamworks and Magick Obscura | King Loghaire Thunderstone | ||
| 2002 | Star Trek: Bridge Commander | Gul Oden, Captain Terrik | ||
| 2002 | The Mark of Kri | The Dark One | [6] | |
| 2003 | Lionheart: Legacy Of The Crusader | Goblin King | ||
| 2003 | Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time | Vizier | [6] | |
| 2005 | Jade Empire | Master Li | ||
| 2005 | Fantastic Four | Mole Man | ||
| 2007 | Law & Order: Criminal Intent | Crime Scene Tech, George Bennett, Frederick Grant, others | ||
| 2007 | Avatar: The Last Airbender – The Burning Earth | additional voices | ||
| 2007 | 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 | [6] |
| 2011 | White Knight Chronicles II | Lorias | [6] | |
| 2011 | Dungeon Siege III | The Venerable Odo, Mayor Moritz Grimmelhaus, additional voices | ||
| 2012 | Darksiders II | The Chancellor, Eternal Throne Guard 2, Human Soul 2 | [6] | |
| 2013 | Dota 2 | Chaos Knight, Phantom Lancer, Rubick | [6][7] | |
| 2013 | Infinity Blade III | Benedict Burgess Batteric III | ||
| 2014 | Lightning Returns: Final Fantasy XIII | Poltae Headman | English dub | |
| 2014 | Diablo III: Reaper of Souls | additional voices | [6] | |
| 2015 | Final Fantasy Type-0 HD | Commandant | English dub | [6] |
| 2016 | World of Warcraft: Legion | Valewalker Farodin | ||
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