Clifford David

Clifford David (June 30, 1928 – November 30, 2017) was an American actor, singer, and coach. His career began in the 1950s, with early live television appearances leading to roles in Broadway musicals. He also played character roles in television series, feature films, and theatre.

Early life David was born in Toledo, Ohio, the youngest son of Farris and Lily (née Abdow). His uncle was Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Samuel David of Toledo.

Career A protégé of Lee Strasberg, David made his Broadway debut as Scipio in Albert Camus' Caligula directed by Sidney Lumet. He also played Pasquale in The Aspern Papers, directed by Margaret Webster, Antipholus in the 1963 Off-Broadway revival The Boys from Syracuse, Laertes in Joseph Papp's Hamlet, and Lord Byron in the Lincoln Center production of Tennessee Williams' Camino Real with Al Pacino.

A member of the Motion Picture Academy of Arts and Sciences, Clifford's filmography includes Invitation to a Gunfighter (1964), Resurrection, and M. Night Shyamalan's Signs (2002). As an accomplished pianist, he was cast as Beethoven in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (1989).

A member of the Actors Studio from 1962, David worked with many of the greats of American theater, film, and television. He told stories of drinking with Richard Burton and shopping with Marilyn Monroe. He was working with Monroe on a play entitled The Cat, adapted from a Colette novel by Arthur Miller, when she died.

David was featured in the principal casts and on the original studio albums of such Broadway musicals as Wildcat with Lucille Ball, 1776, with William Daniels, Alan Jay Lerner's On a Clear Day You Can See Forever, and Andrew Lloyd Webber's Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.

Other feature film credits include The Last Mile (1959), The Party's Over (1965) with Oliver Reed, Riot (1969), The Betsy (1978), with Laurence Olivier, Fort Apache, The Bronx with Paul Newman (1981), and The Exorcist III (1990).

He was seen on television in the miniseries Blind Ambition, as well as in political dramas Fear on Trial and Missiles of October with Martin Sheen. He appeared in episodes of Bonanza, The Big Valley, Charlie's Angels, Mary Tyler Moore, Murphy Brown, Party of Five, Murder, She Wrote, Will & Grace, and Law & Order.

Filmography

Film

+ Year Title Role Notes1957 Street of Sinners Tom 1959 The Last Mile Richard Walters 1964 Invitation to a Gunfighter Crane Adams 1965 Hamlet Laertes 1965 The Party's Over Carson 1969 Riot Mary Sheldon 1978 The Betsy Joe 1980 Resurrection George 1981 Fort Apache, The Bronx Dacey 1986 Agent on Ice Kirkpatrick 1989 Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure Beethoven 1990 The Exorcist III Dr. Bruno 1991 Pyrates Advisor 2002 Signs Columbia University Professor 2004 Kinsey Professor Smithson

Television

+ Year Title Role Notes 1969 The Big Valley Bill Stokley / Rich Stokely 1 episode 1971 Ironside Joe Julian 1 episode 1972 Bonanza Mr. Evans Episode: "The Hidden Enemy" 1974 The Mary Tyler Moore Show David Boyd 1 episode 1974 The Missiles of October Theodore Sorensen, White House Counsel TV movie 1975 Fear on Trial Hall TV movie 1979 Blind Ambition Fred Fielding TV miniseries 1978 Charlie's Angels Gordon Roclair 1 episode 1986 The Equalizer Charles Webber Episode: "Unpunished Crimes" 1995 Murder, She Wrote Claude Faragere 1 episode 1996 Party of Five Mr. Olmstead 1 episode 1998 Murphy Brown Man 1 episode 2003 Will & Grace Hotel Manager 1 episode 2001 Law & Order: Criminal Intent Ralph Kozinski Episode: "Art" 2005 Law & Order Owswald Jackson Episode: "Sects"