George Hearn

George Hearn (born June 18, 1934) is an American actor and bass-baritone singer, primarily in Broadway musical theatre.

Some of his Broadway credits include Albin in La Cage aux Folles, the title role in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, Max von Mayerling in Sunset Boulevard, John Dickinson in 1776, Mr. Otto Frank in The Diary of Anne Frank, and The Wonderful Wizard of Oz in Wicked.

For his work, he won two Tony Awards for La Cage aux Folles and Sunset Boulevard. As well as being nominated for three others. He also was nominated for an Laurence Olivier Award for La Cage aux Folles and won an Emmy Award for Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.

Early years Born in St. Louis, Missouri, Hearn studied philosophy at Southwestern at Memphis, now Rhodes College before he embarked on a career in the theater, training for the stage with actress turned acting coach Irene Dailey. Most of Hearn's early performances were in traditional productions at the New York Shakespeare Festival and theaters at Lincoln Center.

Career Hearn's career began in 1963 when he played Sir Dinidan in a national tour of Camelot with Biff McGuire and Jeannie Carson, standing by for McGuire, who played King Arthur. He first garnered a notice as John Dickinson in the acclaimed 1969 musical 1776 and as Liv Ullmann's leading man in the musical version of I Remember Mama (1979).

In 1983 Hearn created the role of Albin in the original Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles written by Harvey Fierstein and Jerry Herman. Hearn originated the gay anthem "I Am What I Am". He won the Tony Award, Drama Desk Award and Outer Critics' Circle Award for Best Actor in a Musical for his portrayal of Albin. Hearn also appeared in the West End production (which opened in May 1986).

In 1985, Hearn starred as Long John Silver in an Edmonton production of Pieces of Eight, a musical adaptation of Treasure Island. Despite its credentials, including composer Jule Styne, it never was staged again.

Hearn and Lansbury remained friends, and the actress invited him to guest star on several episodes of her CBS sleuth series Murder, She Wrote in the early 1990s.

He won a second Tony award for his role as Max Von Mayerling in the original Broadway production of Sunset Boulevard.

On July 20, 2004, Hearn returned to Broadway for the first time in four years, starring as the Wizard in the Broadway musical Wicked, remaining until May 29, 2005. Hearn later returned to the musical for a limited two-week engagement from January 17 through February 1, 2006.

In 2008 he starred in a production of The Visit by John Kander and Fred Ebb alongside Chita Rivera at the Signature Theatre in Arlington, Virginia. The Visit opened to positive reviews on May 13, 2008, and closed June 22, 2008.

Hearn's recordings include Sunset Boulevard (1994 Los Angeles Cast, and later the Broadway Cast Recording), Sweeney Todd Live at the New York Philharmonic, Mack & Mabel (1988 London Concert Cast), I Remember Mama (1985 Studio Cast), Follies in Concert (1985 Live Performance), and A Stephen Sondheim Evening (1983 Concert Cast).

Hearn was inducted into the American Theater Hall of Fame on January 29, 2007.

Personal life Hearn's spouses include Susan Babel, Mary Harrell, with whom he had one son, actress Dixie Carter, Sweeney Todd co-star Betsy Joslyn, and later Leslie Simons, a dancer he met while working on La Cage aux Folles. Hearn and Simons had two sons together before her death in July 2026. He currently resides in Essex, New York.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1989 See You in the Morning Martin 1992 Sneakers Gregor Ivanovich 1993 The Vanishing Arthur Bernard 1994 The Pagemaster Captain Ahab Voice 1996 All Dogs Go to Heaven 2 Red 1997 The Devil's Own Peter Fitzsimmons 1998 Barney's Great Adventure Grandpa Greenfield 2006 Flags of Our Fathers Elderly Walter Gust

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 1975 The Silence Captain Nichols TV movie 1976 The Adams Chronicles Henry Clay Miniseries Sea Marks Colm Primrose TV movie 1979 Sanctuary of Fear Monsignor Kerrigan 1982 A Piano for Mrs. Cimino George Cimino Great Performances Sweeney Todd Episode: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 1985 The Equalizer Senator Blanding Episode: "The Equalizer" 1990 The Young Riders Elijah Quinn Episode: "Blood Moon" LA Law Dr. Westbrook Episode: "God Rest Ye Murray Gentlemen" 1990–1992 Murder She Wrote Elliott Von Stuben/Sean Culhane 3 episodes 1991 Star Trek: The Next Generation Dr. Berel Episode: "First Contact" The Golden Girls Frank Nann Episode: "Henny Penny, Straight No Chaser" Fire in the Dark Arthur TV movie False Arrest Prosecutor 1992 Fish Police W.K. the Weenie King Voice, Episode: "Beauty's Only Fin Deep" Tom & Jerry Kids Show Additional Voice Voice, Episode: "Penthouse Mouse/12 Angry Sheep/The Ant Attack" 1993 Jonny's Golden Quest President Voice, TV movieCheers George Episode: "Rebecca Gaines, Rebecca Loses" Captain Planet and the Planeteers Mr. Wheeler Voice, 2 episodes 1993–1994 SWAT Kats: The Radical Squadron Professor Hackle Voice, 4 episodes 1994 Garfield and Friends Mr. Block Voice, Episode: "The Man Who Hated Cats/Deja Vu/Canned Laughter" 1995 Annie: A Royal Adventure! Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks TV movie Daisy-Head Mayzie The Mayor Voice, TV special 1999 Law & Order Independent Counsel William Dell Episode: "Sideshow" Sarah, Plain and Tall: Winter's End Dr. Hartley TV movie 2001 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Charles Southerland Episode: "Repression" Sweeney Todd in Concert Sweeney Todd TV movie

Stage

Awards and nominations