Jack Washburn

Jack Charles Washburn (December 4, 1927 – March 15, 1992) was an American singer and actor. He was best known for starring as Marius in the Broadway production of Fanny, and for originating the role of Youssein Davair in Irving Berlin's Mr. President. and enlisted in the United States Navy. After serving in the Navy for one year, he studied singing with Easton Kent in San Francisco. During the Korean War, he served in the United States Army at Fort Ord, where he entertained soldiers three to four times a day. That summer, he also performed the roles of Carl Van Dam in The Red Mill and Jack Negley in My Maryland. A Sacramento Bee review of Fanny at San Francisco's Curran Theatre called Washburn "a strong and handsome actor with an impressive tenor voice who ought to go very far in the musical theater".

In 1963, Washburn appeared on Broadway again, originating the role of Youssein Davair in Irving Berlin's Mr. President. Playing a "caddish" diplomat who courts the character played by Anita Gillette, he had a solo, "Don't Be Afraid of Romance".

Although Mr. President was initially panned by critics, it proved popular with audiences, and the original cast album was lauded as a success.

Other works In 1959 Washburn was one of the actors in the film The Black Orchid starring Sophia Loren;

His other theatre credits acting alongside major stars included Annie Get Your Gun with Patti Page; Sweet Charity with Chita Rivera; as well as Forty Carats, Dial M for Murder, and Cactus Flower with Joan Fontaine. The daughter of former Marin district attorney Albert Edward Bagshaw, Diane attended the College of Marin where she studied art, and worked with photographer Fred Lyon, who then lived in Sausalito.

Jack and Diane Washburn had two children, a daughter and a son. In 1961, they moved their family to a suburban home in New Hope, Pennsylvania. Despite the demands of his performance schedule, Jack coached his son's Little League baseball team and led a local Boyscout troop. Washburn died on March 15, 1992, in New Hope.