Michael Higgins

Michael Patrick Higgins Jr. (January 20, 1920 – November 5, 2008) was an American actor who appeared in film and on stage, and was best known for his role in the original Broadway production of Equus.

Early life Higgins was born in Brooklyn on January 20, 1920, the son of Mary Katherine (née McGowan) and Michael Peter Higgins, a poet and grocer who worked in the insurance business. He made efforts as a teenager to rid himself of his Brooklyn accent, hoping for a future career in theater. His father gave him an early love of Shakespeare. He served in the United States Army in Italy during World War II, where he earned a Bronze Star Medal and a Purple Heart.

Career After returning from military service, Higgins made his Broadway debut on February 18, 1946, in a production of Antigone (1946), starring Katharine Cornell and Sir Cedric Hardwicke in a modern-dress adaptation of the Sophocles play based on Jean Anouilh's French version. Higgins played the role of the Third Guard.

Higgins appeared in the original Broadway production of Peter Shaffer's Equus in the role of Frank Strang, the father of a youth who blinds horses, alongside Peter Firth as the youth, Frances Sternhagen as Alan's mother and Anthony Hopkins as his psychiatrist.

Among his Broadway performances are Romeo and Juliet as Benvolio with Olivia de Havilland in 1951, Jean Anouilh's The Lark in 1955 with Julie Harris and Christopher Plummer, Eugene O'Neill's The Iceman Cometh with James Earl Jones at Circle in the Square Theatre in 1973, and the 1980 production of Mixed Couples, his final Broadway appearance. In 1963, he starred in Antony and Cleopatra opposite Colleen Dewhurst, in Joseph Papp's Shakespeare Festival in Central Park. He won two Obie Awards for his work Off Broadway; for his 1958 performance as John Proctor in The Crucible and in 1980 in David Mamet's play Reunion.

Later in his career he worked primarily on screen, appearing in over 50 films. He co-starred in Coppola's The Conversation and Barbara Loden's Wanda. He appeared in Angel Heart, The Black Stallion, The Seduction of Joe Tynan, The Stepford Wives, David Mamet's State and Main, and Charlie Kaufman's Synecdoche, New York, among many others.

Death Higgins died at age 88 on November 5, 2008, at Beth Israel Medical Center of heart failure.

Selected filmography Film

Shades of Gray (1948) - U.S. Army Soldier Edge of Fury (1958) - Richard Barrie Chūshingura: Hana no Maki, Yuki no Maki (1962) - Narrator (1963 US version) (voice) Terror in the City (1964) - Carl The Arrangement (1969) - Michael Anderson Wanda (1970) - Norman Dennis Desperate Characters (1971) - Francis Early The Conversation (1974) - Paul The Stepford Wives (1975) - Mr. Cornell Death Play (1976) - Sam An Enemy of the People (1978) - Billing King of the Gypsies (1978) - Traffic Court Judge The Seduction of Joe Tynan (1979) - Senator Pardew The Black Stallion (1979) - Neville Fort Apache, The Bronx (1981) - Heffernan A Midsummer Night's Sex Comedy (1982) - Reynolds Staying Alive (1983) - Dancer Rumble Fish (1983) - Mr. Harrigan Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985) - Featured Dancer 1918 (1985) - Mr. Vaughn Seven Minutes in Heaven (1985) - Senator Peterson On Valentine's Day (1986) - Mr. Vaughn Angel Heart (1987) - Dr. Albert Fowler Courtship (1987) - Mr. Vaughn Crusoe (1988) - Dr. Martin New York Stories (1989) - Robber (segment "Life without Zoe") Dead Bang (1989) - Reverend Gebhardt Forced March (1989) - Andras Bereg The Local Stigmatic (1990) - Drunk man An Empty Bed (1990) - Man in 50's Restaurant Death Becomes Her (1992) - Dancer Wind (1992) - Artemus School Ties (1992) - Mr. Gierasch The Impostors (1998) - Older Man who Drops Dead Just the Ticket (1999) - Confessional Priest State and Main (2000) - Doc Wilson Swimfan (2002) - Mr. Tillman Messengers (2004) - Poor Old Man from Room 410 Off the Black (2006) - Al Cook The Savages (2007) - Resident #1 The Favor (2007) - Mr. Ritter Synecdoche, New York (2008) - Actor Playing Man with Nose Bleed An American Carol (2008) - Parent

Television

+ Year Title Role Notes 1949–1951 One Man's Family Johnny Roberts 1 episode 1963 The Outer Limits Dr. Thomas Kellander Episode: "The Mice" 1963 Gunsmoke Irish Immigrant Finnegan Episode: "Two of a Kind" 1985 The Equalizer Marvin Stahl Episode: "Lady Cop" 1968 The Andy Griffith Show Mr. Clifford Episode: "Barney Hosts a Summit Meeting" 1991 Law & Order Thad Messimer Episode: "In Memory Of" 1999 Law & Order Darryl Grady Episode: "Ramparts"