Paul Kreppel

Paul Kreppel (born June 20, 1947) is an American actor and director. On television, he was best known as pianist Sonny Mann on the show It's a Living. In his work as theater director-producer-creator, he received the 2007 Tony Award for Jay Johnson: The Two and Only.

Early life Kreppel was born in Kingston, New York, to Adele and Irv Kreppel. He later moved to Boston to attend Emerson College.

Career Kreppel started his acting career by starring in the improvisational theater group, "The Proposition," which included Jane Curtin, Josh Mostel, Judith Kahan, and Munson Hicks. When the group moved to New York, Kreppel began starring in off-Broadway plays, including Godspell and Tuscaloosa's Calling Me...

While appearing at the New York Shakespeare Festival, he notably starred with Meryl Streep in the musical, Alice in Concert, by Elizabeth Swados. Kreppel also performed in Agamemnon (as part of chorus) and The Comedy of Errors in the late 1970s.

Television and other work In 1979, Kreppel moved to Los Angeles to become the memorable waitress-harassing pianist, Sonny Mann, of It's a Living. He starred in all 120 episodes, and also directed some episodes. Kreppel, along with Gail Edwards, the late Marian Mercer, and the late Barrie Youngfellow, were the only four who lasted through the show's network and syndicated runs.

He was a semi-regular celebrity guest on the 1980s versions of the game show Pyramid, and also made celebrity appearances on Hollywood Squares, Win, Lose or Draw, Body Language, Blackout, and The New Liar's Club.

During the 1990s, he returned to theatre and starred in the musical revue of the Allan Sherman song, "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!" In addition, he starred in Jerome Robbins' Broadway on its national tour.

Kreppel was the voice of Apollo Blue in Jetsons: The Movie, and guest-starred in and directed other television shows, including appearing as Jackie's dad in That '70s Show. He appeared off Broadway for more than a year in the one-man show My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy.

Community work Kreppel has served on the Council of Actors' Equity Association and as a board member of the Screen Actors Guild. He is active in arts education as a professional arts educator for LA's Reprise, and as the vice president and one of the three member Executive Leadership Team of Enrichment Works, a not-for-profit that provides curriculum-based theatre for schools in Southern California. Paul has also created and co-created benefits for The Entertainment Community Fund(formerly The Actors Fund) and Orphaned Starfish Foundation.

Recent projects Among other projects, Kreppel directed and produced with his partner in WetRock Entertainment, Ms. Murphy Cross, Jay Johnson: The Two and Only, for which he won a 2007 Tony Award for Best Special Theatrical Event.

Kreppel played the [wondereul [Wizard (character)|Wizard of Oz during the second national tour of the musical Wicked, from March 7, 2012, to March 10, 2013.

He appeared in the RuPaul 2021 television movie The Bitch Who Stole Christmas.

In June 2022, Kreppel joined the cast of the Broadway revival of Into the Woods, understudying the Narrator/Mysterious Man and the Steward. He reprised these roles in the 2023 national tour.

Personal life Kreppel is divorced with two children. His children, Will and Molly, are both artists.

In 1992, Kreppel received an Alumni Achievement Award from Emerson College, for outstanding achievements in his field.

Filmography TelevisionYear Title Role Notes2000 L.A. 7 Mr. Walters 3 episodes1999 Suddenly Susan Darryl episodes: "One Man's Intervention Is Another Man's Tupperware Party"1998 That '70s Show Mr. Burkhart 3 episodes1998 Step by Step Stan episode: "Phoney Business"1997 ER Mr. Cotmeier episode: "Freak Show"1997 Cybill Glen episode: "The Wedding"1996 California Dreams Marty Stinson episode: "Babewatch"1990–1993 Tom & Jerry Kids Show Beauregard (voice) episode: "Sugar Belle Loves Tom, Sometimes"1992 Clarissa Explains It All Joey Russo episode: "Janet's Old Boyfriend"1990 My Two Dads Schuyler Dunne episode: "When You Wish..."1990 Open House Waiter episode: "The Real Estate Thing"1990 Murder, She Wrote Leo Kaplan episode: "Murder: According to Maggie"1990 Doogie Howser, M.D. Mark Murson episode: "Greed Is Good"1990 Barnyard Commandos Voice 1990 Timeless Tales from Hallmark Voice episode: "The Emperor's New Clothes"1980–1989 It's a Living Sonny Mann Main Cast1984 Night Court Guy Harris episode: "Welcome Back, Momma"1983 Remington Steele Stan episode: "Scene Steelers"1983 The Love Boat Russ Butler episode: "Rhino of the Year/One Last Time/For Love or Money"1983 Fantasy Island Don Mitchel episode: "Love Island/The Sisters"1982 It Takes Two Janitor episode: "Turnabout"1980 Laverne & Shirley Rafael episode: "The Beatnik Show"

Stage credits 2026 ((Tuesdays With Morrie))) Morrie Florida Rep