Roger De Koven

Roger De Koven (born Roger Bemet DeKoven; October 22, 1907 – January 28, 1988) was an American actor on stage, radio, television and film, known for his versatility, and, in particular, for his portrayals of Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. in the Broadway musical, Funny Girl, and of Professor Jason Allen in the landmark anti-war—and anti-Nazi—radio drama Against the Storm. H appeared frequently on Grand Central Station, Dimension X, and Yours Truly, Johnny Dollar,

Early life and career A native of Chicago, Illinois, DeKoven was one of seven children born to Bernard DeKoven and Clara Turner. DeKoven attended the University of Chicago, Northwestern, and Columbia. He made his Broadway debut in 1926 in Franz Werfel's Juarez and Maximilian. That same year, De Koven performed with Moscow's Habima Theatre troupe during their tour of the US.

In 1940, De Koven appeared at The New School for Social Research in Shakespeare's King Lear (the first American production staged by the school's founder, Erwin Piscator), playing Edmund to Sam Jaffe's Lear. Of his performance as Paul Hirsch in the touring company of Leonard Spigelgass's Dear Me, the Sky is Falling, reviewed at the Tappan Zee Playhouse, Nyack Journal-News critic Mariruth Campbell writes, "DeKoven [...] gives the role wondrous value by impressing the audience with Paul's basic solidity while seemingly the too-easily led marriage partner. He clearly shows Paul admires as well as adores his fix-it mama." Regarding De Koven's portrayal of Justice Lawrence Walgrave in a 1969 production of Agatha Christie's 10 Little Indians, Home News drama critic Ernest Albrecht notes, "DeKoven is particularly good at making an enormous change in character go down without our gagging on it."

Personal life and death From June 6, 1927, DeKoven was married to the former Mina Meltz. They had two children.

Apr 1936 First Knight Manhattan Theatre Written by T.S. Eliot; music by A. Lehman Engel

May 15, 1937 The Eternal Road Fanatic Manhattan Opera House Music by Kurt Weill; text by Franz Werfel. Adapted by William A. Drake, from translation by Ludwig Lewisohn; staged by Max Reinhardt.

Feb 7, 1942 Brooklyn, U.S.A. Albert Forrest Theatre Written by John Bright and Asa Bordages.

Oct 27, 1945 The Assassin Admiral Marcel Vespery National Theatre Written by Irwin Shaw

May 10, 1947 Joan of Lorraine Jeffson Alvin Theatre Written by Maxwell Anderson; produced by The Playwrights' Company

Dec 4, 1954 Abie's Irish Rose Dr. Jacob Samuels Holiday Theatre Written by Anne Nichols

Jun 2, 1956 The Lark The Promoter Longacre Theatre Written by Jean Anouilh; book adapted by Lillian Hellman; incidental music by Leonard Bernstein.

Mar 16, 1957 The Hidden River Dr. Montalti Playhouse Theatre Written by Ruth Goetz and Augustus Goetz, based on the novel by Storm Jameson; directed by Robert Lewis.

Feb 22, 1958 Compulsion Ferdinand Feldscher Ambassador Theatre Adapted from his novel of the same name by Meyer Levin; late made into like-named film.

Jul 1, 1961 The Miracle Worker Doctor Playhouse Theatre Written by Anton Chekhov; translation by Constance Garnett

Feb 20, 1960 The Fighting Cock The Milkman ANTA Playhouse Lucienne Hill's adaptation of Jean Anouilh's play

Nov 9, 1963 Tovarich Gorotchenko - Replacement (May 27, 1963 - ?) Civic Repertory Theatre Musical based on the comedy by Robert E. Sherwood and Jacques Deval;

Nov 16, 1963 Arturo Ui The Actor Lunt-Fontanne Theatre Written by Bertolt Brecht; book adapted by George Tabori; incidental music by Jule Styne; directed by Tony Richardson

Jul 1, 1967 Funny Girl Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. Winter Garden Theatre, Majestic Theatre, Broadway Theatre Jule Styne-Bob Merrill musical with book by Isobel Lennart, based on her original story; directed by Garson Kanin

Feb 10, 1968 Saint Joan The Archbishop of Rheims Vivian Beaumont Theatre Written by George Bernard Shaw

Apr 6, 1968 Tiger at the Gates Priam Vivian Beaumont Theatre Adapted by Christopher Fry from Jean Giradoux's play.

Jun 8, 1968 Cyrano de Bergerac Jodelet, A Spanish Officer Vivian Beaumont Theatre Written by Edmond Rostand; book adapted by James Forsyth; incidental music by William Bolcom.

Dec 5, 1976 Herzl Jacob Herzl Palace Theatre Written by Benjamin Glazer and Vicki Baum

May 18, 1980 Strider Vaska/ Mr. Willingstone Helen Hayes Theatre Written by Mark Rozovsky, adapted from "Kholstomer: The Story of a Horse" by Leo Tolstoy

Radio + Year Title Role Notes 1938–1944 Myrt and Marge Randy Greenspring 1939–? The O'Neills Chris Mamanos 1939–1942, 1949–1950, 1951–1952 Against the Storm Professor Jason McKinley Allen 1940 Amanda of Honeymoon Hill Charlie Harris Grand Central Station December 31, 1940 Ep. NA With Arline Blackburn, Alan Reed, DeKoven 1941–1946 Famous O. Henry Jury Trials Narrator February 13, 1942 Ep. NA Starring Sonya Stokowski, w/ Hugh Marlowe, DeKoven, Bill Johnstone and Sam Roskyn 1942 Abie's Irish Rose Rabbi Samuels (aka Dr. Samuels) Succeeded Richard Gordon and preceded Martin Wolfson, beginning in April 1942 and finishing sometime that year. 1942 SuspenseEp. "The Ketler Method" Dr. Ketler 1942–? The Anderson's NA Co-starring with Elizabeth Watts 1942–? The Man Behind the Gun 1943–? Men at Sea 1943–? Words at War 1943–1944 Brave Tomorrow Hal Lambert 1943 Manhunt 1945 The Living People NA Mini-Series of six weekly 15-minute transcriptions which aired during Lent in February and March 1945. 1945–? The Strange Romance of Evelyn Winters 1945–? Gang Busters Narrator 1945–1946; 1950- Road of Life Dr. Fraser; Reid Overton 1946–? The Schools Are Yours Tom Webber August 30, 1947 Ep. NA Starring Helen Claire, w/ Sydney Smith, DeKoven, Kathleen Cordell October 30, 1948 Ep. "The Millionth Guest" NA Starring Arnold Moss, w/ Leif Ericson, Richard Newton, Viola Roache, Philippa Bevans, DeKoven June 1, 1950 Hallmark PlayhouseEp. "Crossroads of America" NA August 11, 1952 Crime Does Not PayEp. "The Lady Loves Kittens" NA 1952–1953 Police Blotter 5-minute "capsule thriller" starring DeKoven. October 1952 The Eternal LightEp. "The Song of Berditchev" Levi Yitzchok of Berditchev December 30, 1976 Radio Mystery TheaterEp. "Your Move, Mr. Ellers" Tim Whelan (the "snoopy insurance investigator")

Film

Television