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Cris Alexander

Biography

Cris Alexander

Overview

  • Born
    January 14, 1920 · Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA
  • Died
    March 7, 2012 · Manhattan, New York City, New York, USA
  • Birth name
    Alan Smith

Biography

  • Born in 1920, Mr. Alexander was raised by his devoted father and attended Central High School in his hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma. He and Tony Randall (then Leonard Rosenberg) along with several other exceptionally talented classmates, performed on their own weekly radio show in 1937-8. Multi-talented, Mr. Alexander acts, sings, dances, paints, and is a world-renowned photographer. On Broadway, in his twenties and thirties, he starred as "Chip" opposite Nancy Walker in the original production of Leonard Bernstein's,"On The Town;" versus Clifton Webb in Noel Coward's, "Present Laughter;" with Rosalind Russell in "Wonderful Town;" and again with Miss Russell and life-long friend, Peggy Cass, in both the stage and movie versions of "Auntie Mame." He has maintained a photography studio for many years and was the official photographer for the New York City Ballet. In 1961, he collaborated with his friend and "Mame" author, Patrick Dennis, on the mock autobiography of the worst actress in the world, Miss Belle Poitrine, called, "Little Me," and in 1964, he repeated that success with Mr. Dennis (this time with Peggy Cass in the mix) on the very funny mock autobiography, "First Lady." He is a long-time resident of Saratoga Springs, New York.
    - IMDb mini biography by: Chuck3049@aol.com

Family

  • Spouse
      Shaun O'Brien(2011 - February 23, 2012) (his death)

Trivia

  • Married his partner of 61 years Shaun O'Brien in 2011 after same sex marriage legislation was passed in New York.
  • Passed away 13 days after the passing of his partner of 61 years Shaun O'Brien, who passed away on February 23, 2012.
  • He and Tony Randall were classmates who came to New York City in 1938. He attended the University of Oklahoma before coming to New York City. He studied at the Feagin School of Dramatic Arts in New York City.
  • He and his partner, Shaun O'Brien had lived in a Victorian house in Saratoga Springs, New York since 1993.
  • He was also a successful photographer for decades. He had taken portraits of Martha Graham and Vivien Leigh. He worked for Andy Warhol's Interview magazine and the New York City Ballet as a photographer.

Quotes

  • [on photography] I would have gotten very hungry if I had just been an actor.
  • I came to New York because I thought they were waiting for me.

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