Jay Crimp(1951-2011)

Actor, dancer, singer, and dance choreographer Jay Curtis Crimp was born on April 9, 1951 in Ellensburg, Washington. The son of Frank and Kay Crimp, Crimp attended public schools in Ellensburg and graduated from Ellensburg High School in 1969. Jay developed a passion for both the theatre and the arts by performing in many plays throughout his years in high school. Following graduation from high school, Crimp went on to attend Central Washington University for three years before transferring to the University of Washington. Jay eventually left the University of Washington and moved to New York City where he was cast as a dancer for the stage tour of "Applause" in 1973. Crimp subsequently moved to Hollywood, California in the late 1970's. Moreover, during a fifteen year period Jay participated in many summer stock theatre productions in places ranging from Columbus, Ohio to Madrid, Spain. Among the plays Crimp either starred in and/or choreographed are "Godspell, " "Grease" (he also appears as a dancer in the 1978 film), "Jesus Christ Superstar," "Hello Dolly," "Oliver," "The Sound of Music," and "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers." In addition, Jay also worked as an extra and stand-in on a handful of movies and TV shows as well as worked as a camera coordinator/blocker for situation comedies and founded a troupe called A Chorus Line of Care which raised money for AIDS victims. He died at his home at age 59 on February 28, 2011.