Biography

Alfred Drake

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One of Broadway's most venerable, respected musical leading men, Alfred Drake created the male leads in "Oklahoma!" (1943), "Kiss Me Kate" (1949) and "Kismet" (1953). Sadly, he re-created none of these roles on screen. Very much a man of his beloved live theater, he never did go to Hollywood, except for the starring role in "Tars and Spars" (1946) for Columbia Pictures, a post-war comedy, and for a small role as the President of the Exchange in 1983's "Trading Places" (the one who says to Don Ameche "Mortimer, your brother's not well"). The 1964 production of "Hamlet" in which he played Claudius was filmed live in a Broadway theatre, was made in a new process of the time, (Electronovision) and distributed in movie theaters in the 60s and early 70s. It is available on DVD.

And so, apart from those films mentioned, as well as TV appearances both in starring roles and as a guest star in episodic series, his name and art can only live on in the memories of those who saw him work his particular brand of magic on stage during the golden years of the Broadway musical, his performances on Broadway cast albums giving only a partial idea of just how potent that magic was.
- IMDb mini biography by: Bob Sorrentino

Created the roles of Curley in "Oklahoma!", Fred in "Kiss Me Kate" and the Beggar Poet in "Kismet" in the original Broadway productions.
He was first choice for the role of the King in the original 1951 Broadway production of "The King and I", but turned down the role because of a full schedule. This was before Yul Brynner auditioned and was immediately selected for the role.
Won Broadway's 1954 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Kismet," as well as a Special Tony Award in 1990 "for excellence in the Theatre." Was also nominated two other times for Best Actor (Musical) Tony Awards: in 1962 for "Kean" and in 1974 for "Gigi."
His salary of $5000 per week for the 1954 Broadway production of "Kismet" made him the highest-paid leading man in Broadway history, until Jackie Gleason demanded (and was given) $5,050 per week in the 1959 production of "Take Me Along".
Brother of Metropolitan Opera baritone Arthur Kent.

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