Actor Bob LuPone, who helped found and lead the off-Broadway Manhattan Class Company (MCC) Theatre, has died at 76. Deadline reports that the actor and brother of Broadway icon Patti LuPone had been battling pancreatic cancer for three years. LuPone originated the role of Zach in A Chorus Line, a performance that earned him a Tony nomination in 1976. As the artistic director for MCC Theatre, he produced Frozen in 2004 and Reasons To Be Pretty in 2008. Both earned Tony nominations for Best Play. LuPone had numerous TV and film roles, including five episodes of The Sopranos, several appearances in the Law & Order franchise, and the Showtime series Billions.
Credit: Showtime via IMDb
MCC Theatre Mourns Loss of Actor and Director Bob LuPone
The MCC Theatre released a statement saying, “The MCC Theater community mourns the loss of our much loved and uniquely inspiring partner, colleague, and dear friend, Bob LuPone, who lived fearlessly and with great curiosity, good humor, a boundless passion for connection, and a whole lot of heart. We will miss him deeply and always.”
Born on July 29th, 1946, in Brooklyn, New York, LuPone developed an interest in the arts when he saw his younger sister perform at a PTA Dance Concert. He enrolled in after-school tap classes before enrolling at the Martha Graham Studio, where he trained from 15 to 18. He attended Juilliard and earned a BFA in Dance in 1968. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he taught an acting class at New York University and connected with student Bernie Telsey. Together, they formed the MCC Theatre in 1986.
LuPone’s death occurs less than two months after the death of Tony Sirico, also a star of The Sopranos.
Actor and MCC Theatre director Bob LuPone is survived by his wife Virginia, his son Orlando, his sister Patti, and his brother William.
