# Richard Kiley

Richard Paul Kiley (March 31, 1922 – March 5, 1999) was an American stage, film, and television actor and singer. He is best-known for his distinguished theatrical career in which he twice won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Kiley created the role of Don Quixote in the original 1965 production of the Broadway musical Man of La Mancha and was the first to sing and record "The Impossible Dream", the hit song from the show. In the 1953 hit musical Kismet, he played the Caliph in the original Broadway cast and, as such, was one of the quartet who sang "And This Is My Beloved". Additionally, he won four Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards during his 50-year career and his "sonorous baritone" was also featured in the narration of a number of documentaries and other films. At the time of his death, Kiley was described as "one of theater's most distinguished and versatile actors" and as "an indispensable actor, the kind of performer who could be called on to play kings and commoners and a diversity of characters in between."

## Early life

Kiley was born on March 31, 1922, in Chicago, and raised Catholic. He graduated from Mt. Carmel High School in 1939, and after a year at Loyola University Chicago he left to study acting at Chicago's Barnum Dramatic School. In the late 1940s, he performed in Chicago-area summer stock theaters with actors such as Alan Furlan. Following his service in the Navy during World War II, he returned to Chicago working as an actor and announcer on radio before moving to New York City. In New York he studied singing with Ray Smolover.

## Career

Kiley's work on stage included Kismet, No Strings (which was Richard Rodgers's first stage musical after the death of Oscar Hammerstein II, in which Rodgers wrote both music and lyrics), the Buddy Hackett vehicle I Had a Ball, and the lead roles in Redhead, Man of La Mancha, and the play The Incomparable Max.
Kiley later starred in the television play Patterns, which aired live on January 12, 1955. It caused a sensation and won an Emmy for its writer, Rod Serling. He played the role of John Malcolm Patterson, future Attorney General of Alabama (and later Governor of Alabama), in the 1955 film The Phenix City Story. Kiley also portrayed math teacher Joshua Edwards, whose phonograph records were smashed by delinquents in Blackboard Jungle in 1955.
Kiley won Tony Awards for Best Actor in a Musical for Redhead in 1959 and Man of La Mancha in 1966. The dual role of middle-aged author Cervantes and his fictional creation Quixote is one of the few musical roles that requires the talents of both leading man and character actor. Kiley said while La Mancha was on Broadway that despite the fact he had grown tired of playing leading men, he would always be grateful for having been given the chance to perform in La Mancha. He performed in the original production for over five years and returned for Broadway revivals in 1972 and 1977 saying he had become "very possessive" of the role.
Kiley won three Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards for his work in television. He won both an Emmy and Golden Globe awards for The Thorn Birds (as Paddy, Rachel Ward's father) (1983) and A Year in the Life (1986, 1987–1988). His third Emmy win was for Guest Actor in a Drama Series, for an episode of Picket Fences, in which he had a recurring role as the father of main character Jill Brock (Kathy Baker). Kiley also received an Emmy nomination for portraying Chief Justice Earl Warren in the 1991 miniseries Separate but Equal dramatizing Brown vs. Board of Education.
Other television work included as the murderous police commissioner on Columbo (1974, the episode "A Friend In Deed"), his appearance as Gideon Seyetik in the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine episode "Second Sight", as well as guest roles on Ally McBeal, Hawaii Five-O and Gunsmoke. He narrated the award-winning seven-part 1986 PBS documentary Planet Earth.
Kiley's baritone made him a favorite to narrate documentaries for television. Starting with ‘Land of the Tiger’ in 1985, Richard Kiley provided narration for multiple National Geographic Video television specials. Kiley also voiced two 1975 episodes of CBS Radio Mystery Theater.
In Jurassic Park, Kiley's voice narrates the park's vehicle tour. Kiley was introduced as the narrator for the tour first in the novel by Michael Crichton and later in the film adaptation by Steven Spielberg where the owner of the park said he "spared no expense" hiring Kiley. Visitors to Universal's Islands of Adventure theme park in Orlando, Florida, and the former attraction at Universal Studios Hollywood hear Kiley as the narrator of the Jurassic Park River Adventure ride – making him the only person to appear in the book, the film, and the ride.
Kiley also narrated the A&E documentary television series Mysteries of the Bible, from 1994 to 1998. His final acting role was in the 1999 TV movie Blue Moon, which debuted the month after his death.

## Death

Kiley died of an unspecified bone marrow disease at Horton Hospital in Middletown, New York, on March 5, 1999, less than a month before his 77th birthday. He was survived by his wife, dancer Patricia Ferrier, and six children from his first marriage: sons David and Michael Kiley and daughters Kathleen, Dorothea, Erin and Deirdre. His remains were interred in Warwick, New York. Broadway's lights went dark in his honor.

## Filmography
### Film

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1951 | The Mob | Thomas Clancy | |
| 1952 | The Sniper | Dr. James G. Kent | |
| 1952 | Eight Iron Men | Private Coke | |
| 1953 | Pickup on South Street | Joey | |
| 1955 | Blackboard Jungle | Joshua Y. Edwards | |
| 1955 | The Phenix City Story | John Patterson | |
| 1957 | Spanish Affair | Merritt Blake | |
| 1958 | The Power of the Resurrection | Peter | |
| 1969 | Pendulum | Woodrow Wilson King | |
| 1970 | A.k.a. Cassius Clay | Narrator | |
| 1974 | The Little Prince | The Pilot | |
| 1977 | Looking for Mr. Goodbar | Mr. Dunn | |
| 1981 | Endless Love | Arthur Axelrod | |
| 1986 | Howard the Duck | The Cosmos | Voice |
| 1989 | To the Limit | Narrator | |
| 1989 | Miami Cops | | |
| 1989 | The Final Days | J. Fred Buzhardt | |
| 1993 | Jurassic Park | Tour Guide Voice | Voice |
| 1993 | The Gospel According to St. Matthew | Old Matthew | |
| 1996 | Phenomenon | Dr. Wellin | |
| 1997 | Time to Say Goodbye? | Dr. Gerald Klooster | |
| 1998 | Patch Adams | Dr. Titan | |
| 2002 | Jesus the Christ | Matthew | Final role (posthumous release) |

### Television

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1953 | The United States Steel Hour | Sergeant Lucky Dover | Episode: "P.O.W." |
| 1954 | Justice | Unknown | 2 episodes |
| 1955 | Kraft Television Theatre | Fred Staples | Episode: "Patterns" |
| 1956 | Studio One | Mr. Dean | Episode: "The Landlady's Daughter" |
| 1958 | Decision | Paul Scott | Season 1 Episode 6: "Indemnity" |
| 1958 | Alfred Hitchcock Presents | Harry Adams | Season 4 Episode 4: "The Crooked Road" |
| 1963 | Alfred Hitchcock Hour | Jim Derry | Season 2 Episode 5: "Blood Bargain" |
| 1969 | Night Gallery | Joseph Strobe | Television film ("The Escape Route" segment) |
| 1970–1973 | Gunsmoke | Lewis Stark Tom Lynott Bohannon Will Stambridge | Episode: "Stark" Episode: "Lynott" Episode: "Bohannon" Episode: "Kitty's Love Affair" |
| 1970 | Bonanza | Gideon Yates | Episode: "Gideon the Good" |
| 1970 | The Ceremony of Innocence | King Ethelred II | Television film |
| 1971 | Murder Once Removed | Frank Manning | Television film |
| 1974 | Columbo: A Friend in Deed | Mark Halperin | |
| 1975 | Friendly Persuasion | Jess Birdwell | Television film |
| 1976 | How the West Was Won | Timothy Macahan | |
| 1980 | Angel on My Shoulder | Nick | Television film |
| 1981 | Isabel's Choice | Lyman Jones | Television film |
| 1981 | Golden Gate | Thomas J. Kingsley | Television film |
| 1983 | The Thorn Birds | Paddy Cleary | 2 episodes Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television (1984) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special (1983) |
| 1984 | George Washington | George Mason | Television film |
| 1985 | A.D. | Claudius | Television film |
| 1985 | The Canterville Ghost | Sir Simon de Canterville | Television film |
| 1985 | Do You Remember Love | George Hollis | Television film Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special (1985) |
| 1986 | Planet Earth | Narrator | 7 episodes |
| 1986 | The Twilight Zone | Lancelot | Episode: "The Last Defender of Camelot (The Twilight Zone)" |
| 1986 | If Tomorrow Comes | Gunther Hartog | 3 episodes |
| 1986–1988 | A Year in the Life | Joe Gardner | 22 episodes Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama (1987) Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series (1988) |
| 1988 | My First Love | Sam Morrissey | Television film |
| 1990 | Aladdin | The Magician | Television film |
| 1991 | Absolute Strangers | Dr. R.J. Cannon | Television film |
| 1991 | Separate but Equal | Chief Justice Earl Warren | Television film Nominated—Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television (1991) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special (1991) |
| 1991 | The Ray Bradbury Theater | Douglas Spaulding | Episode: "The Utterly Perfect Murder" Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series (1992) |
| 1992–1994 | Picket Fences | Hayden Langston | 2 episodes Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (1994) Nominated—Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series (1993) |
| 1993 | Star Trek: Deep Space Nine | Dr. Gideon Seyetik | Episode: "Second Sight" |
| 1994–1998 | Mysteries of the Bible | Narrator | |
| 1995 | The Great Defender | Joe Dewitt | 8 episodes |
| 1996 | Mary & Tim | Ron Melville | Television film |
| 1997 | Time to Say Goodbye? | Dr. Gerald Klooster | Television film |
| 1997 | Tigers of the Snow | Narrator | |
| 1998 | Ally McBeal | Seymore Little | Episode: "Once in a Lifetime" |
| 1998 | Blue Moon | Jimmy Keating | Television film |

### Stage

| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1953 | Misalliance | Joey Percival | Theatre World Award (1953) |
| 1953–1955 | Kismet | The Caliph | |
| 1956 | Time Limit | Major Harry Cargill | |
| 1959–1960 | Redhead | Tom Baxter | Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical (1959) |
| 1960–1961 | Advise and Consent | Brig Anderson | |
| 1962–1963 | No Strings | David Jordan | Nominated—Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical (1962) |
| 1963–1964 | Here's Love | Fred Gaily | |
| 1964–1965 | I Had a Ball | Stan the Shpieler | |
| 1965–1971 | Man of La Mancha | Miguel de Cervantes / Don Quixote | Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Musical (1966) |
| 1968 | Her First Roman | Caesar | |
| 1971 | The Incomparable Max | Enoch Soames | |
| 1972 | Voices | Robert | |
| 1972 | Man of La Mancha | Miguel de Cervantes/Don Quixote | |
| 1974–1976 | Absurd Person Singular | Ronald | |
| 1975 | Ah, Wilderness! | Nat Miller | Academy Festival Theatre, Drake Theatre at Barat College, Lake Forest, Illinois |
| 1976 | The Heiress | Dr. Austin Sloper | Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Play (1976) |
| 1977 | Man of La Mancha | Don Quixote | Nominated—Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Actor in a Musical (1978) |
| 1987 | All My Sons | Joe Keller | Nominated—Tony Award for Best Leading Actor in a Play (1987) |

## Awards and nominations

| Year | Award | Category | Nominated work | Results |
| 1976 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Play | The Heiress | Nominated |
| 1978 | Drama Desk Awards | Outstanding Actor in a Musical | Man of La Mancha | Nominated |
| 1966 | Drama League Awards | Distinguished Performance Award | — | Won |
| 1983 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | The Thorn Birds | Won |
| 1987 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Actor in a Television Series – Drama | A Year in the Life | Won |
| 1991 | Golden Globe Awards | Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries or Motion Picture Made for Television | Separate but Equal | Nominated |
| 1967 | Grammy Awards | Best Recording for Children | Jungle Books | Nominated |
| 1967 | Grammy Awards | Best Recording for Children | Magic Fishbone/Happy Prince/Potted Princess (with Julie Harris) | Nominated |
| 1983 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | The Thorn Birds | Won |
| 1985 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited Series or a Special | Do You Remember Love | Nominated |
| 1988 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series | A Year in the Life | Won |
| 1991 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Miniseries or a Special | Separate but Equal | Nominated |
| 1992 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series | The Ray Bradbury Theater (Episode: "The Utterly Perfect Murder") | Nominated |
| 1993 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Picket Fences (Episode: "Thanksgiving") | Nominated |
| 1994 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series | Picket Fences (Episode: "Buried Alive") | Won |
| 1995 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informational Special | 30 Years of National Geographic Specials | Nominated |
| 1997 | Primetime Emmy Awards | Outstanding Informational Special | National Geographic Special: Tigers of the Snow | Won |
| 1953 | Theatre World Awards | — | Misalliance | Won |
| 1959 | Tony Awards | Best Leading Actor in a Musical | Redhead | Won |
| 1962 | Tony Awards | Best Leading Actor in a Musical | No Strings | Nominated |
| 1966 | Tony Awards | Best Leading Actor in a Musical | Man of La Mancha | Won |
| 1987 | Tony Awards | Best Leading Actor in a Play | All My Sons | Nominated |
| 1975 | Western Heritage Awards | Factual Television Program | The American Parade (Episode: "The 34th Star") | Won |
| 1976 | Western Heritage Awards | Fictional Television Drama | How the West Was Won (Episode: "The Macahans") | Won |
| 1991 | Western Heritage Awards | Factual Narrative | World of Discovery (Episode: "Cougar: Ghost of the Rockies") | Won |