# Walter Charles

Walter Charles (born Walter Charles Jacobsen; April 4, 1945 – August 3, 2023) was an American actor and singer.
Charles made his Broadway debut in Grease in 1972. Additional Broadway credits include 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue (1976), Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (1979), Cats (1982), La Cage aux Folles (1983), Me and My Girl (1987), Aspects of Love (1990), Kiss Me, Kate (2000), The Boys from Syracuse (2002), Big River (2003), The Woman in White (2005), The Apple Tree (2006) and Anything Goes (2011). He also originated the role of Ebeneezer Scrooge in A Christmas Carol at The Theater at Madison Square Garden in 1994. He played Max von Mayerling in the Toronto production of Sunset Boulevard in 1995. He reprised the role of Judge Turpin in the 2002 Kennedy Center and 2004 New York City Opera productions of Sweeney Todd.
Charles' screen credits include A Fine Mess, Fletch Lives, Weeds, and Prancer. On television he appeared in Cagney and Lacey, Kate and Allie, Law & Order, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.
Walter Charles died of complications from frontotemporal dementia on August 3, 2023, at the age of 78. He is survived by his wife, Leslie Thompson.

## Stage credits

Sources:
| Year | Title | Role | Location |
| 1970-1972 | 1776 | Joseph Hewes u/s Thomas McKean u/s John Hancock | US National Tour |
| 1972 | 1776 | John Dickinson | Bergen Mall Shopping Center |
| 1972-1974 | Grease | Vince Fontaine | US National Tour |
| 1975 | Grease | Vince Fontaine | Royale Theatre, Broadway |
| 1976 | 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue | Delegate of New Jersey / Ordway / Singer | Mark Hellinger Theatre, Broadway |
| 1977 | Jesus Christ Superstar | Caiaphas | Paper Mill Playhouse |
| 1978 | Man of La Mancha | Dr. Carrasco / The Duke | US National Tour |
| 1979-1980 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Ensemble u/s Sweeney Todd | Uris Theatre, Broadway |
| 1980 | Anyone Can Whistle | Treasurer Cooley | Berkshire Theatre Festival |
| 1980-1981 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Passerby / Ensemble u/s Sweeney Todd u/s Judge Turpin | US National Tour |
| 1982-1983 | Cats | Chorus u/s Old Deuteronomy | Winter Garden Theatre, Broadway |
| 1983-1984 | La Cage aux Folles | Renaud u/s Albin u/s Georges u/s Edouard Dindon | Palace Theatre, Broadway |
| 1984-1985 | La Cage aux Folles | Albin | Golden Gate Park |
| 1984-1985 | La Cage aux Folles | Albin | Pantages Theatre |
| 1985-1987 | La Cage aux Folles | Albin | Palace Theatre, Broadway |
| 1987 | Kismet | Hajj | Heinz Hall |
| 1987-1988 | Me and My Girl | Herbert Parchester | US National Tour |
| 1988 | La Cage aux Folles | Georges | Paper Mill Playhouse |
| 1990-1991 | Aspects of Love | Marcel Richard u/s George Dillingham | Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway |
| 1990-1991 | Aspects of Love | Sir George Dillingham | Broadhurst Theatre, Broadway |
| 1991 | Man of La Mancha | Don Quixote / Miguel de Cervantes | Artpark |
| 1992 | Gypsy | Herbie | Valley Forge Music Fair |
| 1992 | Gypsy | Herbie | Westbury Music Fair |
| 1993 | Martin Guerre | M. Guerre / Jacques Boeri | Hartford Stage |
| 1993-1994 | La Cage aux Folles | Georges | US National Tour |
| 1994 | Kismet | Hajj | 5th Avenue Theatre |
| 1994 | A Christmas Carol | Ebenezer Scrooge | The Theater at Madison Square Garden |
| 1995 | Call Me Madam | Cosmo Constantine | New York City Center |
| 1995 | Follies | Benjamin Stone | 5th Avenue Theatre |
| 1995-1997 | Sunset Boulevard | Max von Mayerling | Ford Centre for the Performing Arts |
| 1997 | La Cage aux Folles | Georges | Benedum Center |
| 1998 | Follies | Benjamin Stone | San Jose Center for the Performing Arts |
| 1998 | La Cage aux Folles | Georges | US National Tour |
| 1998 | Man of La Mancha | Don Quixote / Miguel de Cervantes | Westbury Music Fair |
| 1998-1999 | Wit | Mr. Bearing / Harvey Kelekian | MCC Theater |
| 1998-1999 | Wit | Mr. Bearing / Harvey Kelekian | Union Square Theatre |
| 1999-2000 | Kiss Me, Kate | Harrison Howell | Martin Beck Theatre, Broadway |
| 2002 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Judge Turpin | Kennedy Center |
| 2002 | Company | Larry | Kennedy Center |
| 2002 | The Boys from Syracuse | Aegean | American Airlines Theatre, Broadway |
| 2003 | Big River | Preacher / Doctor / Voice of Judge / Voice of Duke / Voice of First Man / Ensemble | American Airlines Theatre, Broadway |
| 2004 | Me and My Girl | Sir John Tremayne | Benedum Center |
| 2004 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Judge Turpin | New York City Opera |
| 2004 | Annie | Oliver "Daddy" Warbucks | The Muny |
| 2005 | Big River | Voice of Duke / Doctor / Judge Thatcher | Ford's Theatre |
| 2005-2006 | The Woman in White | Mr. Fairlie | Marquis Theatre, Broadway |
| 2006 | Hello, Dolly! | Horace Vandergelder | Paper Mill Playhouse |
| 2006 | Cabaret | Herr Schultz | Arena Stage |
| 2006-2007 | The Apple Tree | King Arik / Mr. Fallible / Producer | Studio 54, Broadway |
| 2007-2008 | My Fair Lady | Colonel Hugh Pickering | US National Tour |
| 2008 | Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! The Musical | Old Max | US National Tour |
| 2009 | Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street | Judge Turpin | Casa Mañana |
| 2010 | Sunday in the Park with George | Charles Redmond / Mr. | Arden Theatre Company |
| 2010 | Damn Yankees | Joe Boyd | The Muny |
| 2011-2012 | Anything Goes | Captain | Stephen Sondheim Theatre, Broadway |
| 2012 | Sunset Boulevard | Max von Mayerling | Benedum Center |
| 2015 | La Cage aux Folles | Georges | The Wick Theatre and Costume Museum |