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Edmund Lyndeck

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Edmund Lyndeck
Born(1925-10-04)October 4, 1925
Baton Rouge, Louisiana, U.S.[1]
DiedDecember 14, 2015(2015-12-14) (aged 90)
Erie, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Occupation(s)Actor, singer
Years active1970–2015
Known forSweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street,
Into the Woods

Edmund Lyndeck (October 4, 1925 – December 14, 2015) was an American actor and musical theatre performer. He is best known for originating the roles of Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street and Cinderella’s Father in Into the Woods.

His other Broadway credits include 1776, Mrs. Warren's Profession, A Doll's Life, and Merlin, and he also played Sir Danvers Carew in the 1990 world premiere of Jekyll & Hyde.

Stage

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Lyndeck, a former college professor, spent over a dozen years in stock and regional theater before making his Broadway debut in the original production of 1776.[2] After originating the role of John Witherspoon, Lyndeck went on to play Stephen Hopkins, Dr. Lyman Hall, and Charles Thomson before ending up on tour as John Dickinson.

His best-known role is the evil Judge Turpin in the original production of Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd, which he also repeated for the first national tour, the 1980 television broadcast, and a 1994 production at the North Shore Music Theatre. He earned a Drama-Logue Award for his performance in the tour's Los Angeles berth. He followed up Sweeney Todd with another Stephen Sondheim musical, Into the Woods, originating the role of Cinderella's Father and later playing the Mysterious Man as well. His other Broadway credits include Mrs. Warren's Profession, A Doll's Life, and Merlin.[3]

Lyndeck worked frequently in Pennsylvania regional theater. For many years he was a fixture at the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera — most notably as Scrooge in their annual musical version of A Christmas Carol, a role he performed almost every year from 1992 to 2007.[4]

Film and television

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Lyndeck appeared occasionally on film and television. He was a contract player on a now-defunct soap opera, The Doctors, and has had guest roles in series like Ed, The Cosby Show, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. His best-known film role is as the marijuana-smoking grandfather in Road Trip; he is also known for his appearance in Adam Sandler's Big Daddy as Mr. Herlihy, You Don't Mess with the Zohan as the Pharmacist, and his most recent appearance in The Notorious Bettie Page. He also did voiceovers for numerous television and film documentaries.[5]

Death

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Lyndeck died December 14, 2015, aged 90.[6]

Acting credits

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Theatre

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Year Title Role Notes
1943 Ziegfeld Follies Ben Yost's Vi-King
1963 Around the World in 80 Days M. Gasse / Maharajah of Panjipur / Silk Hat Harry
1969-1972 1776 Rev. John Witherspoon

u/s Charles Thomson
u/s Dr. Lyman Hall
u/s Stephen Hopkins
u/s Thomas Jefferson

Broadway
Stephen Hopkins
Dr. Lyman Hall
Stephen Hopkins

u/s Charles Thomson

1972 The King and I The Kralahome
1976 Mrs. Warren's Profession u/s Mr. Praed Broadway
1776 John Dickinson Tour
1977 Piaf...A Remembrance Louis Leplee
1979 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Judge Turpin Broadway
1980-1981 National Tour
1982 A Doll's Life Eric Broadway
Los Angeles
1983 Merlin The Wizard Broadway
Oliver! Fagin Regional
1985 Carousel Dr. Seldon
My Fair Lady Colonel Hugh Pickering
1987-1989 Into the Woods Cinderella's Father

s/b The Narrator / The Mysterious Man

Broadway
The Mysterious Man / Cinderella's Father

s/b The Narrator

1989 Artist Descending A Staircase u/s Beauchamp
u/s Martello
u/s Donner
1990 Jekyll & Hyde Sir Danvers Carew Premiere
1991 Grand Hotel Colonel-Doctor Otternschlag Broadway
1992-2007 A Musical Christmas Carol Ebeneezer Scrooge Annual Regional Musical
1993 Grand Hotel Colonel-Doctor Otternschlag Regional
1994 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Judge Turpin
1995 The Secret Garden Ben Weatherstaff
1996 1776 Stephen Hopkins
1997 Into the Woods Cinderella's Father 10th Anniversary Concert

Broadway

1999 Grand Hotel Colonel-Doctor Otternschlag Regional
2003 My Fair Lady Colonel Hugh Pickering
2004 1776 Stephen Hopkins
2005 Carousel Starkeeper / Dr. Seldon

Film

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Year Title Role Notes
1982 Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street Judge Turpin TV movie Musical
1999 Big Daddy Mr. Herlihy
2000 Road Trip Barry's Grandpa
2005 The Notorious Bettie Page Father Egan
2006 The Ex Mr. Hordhaus
2007 Enchanted Derelict Old Man
2008 You Don't Mess with the Zohan Pharmacist
2009 The Good Heart Barber
2009 Splinterheads Albert
2010 Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps Patient
2013 The Big Wedding Elderly Husband

Television

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Year Title Role Notes
1970-73 The Doctors Dr. Carl Hendryx 69 episodes (uncredited and credit only)
1990 The Cosby Show Mr. Bingham Episode: What It's All About
1991 American Playhouse Cinderella's Father Episode: Into the Woods
2000 Ed Charlie Hudson/Molly's Grandfather 2 episodes
2001 Law & Order Howard Eastman Episode: Armed Forces
2004 Law & Order: Special Victims Unit Mr. Zelman Episode: Bound
2005 Third Watch Priest Episode: How Do You Spell Belief?
2011 The Onion News Network Old Gilgoff Episode: Enter the Factzone

Further reading

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  • Brown, Dennis. Actors Talk: Profiles and Stories from the Acting Trade. New York: Limelight, 1999. (Lyndeck is one of the actors interviewed.)

References

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  1. ^ "Edmund Lyndeck - Autograph Resume Signed | HistoryForSale Item 303077".
  2. ^ "Edmund Lyndeck, 90". Classic Images (488): 50. February 2016.
  3. ^ "Edmund Lyndeck". Playbill Vault. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
  4. ^ Rawson, Christopher (December 4, 2008). "Atkins discovers it's no picnic playing Scrooge". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved December 18, 2013.
  5. ^ Edmund Lyndeck at IMDb
  6. ^ Simonson, Robert (December 17, 2015). "Edmund Lyndeck, Original Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd, Dies". Playbill. Retrieved 27 February 2016.
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