Edmund Lyndeck

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 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.

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.
OccupationActor, Singer
Years active1970-2015

Stage

Lyndeck, a former college professor, spent well over a dozen years in stock and regional theater roles 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. 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

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

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

Filmography

Film
YearTitleRoleNotes
1982Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet StreetJudge TurpinTV Movie Musical
1999Big DaddyMr. Herlihy
2000Road TripBarry's Grandpa
2005The Notorious Bettie PageFather Egan
2006The ExMr. Hordhaus
2007EnchantedDerelict Old Man
2008You Don't Mess with the ZohanPharmacist
2009The Good HeartBarber
2009SplinterheadsAlbert
2010Wall Street: Money Never SleepsPatient
2013The Big WeddingElderly Husband

Television
YearTitleRoleNotes
1970-73The DoctorsDr. Carl Hendryx69 Episodes (uncredited and credit only)
1990The Cosby ShowMr. BinghamEpisode: What It's All About
1991American PlayhouseCinderella's FatherEpisode: Into the Woods
2000EdCharlie Hudson/Molly's Grandfather2 Episodes
2001Law & OrderHoward EastmanEpisode: Armed Forces
2004Law & Order: Special Victims UnitMr. ZelmanEpisode: Bound
2005Third WatchPriestEpisode: How Do You Spell Belief?
2011The Onion News NetworkOld GilgoffEpisode: Enter the Factzone

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

References
  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 on 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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