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Richard Warren Pugh, former AEA Second Vice-President and Original PHANTOM OF THE OPERA Cast Member, Dies at 55

Richard Warren Pugh

Richard Warren Pugh, a former AEA Vice President and original PHANTOM OF THE OPERA cast member, died in his sleep on Friday, June 9, 2006 at his home in Teaneck, NJ. The cause of death was complications from diabetes. Mr. Pugh was 55.

Pugh was appearing on Broadway in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, and had been with the production since it opened 18 years ago. He appeared on Broadway in the original production of SWEENEY TODD with Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou in which he understudied and later performed the role of Beadle Bamford; the 1983 revival of ZORBA! with Anthony Quinn and Lila Kedrova; and as Dick Van Dyke's sidekick Marcellus in the 1980 revival of THE MUSIC MAN. His other Broadway and national credits include the touring company of SWEENEY TODD, ROBBER BRIDEGROOM and COPPERFIELD. His film credits include Walt Disney's Pocohontas.

Pictured: RICHARD WARREN PUGH (as Buquet), JOHN JELLISON (as Monsieur Lefevre), SUSAN OWEN (background, as Princess) and GEORGE LEE ANDREWS (as Monsieur Andre) in a scene from the Broadway production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, which on January 9, 2006 became the longest-running show in Broadway history.
Photo: Joan Marcus

A member of Actors' Equity Association since 1977, Pugh served as the Union's Second Vice President from 1991 to 2000. He also served as an Eastern Regional Principal Councillor and Eastern Regional Chorus Councillor. Pugh was also a member of the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA).

Pugh is survived by his father Henry Pugh; his sister Jeanine M. Pollack; and his nephew, Rhys Pollock.