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Ronald Dennis, who originated Richie Walters in "A Chorus Line," back in 1975, is the seventh Original Cast member of the show to pass on. The most recent prior to Dennis was Robert Lu Pone, back on August 27 of this year.
Dennis was 78 when he died. He had been a survivor (meaning he had it and lived with it) of AIDS for a long, long time, since being diagnosed in 1984. He was a dancer and an activist for the AIDS and Black communities. His cause of death is not known, though age and his condition I am sure figured into it.
Interestingly Dennis is the seventh Original Cast Member to die. All have been male. The "girls" are all still alive! What does that say, I wonder?
Richie is the one who galvanizes "Hello Twelve, Hello Thirteen, Hello Love," with the "Gimme The Ball" section. No one did it with the spark or zest of Ron Dennis, whom I was privileged to see at the Shubert Theatre on Broadway, with my father, back on October 25, 1975.
Who are the other deceased? I will do my best to list them here.
Clive Clerk (Larry)--June 21, 2005 Michel Stuart (Greg)--September 27, 1997 Cameron Mason (Mark)--sometime between 1990 and 2000+ Thommie Walsh (Bobby)--June 16, 2007 Sammy Williams (Paul)--March 17. 2018 Robert LuPone (Zach)--August 27, 2022
Gentlemen, welcome your fellow cast member Ronald.
Ronald Dennis, may you rest in peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
2 comments:
I was getting ready to email you about this when I saw your post.
What a life; he really did Triumph!!
Victoria,
He certainly did. I am always
upset when of the Original Cast of this
show passes. Seeing them was a life changer
for me.
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