Lawrence Clayton, who made his Broadway debut in Dreamgirls and most recently starred in the 2015 revival of The Color Purple, died November 2 after a two-year battle with glioblastoma cancer. He was 64.
His death was confirmed by the Buchwald talent agency.
Born in North Carolina and educated at North Carolina Central University in Durham, Clayton moved to New York and would become a consistent presence on the Broadway stage for nearly 35 years, beginning when he became part of the replacement cast of the hit Dreamgirls in 1981, taking over the role of Effie’s songwriting brother C.C. White.
Between Dreamgirls and 2015’s The Color Purple, in which he played Celie’s cruel husband Old Mister, Clayton appeared in such musicals as The High Rollers Social and Pleasure Club (1992), Once Upon a Mattress (1996), The Civil War (1999), It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues (1999) and Bells Are Ringing (2001).
In addition to numerous touring productions — including Dreamgirls,...
His death was confirmed by the Buchwald talent agency.
Born in North Carolina and educated at North Carolina Central University in Durham, Clayton moved to New York and would become a consistent presence on the Broadway stage for nearly 35 years, beginning when he became part of the replacement cast of the hit Dreamgirls in 1981, taking over the role of Effie’s songwriting brother C.C. White.
Between Dreamgirls and 2015’s The Color Purple, in which he played Celie’s cruel husband Old Mister, Clayton appeared in such musicals as The High Rollers Social and Pleasure Club (1992), Once Upon a Mattress (1996), The Civil War (1999), It Ain’t Nothin’ but the Blues (1999) and Bells Are Ringing (2001).
In addition to numerous touring productions — including Dreamgirls,...
- 11/11/2020
- by Greg Evans
- Deadline Film + TV
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