Gary Beach, Tony Award-winning actor and Groveton High School alum, dies

Gary Beach, a Tony Award-winning actor who graduated from Groveton High School in 1966, died July 17 at age 70.

Beach passed away at his home in Palm Springs, California, according to multiple news reports. No cause of death was given.

Beach was best known for his portrayal of Roger De Bris in Mel Brooks’ satirical musical The Producers. That role earned him a Tony Award in 2001 for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

At Groveton, Beach was involved in theater and served as senior class president. One former classmate remembered him on Facebook as someone “born to be an entertainer.”

Since Beach’s death, numerous members of the theater community have taken to social media to praise the late actor for his talent, kindness and humor. Jason Alexander, a longtime theater actor best known for playing George Costanza on Seinfeld, called Beach an “amazing talent and wonderful man.”

“My love to his family and friends,” Alexander wrote on Twitter. “What a bright light and what joy he did bring. RIP, Gary.”

Beach was nominated for three Tony Awards during his stage career, with his first coming in 1994 for his portrayal Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast. In 2004 he earned another nomination for his role as Albin in La Cage aux Folles.

Beach also starred in the 2005 film version of The Producers, and had numerious TV acting credits. He appeared on Queer as Folk, Murder, She Wrote, Cheers, Sisters, Arli$$, and Saved by the Bell, and was also a voice contributor on an episode of Family Guy.

Beach is survived by his husband, Jeff Barnett.