Dennis Kelly
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July 27, 1943- May 30, 2016
Award winning Chicago and New York based actor, Dennis Kelly had the aura of a classic song-and-dance man; debonair in a casual, off-handed way, he possessed a beautiful voice and a joyful personality. Growing up in Southern California, where his parents were preachers, he began singing in church and touring with the Norman Luboff singers. He achieved his goal of starring on Broadway when he was cast in “Into the Woods,” followed by playing Buffalo Bill in the 1990 revival of “Annie Get Your Gun” (starring Bernadette Peters) then appearing as Joe Boyd in the mid 1990’s revival of “Damn Yankees” (Broadway, National Tour, London) where he was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award. National tours included “Jekyll and Hyde,” “Urinetown” and “Anything Goes” (starring Rachel York.) But in Chicago, he was best known for his work as Ben in “Follies,” a show he starred in at Candlelight Dinner Playhouse and San Diego’s Starlight Theatre. At Candlelight, Kelly appeared in “La Cage aux Folles” (After Dark Award) and “Phantom” (Joseph Jefferson nomination, After Dark and Artisan Awards.) At Chicago Shakespeare, in addition to “Follies,” he appeared in “Cymbeline” and “As You Like It.” At Northlight he appeared in Grey Gardens, and “Caroline, or Change” at Court; “La Cage,” “Man of La Mancha,” “Knute Rockne, All American” and “Sound of Music” at Theatre at the Center. TV: Chicago PD, Boss, Law and Order, Dollmaker. At Chapman University, he received its Alumni Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award in 2010. He died at age 72 of lung cancer. Survivors include Mr. Kelly’s partner of 24 years, actress Ami Silvestre; a daughter, Raenelle; and a sister, Christine |