JOHN HERRERA (1955-2026)
|
Tony-nominated actor/singer, playwright and director, John Herrera, passed away on February 24 at the age of 70. John’s numerous Chicago theatre credits include SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE [Jeff nomination] and A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Goodman Theatre); ROMANCE, ROMANCE (Apple Tree; Jeff nomination); MARCH OF THE FALSETTOS (Occhipinti Productions at the Theatre Building); and LIES & LEGENDS: THE MUSICAL STORIES OF HARRY CHAPIN (Apollo Theatre).
John moved to New York in the late 1970s, making his Broadway debut in the original production of GREASE. He went on to perform in many Broadway productions, including Che in EVITA; CAMELOT (Richard Burton); SHOGUN, THE MUSICAL; THE ADVENTURES OF TOM SAWYER; THE THREEPENNY OPERA and 1776. John was nominated for a Tony Award for originating the role of Neville in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD. Off-Broadway, his performances included the original cast of IN THE HEIGHTS; STALKING THE BOGEYMAN; UNDER FIRE and HARRY CHAPIN: LIES & LEGENDS. He led several national tours, including EVITA, CHESS (Carbonell Award for Best Actor), FALSETTOS, LES MISERABLES, ANGELS IN AMERICA and MARTIN GUERRE. Regionally, John appeared across the country, including productions with Long Wharf, Goodspeed Opera House, Signature Stage, Triad Stage, Seattle Rep and many others. Some of John’s many film and TV credits include THE MAMBO KINGS, THE HOUSE THAT JACK BUILT, PERSON OF INTEREST and LAW & ORDER: SVU. As a playwright, John’s work includes MI PADRE AND ME; NEW YORK WITH A BEACH; SOME KIND OF TROUBLE; A MATTER OF INQUIRY and EL TIEMPO DI AMOR. John was born Juan Carlos Herrera in Havana, Cuba on September 21, 1955. With his mother and grandmother, he left Cuba in 1961 as part of the flight from the Cuban revolution and moved to Chicago. He attended Lane Tech High School, became involved in community theater, and graduated magna cum laude from the theater department of Loyola University. John is survived by his mother, Martha Oton; sisters, Madeline Tarpey (Phil) and Nancy Herrera; brothers Lorenzo Dario and Dario Herrera Jr.; daughter Erin-Marie; and grandson Elias. |