MATT DECARO (1956-2026)
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Famously genial and much-loved prolific character-actor Matt DeCaro died at home at the age of 70. Matt’s career spanned four decades across major stages around the country, and he appeared on virtually every major theater stage in the city. At the time of his death, Matt was performing in the Goodman’s MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, and upon hearing of his demise, Goodman cancelled that next evening’s show, and dedicated the next performance to him.
Matt was a busy and long-standing Chicago actor whose decades-long slate of credits includes appearances in Robert Falls’ Goodman Theatre production of THE CHERRY ORCHARD and the Goodman world premiere of Rebecca Gilman’s 1999 play SPINNING INTO BUTTER. In 2024, Matt relished playing Winston Churchill, some strikingly effective casting, in Drury Lane Theatre’s production of THE AUDIENCE. And, in an indication of this actor’s range, he also played Doc in the Marriott Theatre’s 2022 production of WEST SIDE STORY, one of several of Matt’s forays into musicals. In 2018, Matt won a Jeff Award for his work in Drury Lane’s production of CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF. Decades earlier, Matt’s very different 2005 performance in MEN OF TORTUGA at the Steppenwolf Theatre was named one of the Tribune’s top performances of the year. Matt often played likable, even jovial characters, a match for his own personality. But he occasionally scored roles in which he was able to surprise his audiences by turning on a dime. “Matt was both a mainstay of Chicago theater and one of its stars,” said Marc Grapey, a longtime friend and fellow cast member in MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM. Jim McCaffrey, Matt’s agent, said this about Matt. “He had a deep appreciation for other artists and helped them with their careers. He just cared very deeply for this art form and the people who do it.” Other notable work across the years included a role in Lanford Wilson’s TALLY'S FOLLY at Northlight Theatre, as Duke Frederick in AS YOU LIKE IT at Chicago Shakespeare Theater, in THE LIEUTENANT OF INISHMORE at Northlight, and as a judge in David Mamet’s ROMANCE at Goodman in 2006. Matt also appeared in many of the TV shows that filmed episodes in Chicago, including ER, CHICAGO PD, an episode of THE OFFICE and in such movies as RICHIE RICH and US MARSHALLS. In person, he was also known as a passionate supporter of the Chicago acting community and its constituent charity supporting artists’ welfare, Season of Concern. Last week, before an unusually early-in-the-day call, Goodman Artistic Director Susan Booth bumped into Matt and asked him how he was holding up. “Matt had a grin on his face and he looked quizzically at me, like 'What an odd question?’ And he said, ‘I’m doing great. We get to do this.” Noting that it was the last conversation she had with Matt, she concluded, “I’ve been thinking a lot about that: We get to do this.” THEATER CREDITS (Goodman Theater) RICHARD II, MA RAINEY’S BLACK BOTTOM, THE CHERRY ORCHARD, WONDERFUL TOWN, THE WHITESNAKE, CAMINO REAL, ROMANCE, HEARTBREAK HOUSE, PLAY ABOUT THE BABY, BOY GETS GIRL, SPINNING INTO BUTTER, NIGHT OF THE IGUANA (Drury Lane Theater) THE AUDIENCE, CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF [Joseph Jefferson Award] (Steppenwolf) SLAUGHTERHOUSE V, GLENGARY GLEN ROSS, OUR LADY OF 121ST STREET (The Asolo Repertory Theater) THE GREAT SOCIETY, THE LITTLE FOXES, SWEAT, THE CRUCIBLE, RHINOCEROS (ACT. San Francisco) DARK RAPTURE, A STREETCAR NAMED DESIRE, MACHINAL, AMERICAN BUFFALO, RHINOCEROS TV/FILM CREDITS US MARSHALLS, THE WISE KIDS, PRISON BREAK, THE LAST RITES OF JOE MAY, THE OFFICE, CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM, HOUSE. With thanks to The Chicago Tribune,Chicago Sun-Times and Goodman Theater. |