Carole Kass, Theatre Writer, 73
Former Back Stage correspondent Carole Kass died of cancer in Virginia Wed., April 5. She was 73. A New York City native, Kass moved to Richmond, Virginia in 1962, where she covered the area for Back Stage, and wrote movie reviews for the Richmond Times-Dispatch for more than a quarter of a century. Kass also taught film history at Virginia Commonwealth University, and film production and theatre at Virginia State Penitentiary. After retiring from the Times-Dispatch, she volunteered with the Richmond AIDS Ministry and wrote for Fifty Plus magazine, Richmond Parents Monthly, and the Richmond State weekly newspaper.
Martin Fried, Director, 62
Theatrical director Martin Fried died Tues., March 28 in Manhattan. He was 62. Born in Manhattan to Russian immigrants, Fried lived in and out of orphanages after his mother died, and eventually joined the U.S. Navy. He began his theatrical career as an actor, playing in the 1960 play "The Best Man" on Broadway, but shifted his emphasis to directing after studying with Lee Strasberg at the Actors Studio. His Broadway directing credits include "Daphne in Cottage D"; Eugene O'Neill's "Hughie"; and "The Natural Look" with Gene Hackman, Jerry Orbach, and Brenda Vacarro, to whom he was briefly married.
Byron Goldman, Producer, 78
In the program for the new Broadway drama "Copenhagen," co-producer Byron Goldman's bio simply said " "Copenhagen' is the 146th theatrical production of which he has either been a producer or an investor." Goldman died of cancer Fri., March 31 in Manhattan. He was 78. Goldman was born in Manhattan, and worked in the family-owned garment business, GGG Clothes. He began his investing in shows with a dud-"The Bench Warmer" in 1946-but persevered and backed more successful shows, such as "Hello, Dolly!" He invested in a wide range of shows, including dramas, comedies, and musicals, throughout his career.
Roy F. Barnitt, Jr., Actor, 67
Harvard University-educated attorney and actor Roy F. Barnitt, Jr. died Fri., April 7 at St. Vincent's Hospital in Manhattan. He was 67. Barnitt spent most of his life as a teacher, interpreter, attorney, and eventually as president of the J.C. Penney Real Estate Subsidiary. But he maintained an interest in acting, appearing Off-Broadway in "the dreamer examines his pillow," and Eugene O'Neill's "Three Plays of the Sea." After he retired to pursue acting full-time, he appeared in two Oliver Stone films-"J.F.K." and "Nixon"-and in the feature film "Harvest." He was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and Actors' Equity Association.