Tayyaba
Michael McGrath, the celebrated stage actor who won a Tony Award for his portrayal in the musical Nice Work If You Can Get It, has passed away unexpectedly at the age of 65. A beloved and respected veteran of the stage, McGrath will be sorely missed by audiences and industry colleagues alike.
What was the cause of Michael McGrath’s death?
Michael McGrath died abruptly and unexpectedly in his sleep Thursday at his home in Bloomfield, New Jersey, according to his representative. The cause of death has yet to be identified. Survivors include his daughter, actress Katie Claire McGrath, as well as his wife of 30 years.
“Very saddened to hear that Michael McGrath, our first and most beloved Patsy in Spamalot, has passed away. Warm hugs to all the Spamalot family and very happy memories of a lovely man.”
Eric Idle
Michael McGrath: A Look Back At The Beloved Actor’s Impressive Career
Michael McGrath relocated to New York and made his Broadway debut in 1992 as a member of the Joseph Dougherty musical My Favorite Year. He then appeared in The Goodbye Girl, Swinging on a Star, and the revival of Neil Simon’s Little Me in the 1990s, where he played one of the Buchsbaum brothers alongside Martin Short. In 1996, he received his first Drama Desk nomination for his performance in Swinging on a Star.
McGrath was a regular in Broadway and off-Broadway musicals and musical comedy plays, including Plaza Suite, Memphis, Born Yesterday, and Wonderful Town. He was also the first performer to play Patsy, King Arthur’s patient sidekick, in Spamalot, for which he received his first Tony Award nomination. Other significant Broadway credits for the actor include playing Mr. Simmons in 2009’s Memphis, Ralph Kramden in the 2017 musical stage adaption of the popular sitcom The Honeymooners, and Stan Fields in 2018’s Tootsie.
