Biography

Russell Harold Nype (April 26, 1920 – May 27, 2018) was an American actor and singer. Born in Zion, Illinois, Nype made his Broadway debut in Marc Blitzstein's opera Regina in 1949. The following year he won critical acclaim and both the Tony and Theatre World Awards for his performance opposite Ethel Merman in Call Me Madam. The two were reunited in 1970 when, late in the run of the original production of Hello, Dolly!, Merman joined the show in the title role and Nype was cast as Cornelius Hackl. Nype later appeared in revivals of Carousel, Brigadoon, and Morning's at Seven, and opposite Elaine Stritch in the short-lived musical Goldilocks, for which he won his second Tony.Nype's feature film credits include Love Story (1970), Can't Stop the Music (1980) and The Stuff (1985). On television he appeared in Studio One, Fantasy Island, One Day at a Time, The Cosby Show, Murder, She Wrote, Who's the Boss?, and productions of One Touch of Venus, Kiss Me, Kate and Morning's at Seven.Nype died in West Palm Beach, Florida on May 27, 2018 at the age of 98.