Gary Beach

Gary Beach was an American actor.

Beach's television credits included Kate & Allie, Cheers, Saved by the Bell, Murder, She Wrote, Sisters, The Wayans Bros., The John Larroquette Show, The Jamie Foxx Show, Will & Grace, and Queer as Folk. Beach also lent his voice to FOX's Family Guy where he played Dale, in the now infamous 'banned from television' episode, "Partial Terms of Endearment.”

In 1994, Beach originated the comical role of Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast, a performance that earned him a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Musical.

In 2001, he originated the stage role of Roger DeBris in The Producers for which he won the Tony Award for Featured Actor in a Musical.

In 2004, he starred as Albin in the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles, earning him his third Tony nomination, this time for Leading Actor.

After starring in the 2005 film version of The Producers, Beach returned to his stage role as Roger De Bris while the movie was in release, becoming the first artist to play the same part on Broadway and in movie theaters at the same time.

In 2006, Beach played the role of Thénardier in the Broadway revival of Les Misérables, a role he had originated in the Los Angeles production.

In March 2008, Beach joined the United States national tour cast of Monty Python's Spamalot in the lead role of King Arthur.

Beach died July 17, 2018, in Palm Springs, California. He was 70.