Tony-winning actor Michael McGrath has died at age 65.
McGrath died at his home in Bloomfield, New Jersey, on Thursday, according to his publicist. His death was described as “sudden,” according to Variety, but the cause was not announced.
His rep described him to People as, “A Red Sox fanatic, bourbon connoisseur, devoted husband and father and friend to anyone who met him.”
Born in Worcester, Massachusetts, McGrath starred in over a dozen Broadway plays, including “Plaza Suite,” “Tootsie,” “Spamalot” and “Nice Work if You Can Get It,” the later of which earned his Tony in 2012 (for “Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical.”)
He also played Patsy in the 2005 Broadway musical “Spamalot,” which also earned him a Tony nomination. His other accolades included Drama Desk Award nominations, Outer Critics Circle nominations and a Theatre World Award.
On television, he played Martin Short’s sidekick on the short-lived “The Martin Short Show,” which aired from 1999 to 2000.
Fellow Broadway star Steve Kazee posted a tribute to McGrath via Instagram on Friday morning.
“Absolutely gutted. I will never forget our nights at Angus and all the shit you taught me. You were kinder to me than you ever had to be and I am so grateful for the time we spent together. An amazing man. Gone far too soon. Love you Michael. RIP,” he wrote.
Jesse Tyler Ferguson commented, “What a loss.”
Fellow Broadway star Patti Murrin also posted a tribute on Instagram, showing a photo of McGrath holding her baby.
“Absolutely devastated to wake up this morning and hear that Michael McGrath has passed away,” she wrote.
“Our time at Little Shop at the MUNY was short, but working with him was like packing 20 years worth of joy into a few short weeks. Always smiling, always asking about my family, always in dad mode, even to us fully grown adults. Here he’s holding Lorelai so I could do a radio interview,” she wrote, referring to her baby with fellow actor Colin Donnell.
She went on to post an anecdote about McGrath singing to her baby girl.
“I remember saying, ‘This baby has no idea how lucky she is!’ as he crooned her a lullaby. Anyone who has ever exchanged so much as a hello with Michael is incredibly fortunate, and I can’t believe I’ll never be able to see him smile again. My heart and thoughts and love are with his family, Toni and Katie, who he loved more than anything in the world.”
McGrath is survived by his wife, actress Toni DiBuono, whom he married in 1993, and their daughter, actress Katie Claire McGrath (“FBI”).
