Joseph Anthony

Joseph Anthony (born Joseph Deuster; May 24, 1912 – January 20, 1993) was an American playwright, actor, and director. He made his film acting debut in the 1934 film ''Hat, Coat, and Glove'' and his theatrical acting debut in a 1935 production of '' Mary of Scotland''. On five occasions he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Direction.

Biography

Joseph Anthony was born as Joseph Deuster in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 24, 1912. His parents were Leonard Deuster and Sophie Deuster (née Hertz). Anthony attended the University of Wisconsin. He married Perry Wilson on August 2, 1942, in New York City. He prepared for the stage at the Pasadena Playhouse from 1931 through 1935 and at the Daykarhanova School from 1935 through 1937. Anthony served in the United States Army in World War II from 1942 through 1946. He trained at Camp Ritchie and it’s Composite School Unit. On January 20, 1993, Joseph Anthony died at the age of 80 in a nursing home in Hyannis, Massachusetts.

Career

Stage work

Joseph Anthony, then appearing under his original name of Joseph Deuster, made his professional acting debut in 1935 playing the role of Rizzio in a production of '' Mary of Scotland''. In 1937 he appeared in the touring production of "Dead End". He went on to make his first New York City appearance two years later with the Federal Theatre Project Company playing the title role in a production of '' Professor Mamlock'' at Daly's 63rd Street Theatre. After returning from service in World War II, Anthony reappeared on Broadway under the name Joseph Adams at the Belasco Theatre as the Second Man in a 1946 production of ''Truckline Cafe''. He first performed under the name Joseph Anthony in January 1948 at the Maxine Elliott Theatre in a production of ''Skipper Next to God''. He continued to perform under this name through the 1950s, appearing in such original Broadway theatre productions as "The Country Girl", 1951, at the Lyceum Theatre, NYC, ''Flight into Egypt'' in 1952, '' Camino Real'' in 1953, and ''Anastasia'' in 1954.

Joseph Anthony made his New York City directorial debut in April 1948 directing a production of ''Celebration'' at the Maxine Elliott Theatre. In 1954, Anthony directed the original production of '' The Rainmaker'', a play of which he would later direct the film adaptation. From March 1960 through March 1961, Anthony successfully opened the original Broadway productions of four shows which ran simultaneously: '' The Best Man'' at the Morosco Theatre, ''Under the Yum Yum Tree'' at Henry Miller's Theatre, ''Rhinoceros'' at the Longacre Theatre, and '' Mary, Mary'' at the Helen Hayes Theatre. ''Mary, Mary'' was Anthony's longest-running production, lasting nearly four years and more than 1500 performances.Mary, Mary
at the Internet Broadway Database Anthony also directed several other original Broadway productions, including ''Romulus'' in 1962, '' Slow Dance on the Killing Ground'' in 1964, '' Jimmy'' in 1969, and the notoriously unsuccessful '' Breakfast at Tiffany's'' in 1966.

Film work

Joseph Anthony first major film appearance was in ''Hat, Coat, and Glove'' in 1934. He went on to appear in ''She'' in 1935, ''Shadow of the Thin Man'' in 1941, and ''Joe Smith, American'' in 1942. Anthony's first film direction was the 1956 film adaptation of '' The Rainmaker'', a play he also directed. Anthony also directed such films as ''The Matchmaker'' in 1958, ''Career'' in 1959, ''All in a Night's Work'' in 1961, and '' Tomorrow'' in 1972.

Awards and nominations

References

External links

Joseph Anthony
at the University of Wisconsin'
Actors Studio audio collection

{{DEFAULTSORT:Anthony, Joseph
Male actors from Massachusetts
Male actors from Wisconsin
American theatre directors
Film directors from Wisconsin
American male stage actors
20th-century American male actors
American male film actors
Male actors from Milwaukee
University of Wisconsin–Madison alumni
Writers from Massachusetts
Writers from Milwaukee
1912 births
1993 deaths
20th-century American dramatists and playwrights
American male dramatists and playwrights
20th-century American male writers
Federal Theatre Project people