Claude Heater | |
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| Born | (1927-10-25)October 25, 1927 |
| Died | May 28, 2020(2020-05-28) (aged 92) San Francisco, California, US |
| Occupation | Opera singer |
| Known for | Role ofJesus inBen-Hur |
Claude Heater (October 25, 1927 – May 28, 2020) was an Americanopera singer. He is also known for portraying the role ofJesus Christ (uncredited in the titles) in the 1959 classic filmBen-Hur in which he is primarily shown from the back.
Born inOakland, California, Heater grew up in a family who were members ofthe Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church). When Heater was nineteen years old, he served as amissionary of the LDS Church in the EasternUnited States. He began his career onBroadway as abaritone inNew York City in 1950. In 1952, he decided to focus on opera and left to study as a baritone inItaly. This led to a tour ofSpain with an Italian opera company and eventually withopera houses in Europe ending his baritone career after three years at theVienna State Opera and theSan Francisco Opera inCalifornia from 1953 to 1961. He returned to Europe in 1956 to sing inBasel,Switzerland, withMontserrat Caballé inTosca,Pagliacci andTiefland, along withUn ballo in maschera,La bohème, andLohengrin. He went from Basel toBerlin to alternate withDietrich Fischer-Dieskau inUn ballo in maschera andDon Carlos and withHermann Prey in other roles. His debut was as Escamillo inCarmen.
Heater retrained his voice as atenor, and from 1963 had great success in the Dramatic/Wagnerian tenor repertoire at major theatres internationally.[1] After retiring from the stage in the 1970s, he devoted his time to develop dramatic voices.
Heater died on May 28, 2020, in San Francisco, California, aged 92[2] due tocardiovascular disease.[3]
