Martin Richards | |
|---|---|
| Born | Morton Richard Klein (1932-03-11)March 11, 1932 The Bronx, New York City, U.S. |
| Died | November 26, 2012(2012-11-26) (aged 80) Manhattan, New York City, U.S. |
| Occupation | Film producer |
| Years active | 1971–2012 |
| Spouse | Mary Lea Johnson Richards |
| Awards | Academy Award for Best Picture 2003Chicago Tony Award for Best Musical 1979Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street 1984La Cage aux Folles 1991The Will Rogers Follies Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical 2005La Cage aux Folles |
Martin Richards (bornMorton Richard Klein; March 11, 1932 – November 26, 2012) was an American film producer.
Richards was born to Sidney "Sid" Klein, a stockbroker, and his wife, Shirley, and was raised just off the Grand Concourse in theBronx. He had a younger brother named Bruce, and his parents also owned an arcade on the Keansburg Amusement Park in the 1940s. His friends and the friends of his brother always knew he was destined for a career linked to Broadway as he sang show tunes to them as kids.[1]
Richards won anArthur Godfrey talent search, then appeared onThe Ed Sullivan Show and at theCopacabana. He later became acasting director, then aBroadway theatre and film producer.[2]
Richards won the Best Picture Academy Award forChicago, having optioned film rights toMiramax in 1991.[3] As a Broadway producer, he won threeTony Awards for Best Musical and oneTony Award for Best Revival of a Musical, out of 10 nominations.
Despite being gay, Richards became the third husband ofJohnson & Johnson heiress and producerMary Lea Johnson Richards; reportedly, the couple "adored each other". Despite the times being different back then, Richards' friends knew who he was and that he was different and they accepted it and loved him just the same. In his youth Richards and his parents spent their summers in Keansburg, New Jersey where his parents owned a summer business.[4]
Prior to their marriage, Johnson had been married to bisexual child psychiatrist Dr. Victor D'Arc, who she claimed in 1976 had conspired with his homosexual lover to hire a hitman and murder her;[5] a bodyguard was beaten almost to death during a break-in that almost killed Johnson and Richards.[4] Although the Bronx district attorney opened an investigation, no charges were ultimately brought, and the pair divorced in 1978.[6]
Johnson predeceased Richards in 1990, leaving him a $50 million fortune. Johnson's family waged a twelve-year court battle seeking to render Richards ineligible for a share of the Johnson & Johnson fortune. The court ruled in favor of Richards.[7] In memory of his late wife, Richards created the New York Center for Children to care for abused children and their families. Known to throw lavish parties, he was close toChita Rivera,[2][4] who hosted a tribute to Richards on April 8, 2013, at theEdison Ballroom to benefit the center.[8]
He was also notable for physically assaulting "Stuttering"John Melendez at an event in 1996 while the latter was working forThe Howard Stern Show.[9][10]
Richards died from liver cancer at his home in Manhattan on November 26, 2012, at age 80.[11][12] Themarquees of Broadway theatres were dimmed in his memory the night of November 27, 2012 at 7 p.m.[13] Martin is buried inLocust Valley Cemetery,Locust Valley, New York.
| Year | Title | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | Chicago | Best Musical | Nominated |
| 1978 | On the Twentieth Century | Best Musical | Nominated |
| 1979 | Sweeney Todd | Best Musical | Won |
| 1982 | Crimes of the Heart | Best Play | Nominated |
| 1984 | La Cage aux Folles | Best Musical | Won |
| 1990 | Grand Hotel | Best Musical | Nominated |
| 1991 | The Will Rogers Follies | Best Musical | Won |
| 1997 | The Life | Best Musical | Nominated |
| 2002 | Sweet Smell of Success | Best Musical | Nominated |
| 2005 | La Cage aux Folles | Best Revival of a Musical | Won |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
