Robert Franklin Bingham (October 29, 1946 – February 8, 2025) was an American actor and singer. Bingham is best known for playing the role ofCaiaphas inAndrew Lloyd Webber andTim Rice'srock operaJesus Christ Superstar in the first USA concert tour, originalBroadway cast, original French cast, and in the1973 film version.[1][2]
Bob Bingham | |
|---|---|
 Bingham asCaiaphas inJesus Christ Superstar (1973) | |
| Born | Robert Franklin Bingham (1946-10-29)October 29, 1946 Seattle,Washington, U.S. |
| Died | February 8, 2025(2025-02-08) (aged 78) Putnam County, New York, U.S. |
| Alma mater | University of Washington |
| Occupations |
|
| Years active | 1970–1974 |
| Children | 2 |
Life and career
editBingham was born on October 29, 1946, in Seattle, and was raised inEdmonds, Washington. He attended theUniversity of Washington for three years and studied singing with Ernest J. Anderson and acting with Larry and Pamela Liester's Home Adjunct, Inc.[3] His first professional appearance was in a touring production of the musicalHair in 1970, first at theMoore Theatre in Seattle that ran for more than three months, a local record, and then inMiami, Florida.[4][5] In the 1970s Bingham led a Buddhist group dedicated to world peace.[6]
Bingham played the role ofCaiaphas in the original concert tour ofJesus Christ Superstar and went on to perform the role in the originalBroadway production[7][8] which ran from 1971 to 1973, and in a Paris production.[9] He appeared in the film by Juan Orol,El fantástico mundo de los hippies in 1972.[3] Along withBarry Dennen (Pilate) andYvonne Elliman (Mary Magdalene) andCarl Anderson (Judas), Bingham reprised his Broadway role in the 1973 filmJesus Christ Superstar.[1] In 1974, he played God in the original production ofUp from Paradise, byArthur Miller, inAnn Arbor, Michigan.[10] He retired from show business soon afterwards[11] and worked as COO managerial position in a Talon zipper factory.[citation needed]
In April 2015, he appeared on-stage at the Hollywood Boulevard Cinema in a question and answer session withTed Neeley, Barry Dennen andKurt Yaghjian following a showing of a remastered version of the 1973 filmJesus Christ Superstar. This was as part of a national screening tour.[12] His reminiscences of appearing in the 1973 film were recorded with those of the rest of the original cast in the DVDSuperstar: the Making and Reunion of the Film (2015).[13]
Bingham lived inBrewster, New York, with his wife Idilcia Aracena, and his two children, Franklin and Yasamin. He died on February 8, 2025, at the age of 78.[14]
References
edit- ^abSmith, Gary Allen.Epic Films: Casts, Credits and Commentary on More Than 350 Historical Spectacle Movies, McFarland & Company, Inc. (2006), p. 137
- ^Dietz, Dan.The Complete Book of 1970s Broadway Musicals, Rowman & Littlefield (2015), p. 72
- ^ab"Bingham's resumé on the History For Sale website".HistoryForSale - Autographs, Collectibles & Memorabilia.
- ^Johnson, Jonathon.Good HAIR Days: A Personal Journey with the American Tribal Love-rock Musical HAIR, iUniverse (2004), pp. 63 and 93ISBN 0595312977
- ^Crowley, Walt."First Seattle production ofHair debuts at the Moore Theater on April 18, 1970", HistoryLink.org Essay 3741, April 8, 2002, accessed January 23, 2016
- ^Bigsby, Christopher.Arthur Miller: 1962–2005, p. 254, Orion (2011)ISBN 0297863169
- ^Bob Bingham,Internet Broadway Database, accessed January 23, 2016
- ^"Bingham on the JCS Recording Casts Lists website". Archived fromthe original on January 30, 2016. RetrievedJanuary 23, 2016.
- ^Biographical notes in theJesus Christ Superstar film souvenir booklet (1973)
- ^"Bob Bingham Theatre Credits", BroadwayWorld.com, accessed January 23, 2016
- ^"The Bob Bingham Enigma". Archived fromthe original on July 14, 2014.
- ^"Jesus Christ Superstar Cast, Live in Person - Hollywood Blvd Cinema - Dinner and a Movie".www.hollywoodblvdcinema.com.
- ^"Amazon.com".Amazon.
- ^"Robert Franklin Bingham".Beecher Funeral Home.