Paul Kreppel (born June 20, 1947) is an American actor and director. On television, he was best known as pianist Sonny Mann on the show It's a Living.[1] In his work as theater director-producer-creator, he received the 2007 Tony Award for Jay Johnson: The Two and Only.

Paul Kreppel
Kreppel (left) with Gail Edwards in The Hollywood Show, 2019
Born (1947-06-20) June 20, 1947 (age 77)
Occupation(s)Actor, director
Years active1980–present
Websitepaulkreppel.com

Early theater career

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Kreppel was born in Kingston, New York, to Adele and Irv Kreppel. He then moved to Boston to attend Emerson College and graduated with honors. Kreppel received an Alumni Achievement Award in '93 and is a member of the Class of 1969. From there, he started his acting career by starring in the improvisational theater group, "The Proposition." When the group, which included Jane Curtin, Josh Mostel, Judith Kahan, and Munson Hicks, moved to New York, Kreppel began starring in off-Broadway plays, including Godspell and Tuscaloosa's Calling Me... While appearing at the New York Shakespeare Festival, he notably starred with Meryl Streep in the musical, Alice in Concert, by Elizabeth Swados. Others are Agamemnon (as part of choir) and The Comedy of Errors in the late-1970s.[2]

Television and other work

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In 1979, Kreppel moved to Los Angeles to become the memorable waitress-harassing pianist, Sonny Mann, of It's a Living, and starred in all 120 episodes; he also directed some episodes. Kreppel, along with Gail Edwards, the late Marian Mercer, and the late Barrie Youngfellow, were the only four who lasted through the show's network and syndicated runs.

He was a semi-regular celebrity guest on the 1980s versions of the game show Pyramid, and also made celebrity appearances on such other game shows as Hollywood Squares, Win, Lose or Draw, Blackout, and The New Liar's Club.

During the 1990s, he returned to theatre and starred in the musical revue of the Allan Sherman song, "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh!" In addition, he starred in Jerome Robbins' Broadway on its national tour. In the movie sector, he was the voice of Apollo Blue in Jetsons: The Movie. Kreppel guest starred in and directed other television shows, including appearing as Jackie's dad in That '70s Show. He appeared off Broadway for more than a year in the one-man show My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy.

He has served on the Council of Actors' Equity Association and as a board member of the Screen Actors Guild, and is active in arts education as a professional arts educator and as a member of the board of directors of Enrichment Works, a not-for-profit that provides curriculum-based theatre for schools in Southern California.

Recent projects

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Kreppel directed and produced with his partner in WetRock Entertainment, Ms. Murphy Cross, Jay Johnson: The Two and Only, for which he won a 2007 Tony Award for best special theatrical event. They are also developing other projects.[3]

Kreppel played the Wizard of Oz during the second national tour of the musical Wicked, from March 7, 2012 to March 10, 2013.[4]

He appeared in the 2021 drag-themed television movie The Bitch Who Stole Christmas.

In June 2022, Kreppel joined the cast of the Broadway revival of Into the Woods, understudying the Narrator/Mysterious Man and the Steward. He reprised these roles in the 2023 national tour.

Personal life

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Kreppel is divorced with two children.[5] His children, Will and Molly, are both artists.[6]

Filmography

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Television
Year Title Role Notes
2000 L.A. 7 Mr. Walters 3 episodes
1999 Suddenly Susan Darryl episodes: "One Man's Intervention Is Another Man's Tupperware Party"
1998 That '70s Show Mr. Burkhart 3 episodes
1998 Step by Step Stan episode: "Phoney Business"
1997 ER Mr. Cotmeier episode: "Freak Show"
1997 Cybill Glen episode: "The Wedding"
1996 California Dreams Marty Stinson episode: "Babewatch"
1990–1993 Tom & Jerry Kids Show Voice
1992 Clarissa Explains It All Joey Russo episode: "Janet's Old Boyfriend"
1990 My Two Dads Schuyler Dunne episode: "When You Wish..."
1990 Open House Waiter episode: "The Real Estate Thing"
1990 Murder, She Wrote Leo Kaplan episode: "Murder: According to Maggie"
1990 Doogie Howser, M.D. Mark Murson episode: "Greed Is Good"
1990 Barnyard Commandos Voice
1990 Timeless Tales from Hallmark Voice episode: "The Emperor's New Clothes"
1980–1989 It's a Living Sonny Mann Main Cast
1984 Night Court Guy Harris episode: "Welcome Back, Momma"
1983 Remington Steele Stan episode: "Scene Steelers"
1983 The Love Boat Russ Butler episode: "Rhino of the Year/One Last Time/For Love or Money"
1983 Fantasy Island Don Mitchel episode: "Love Island/The Sisters"
1982 It Takes Two Janitor episode: "Turnabout"
1980 Laverne & Shirley Rafael episode: "The Beatnik Show"
Film
Year Title Role Notes
2013 Straight Outta Tompkins Paul Kreppel
1990 Jetsons: The Movie Apollo Blue voice
1983 13 Thirteenth Avenue Roland Keats TV movie
1980 The Scarlett O'Hara War Delivery Man TV movie

Stage credits

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Theatre
Year Title Role Notes
1974 Godspell Herb
Judas
1976-77 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Levi Brooklyn Academy of Music
1977 Agamemnon Chorus Broadway
Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat Levi Brooklyn Academy of Music
1981-82 Godspell Light of the World
1990-91 Jerome Robbins' Broadway Performer Tour
1992-93 Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! The Allan Sherman Musical Man 3 Regional
2005 Tough Titty Ensemble/Dr. Pearlman
2008 Silk Stockings Comrade Brankov
2010 Chicago Amos Hart
2012-13 Wicked The Wonderful Wizard of Oz 2nd National Tour
2019 Enter Laughing The Musical Mr. Foreman Regional
Indecent Otto/The Elder
2022-23 Into the Woods Narrator / Mysterious Man (Standby)

Steward (Understudy)

Broadway
National Tour
2024 Once Upon a Mattress Ensemble Off-Broadway

References

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  1. ^ "It's a Living". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
  2. ^ "Paul Kreppel". Internet Broadway Database.
  3. ^ Titus, Tom (18 June 2010). "Jay Johnson: More than lip service". Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot.
  4. ^ Gans, Andrew (February 24, 2012). "Wicked Tour Will Welcome a New Wizard in March". Playbill.
  5. ^ Buell, Bill (2 November 2012). "Kreppel having a 'Wicked' good time". The Daily Gazette. Schnectady, New York. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
  6. ^ "My Bio". Paul Kreppel. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
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