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 | June 20, 1947 Kingston, New York, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, director |
| Years active | 1980–present |
| Website | paulkreppel |
Early theater career
editKreppel 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
editIn 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
editKreppel 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
editKreppel is divorced with two children.[5] His children, Will and Molly, are both artists.[6]
Filmography
edit| 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
edit| 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
edit- ^ "It's a Living". The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2013-05-22. Retrieved 2012-05-14.
- ^ "Paul Kreppel". Internet Broadway Database.
- ^ Titus, Tom (18 June 2010). "Jay Johnson: More than lip service". Laguna Beach Coastline Pilot.
- ^ Gans, Andrew (February 24, 2012). "Wicked Tour Will Welcome a New Wizard in March". Playbill.
- ^ Buell, Bill (2 November 2012). "Kreppel having a 'Wicked' good time". The Daily Gazette. Schnectady, New York. Retrieved August 20, 2022.
- ^ "My Bio". Paul Kreppel. Retrieved August 20, 2022.