Joseph Anthony (born Joseph Deuster; May 24, 1912 – January 20, 1993) was an American playwright, actor, and director. He made his film acting debut in the 1934 film Hat, Coat, and Glove and his theatrical acting debut in a 1935 production of Mary of Scotland. On five occasions he was nominated for a Tony Award for Best Direction.
Biography
Joseph Anthony married
Perry Wilson on August 2, 1942, in New York City.
He prepared for the stage at the Pasadena Playhouse from 1931 to 1935 and at the Daykarhanova School from 1935 to 1937. Anthony served in the United States Army during World War II from 1942 to 1946. He trained at
Camp Ritchie and its Composite School Unit. On January 20, 1993, Joseph Anthony died at the age of 80 in a nursing home in Hyannis, Massachusetts.
Career
Stage work
Joseph Anthony, then appearing under his original name of Joseph Deuster, made his professional acting debut in 1935 playing the role of Rizzio in a production of
Mary of Scotland. In 1937 he appeared in the touring production of
Dead End. He went on to make his first New York City appearance two years later with the Federal Theatre Project Company playing the title role in a production of
Professor Mamlock at Daly's 63rd Street Theatre. After returning from service in World War II, Anthony reappeared on Broadway under the name Joseph Adams at the Belasco Theatre as the Second Man in a 1946 production of
Truckline Cafe. He first performed under the name Joseph Anthony in January 1948 at the Maxine Elliott Theatre in a production of
Skipper Next to God.
He continued to perform under this name through the 1950s, appearing in such original
Broadway theatre productions as "The Country Girl", 1951, at the Lyceum Theatre, NYC,
Flight into Egypt in 1952,
Camino Real in 1953, and
Anastasia in 1954.
Joseph Anthony made his New York City directorial debut in April 1948 directing a production of Celebration at the Maxine Elliott Theatre.[ Mary, Mary at the Internet Broadway Database] Anthony also directed several other original Broadway productions, including Romulus in 1962, Slow Dance on the Killing Ground in 1964, Jimmy in 1969, and the notoriously unsuccessful Breakfast at Tiffany's in 1966.
Film work
Joseph Anthony first major film appearance was in
Hat, Coat, and Glove in 1934. He went on to appear in
She in 1935,
Shadow of the Thin Man in 1941, and
Joe Smith, American in 1942. Anthony's first film direction was the 1956 film adaptation of
The Rainmaker, a play he also directed.
Anthony also directed such films as
The Matchmaker in 1958,
Career in 1959,
All in a Night's Work in 1961, and
Tomorrow in 1972.
Awards and nominations
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| 1956 | Tony Award | Best Director | The Lark | |
| 1957 | A Clearing in the Woods | |
| The Most Happy Fella | |
| Blue Ribbon Awards | Best Picture of the Month for the Whole Family (February) | The Rainmaker | |
| 1960 | Tony Award | Best Direction of a Play | The Best Man | |
| 1961 | Rhinoceros | |
| 1964 | Best Direction of a Musical | 110 in the Shade | |
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External links
