While we were not close friends I knew Harvey as a acquaintance through mutual pals and he about as charming and entertaining as a person could be.
I actually first met him in my late teens when he was starring in the tour of BARNUM and I was ushering at the theatre. I think he could tell I was starstruck and hoping to become a performer so he was very kind and encouraging. When we met in NYC some 25 odd years later I felt lucky that I got to thank him for being such an inspiration. My partner and I actually saw him in a restaurant one night dining alone near us and thanks to having met him on a few occasions we felt comfortable asking him to join us which he graciously accepted. I wish that dinner could have lasted hours longer as he was a joy to be around.
Aside from being incredibly kind, he was also a man of integrity. I saw him being interviewed by a certain pushy, well known host of Broadway chat shows who wanted him to dish stories on a former co-star (who is famously a bit eccentric) and he was having none of it. He point-blank said this lady was a friend and he would not go there. I admire that kind of loyalty.
I sincerely wish he had written a book and committed his amazing stories to the page. He was a font of Broadway history and lore and will be sorely missed.....and if I am correct, he was recently seen as the security guard at Gimbells department store in the new film of WEST SIDE STORY (having played mouthpiece in the original film).
May he rest in peace. |
