Stage star Brent Carver has died aged 68

Tony-winning actor Brent Carver, who originated the roles of Leo Frank and Molina on Broadway, has died at the age of 68.

On the Great White Way, Carver is best known for his appearances in two beloved musicals: Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry's Parade, playing Leo Frank and earning a Tony nomination in 1999, and John Kander, Fred Ebb, and Terrence McNally's Kiss of the Spider Woman, playing gay window dresser Molina in both the West End and on Broadway and earning 1993 Tony, Drama Desk, and Theatre World Awards.

In 2004, he played Edgar in the Christopher Plummer-led revival of King Lear, and he made his final Broadway appearance as Friar Laurence in the 2013 revival of Romeo and Juliet, starring Orlando Bloom and Condola Rashad.

Carver began his career on stage in Jacques Brel Is Alive and Well and Living in Paris in 1972. He made his American stage debut in 1979 at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles, playing Ariel to Anthony Hopkins's Prospero in The Tempest. He spent nine seasons at Ontario's Stratford Festival, making his debut in the 1980 production of Long Day's Journey Into Night, playing Edmund to William Hutt and Jessica Tandy's James and Mary. His Shakespearean resume there included Hamlet, Jaques, Don John, and Feste.

Musically, he played the Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance, the Emcee in Cabaret, Tevye in Fiddler on the Roof, and many other roles there. Carver originated the role of Gandalf in the Toronto stage production of The Lord of the Rings.

He died at home in Cranbrook, British Columbia, which his family described in a statement as "his birthplace and favorite place on Earth". A private family memorial will be held on Monday, and a celebration of his life will be held by the Stratford Festival when public health conditions allow.

Tributes have poured in for the actor:

In memory of the great Brent Carver. pic.twitter.com/26sMj3Ah4s

— Jason Robert Brown (@MrJasonRBrown) August 6, 2020

My heart is broken at the loss of my great friend and amazing artist #BrentCarver.
I shall miss him more than I can say. #Broadway @TheTonyAwards pic.twitter.com/SqNzAZaMyy

— Chita Rivera (@Chita_Rivera) August 6, 2020

#brentcarver Loss of a great actor and a gentle soul. RIP x Crossbar 1979 pic.twitter.com/mB09L3MR03

— Kim Cattrall (@KimCattrall) August 7, 2020

Rest In Peace, dear Brent. You were such a brilliant talent and I was so fortunate to share a stage with you. Thank you for inspiring so many, especially me. #BrentCarver pic.twitter.com/T6C128O0Tm

— Carolee Carmello (@CaroleeCarmello) August 6, 2020