Wednesday, December 2, 2009
Onstage / Performing Arts / Arts In Memoriam: Lee Pelty
Posted by Albert Williams on 12.02.09 at 12:30 PM
A celebration in memory of actor Lee Pelty is planned for Monday December 7, 5 PM, at the Mercury Theater, 3745 N. Southport. For years the Chicago area's most prominent musical-theater character actor, Pelty died Sunday November 29, of lung cancer. He was 74.
A regular at the now-defunct Candlelight Dinner Playhouse in south-suburban Summit, Pelty (born Peltynovich) was best known for his portrayals of Teyve in Fiddler on the Roof and Don Quixote in Man of La Mancha. He played Teyve at Candlelight in four separate productions between 1971 and 1990. A tall, imposing man with a rich bass voice, he brought an understated simplicity to roles that other actors often played flamboyantly. He's survived by his wife Barbara and son Adam Pelty, a musical-theater performer and teacher who often appeared in productions with his dad. In the 1990 Candlelight Fiddler, Adam played one of the dancing Cossacks who make life miserable for Teyve and his fellow Jews.
Comments (3)
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I just found this article after wondering for a long time what was going on with Lee. My deepest sympathy to the family. His first Fiddler show at the Candlelight was the first Musical I had ever seen. We then saw him again as Don Quixote. He was a wonderful singer and actor and for his next Fiddler Show we gave tickets to our best friends who loved it also. Then when my first child a daughter was 4 we took her with my best friend whom we gave the original tic to and the three of us enjoyed it tremendously. My daughter will always remember this as the first live show she ever saw and she will always remember Mr Pelty as Teyve. I wish I would have known about this so I could have went to pay my respects. But he will always be in our hearts. Suzi
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I remmember seeing Mr. Pelty in The Man from La Mancha when I was a young man. I think it was the first play I had ever seen and I was moved. I recently saw my daughter in a local production of the same show amd I reminised with my family of the first time I had seen it and of the great actor whom had played Quixote. Armando
Barbara and Adam I was thinking about Lee today and asked my wife to search for him. We just found the notice that Lee had passed away. Barbara after Adam was born, Lee and I sat on the curbside singing songs and drinking he was so proud to have a son - we sat up most of the night - he was a great actor and good friend and a very special Boul Mich regular! I'm so sorry I didn't know as you know I would have been there! Adam, please contact me when you have the time (call Shirley's office) I would love to talk with you. Jerry Andrews
