"Arrr, me hearties! Cap'n Sheldon Harnick, creator of 'Fiddler on the Roof', be walkin' the plank at the ripe age of 99!"
2023-06-23
Avast ye, me hearties! Word be reachin' me ears that ol' Sheldon Harnick, the famed Broadway wordsmith behind "Fiddler on the Roof" and other grand productions, has shuffled off this mortal coil in his slumber. He be 99 years young. Arrr, a sad day indeed for the thespian world!
Sheldon Harnick, a Tony and Grammy award-winning lyricist known for his work on musicals such as "Fiddler on the Roof," "Fiorello!," and "The Apple Tree," passed away at the age of 99. Harnick died in his sleep in New York City due to natural causes. He and composer Jerry Bock formed one of the most influential partnerships in Broadway history, garnering accolades for their work on "Fiorello!," which earned them both Tonys and a Pulitzer Prize, as well as "The Apple Tree" and "Cyrano - The Musical." However, their masterpiece was "Fiddler on the Roof," a musical based on stories by Sholom Aleichem, which starred Zero Mostel as Tevye and offered the world such stunning songs as "Sunrise, Sunset," "If I Were a Rich Man," and "Matchmaker, Matchmaker." Harnick's lyrics were poignant and honest, and he never relied on easy rhymes or cliches. He collaborated with other composers throughout his career, writing for TV, film, and opera, and winning a Grammy for writing the libretto for "The Merry Widow" featuring Beverly Sills. Harnick is survived by his wife, artist Margery Gray Harnick, two children, and four grandchildren. Broadway artists paid their respects on social media, with many praising Harnick as one of the greatest musical theater lyricists of all time.