George S. Irving

George S. Irving (born November 1, 1922, died December 26, 2016) was an American actor, known primarily for his character roles on Broadway.

Born as George Irving Shelasky in Springfield, Massachusetts, he made his debut in the original 1943 production of Oklahoma!, only to find himself drafted days later to serve in World War II. Following his return, Irving would discover his singing voice and gift for broad comedy which would be a part of his performance for the next six decades.

One of his most famous non-Broadway roles was a voice-over for Rankin-Bass's animated holiday television special The Year Without a Santa Claus, in which he played the embittered Heat Miser opposite Dick Shawn's Snow Miser (a live-action version was produced in 2006 without Irving's participation). He did another voice-over for Rankin-Bass as Mister Geppetto in Pinocchio's Christmas, and was the narrator of the animated cartoon series Underdog.

In 2008, Irving recreated the three roles he originally played in the ill-fated 1976 Joseph Stein musical So Long, 174th Street, now reworked, revised, and retitled Enter Laughing at Off-Broadway's York Theatre Company, and received rave reviews for his bawdy rendition of "The Butler's Song".

Irving also performed his one-man cabaret show to great acclaim at Feinstein's in New York City in November 2008.

On December 8, 2008, aged 86, George S. Irving received the 17th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre.

Irving returned to television in 2008 after an absence of more than a decade to reprise his role as Heat Miser in a brand-new sequel to The Year Without a Santa Claus, A Miser Brothers' Christmas, which premiered on December 13, 2008 on cable's ABC Family. The show served as the network's first-ever original animated special. The production was nominated for an "Annie Award" for Best Animated Television Production Produced for Children by the Los Angeles Chapter of the "International Animated Film Society", which presents the awards. The awards ceremony was held on January 30, 2009, at Royce Hall, UCLA.

Death
Irving died in Manhattan of heart failure on December 26, 2016 at the age of 94.

Family
Irving was married to actress Maria Karnilova from 1948 until her death in 2001.

Stage productions

 * A Wonderful Life (2005)
 * Me and My Girl (1986)
 * On Your Toes (1983 revival)
 * Copperfield (1981)
 * The Pirates of Penzance (1981 revival)
 * I Remember Mama (1979)
 * Once in a Lifetime (1978 revival)
 * So Long, 174th Street (1976)
 * Irene (1973 revival)
 * An Evening with Richard Nixon and... (1972)
 * The Happy Time (1968)


 * Anya (1965)
 * Tovarich (1963)
 * Romulus (1962)
 * Bravo Giovanni (1962)
 * Irma La Douce (1960)
 * Shinbone Alley (1957)
 * Bells Are Ringing (1956)
 * Me and Juliet (1953)
 * Can-Can (1953)
 * Two's Company (1952)
 * Gentlemen Prefer Blondes (1949)
 * Call Me Mister (1946)