NEW YORK (AP) 鈥� Michael McGrath, a Broadway character actor who shined in zany, feel-good musicals and won a Tony Award for 鈥淣ice Work If You Can Get It,鈥� has died. He was 65.
McGrath died Thursday at his home in Bloomfield, New Jersey, said his publicist, Lisa Goldberg. No other details were announced.
鈥淢ichael McGrath was as wonderful offstage as he was on,鈥� wrote Michael Urie in tribute. 鈥淎dorable, mischievous, brilliant. His loss cuts deep, but I will continue to take everything he taught me wherever I go.鈥�
McGrath was in over a dozen Broadway shows including 鈥淧laza Suite,鈥� 鈥淪he Loves Me,鈥� 鈥淭ootsie" and 鈥淪pamalot鈥� as well as on television as the sidekick to Martin Short on 鈥淭he Martin Short Show.鈥�
鈥淰ery saddened to hear that Michael McGrath our first and most beloved Patsy in 鈥楽pamalot,鈥� has passed away,鈥� wrote Monty Python member Eric Idle. 鈥淲arm hugs to all the 鈥楽pamalot鈥� family and very happy memories of a lovely man.鈥�
In 2012, McGrath won the Tony for best actor in a featured musical role playing wise guy Cookie McGee in 鈥淣ice Work If You Can Get It鈥� starring Matthew Broderick and Kelli O鈥橦ara.
He also played a hard-boiled radio station owner in 鈥淢emphis鈥� and showed fine vaudevillian chops in 鈥淥n the Twentieth Century鈥� singing 鈥淔ive Zeros,鈥� an ode to the joys of money.
In a 2007 review of 鈥淔ollies鈥� at City Center, The Associated Press said McGrath "exudes a pugnacious, good-time Charlie conviviality that also hides insecurities. The actor also moves with the confidence of a born hoofer, particularly in his 鈥�'The God-Why-Don鈥檛-You-Love-Me Blues.'鈥�
He is survived by his wife of 30 years, actor Toni Di Buono and a daughter, actor Katie Claire McGrath.
The Associated Press
