{{Short description|American actor and singer}} '''Kent Edwards''' (born {{circa|1918}} — died August 7, 1993<ref name="obit">{{cite book|title=OBITUARIES: Kenneth (Kent) Edwards|work=Variety|volume=352|issue=6|date=September 20, 1993|page=42}}</ref>) was an American musical theatre actor and nightclub singer of the 1940s who is best remembered for portraying Einar in the original production of ''Song of Norway'' at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, on Broadway, and in the 1946-1947 national tour. He recorded the role for Decca Records on the 1945 cast album.
==Career== Born Kenneth Edwards in Wichita, Kansas, he began his career in Hollywood; making his stage debut in Bob Wright and Chet Forrest's 1940 musical revue ''Thank You, Columbus'' at the Hollywood Playhouse.<ref>{{cite book|title=Legitimate: Plays Out of Town - Thank You, Columbus|author=Helm|work=Variety|volume=140|issue=11|date=November 20, 1940|page=52}}</ref><ref name="obit"/> He made his Broadway debut in the revue ''New Faces of 1943''; performing in that work from December 22, 1942, through March 13, 1943. In 1944 he originated the role of Einar in Robert Wright and George Forrest's operetta ''Song of Norway'' which he performed not only at its premiere at the Los Angeles Civic Light Opera, but also on Broadway from Aug 21, 1944 through September 7, 1946.<ref name="obit"/> He continued with the work on its National tour in 1946–1947.<ref name="obit"/> He also toured the United States with Milton Berle in ''Spring in Brazil''.<ref name="obit"/>
In addition to performing in musicals, Edwards performed as a nightclub singer. He was a regular at the Colonial Inn in Hallandale, Florida in the late 1940s.<ref>{{cite book|title=Night Club Reviews: Colonial Inn|author=Lary|work=Variety|volume=165|issue=12|date=February 26, 1947|pages= 50, 54}}</ref> He also appeared in night clubs in Hollywood, Chicago and New York City; including the Copacabana.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Night clubs-vaudeville: VAUDEVILLE REVIEWS - Chicago, Chicago|magazine=Billboard|volume=56|issue=11|date=March 11, 1944|page=25}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|title=Vaudeville: Night Club Reviews - COPACABANA, N. Y.|author=Abel|work=Variety|volume=150|issue= 12|date=June 2, 1943|page= 46}}</ref>
He died in Miami, Florida of a heart attack at the age of 75.<ref name="obit"/>
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *[https://www.ibdb.com/broadway-cast-staff/kent-edwards-112251 Kent Edwards at IBDB]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Edwards, Kent}} Category:1910s births Category:1993 deaths Category:Male actors from Wichita, Kansas Category:Male actors from Miami Category:American male musical theatre actors Category:Singers from Miami Category:Nightclub performers Category:20th-century American male singers Category:20th-century American singers