{{short description|American actor and baritone (born 1948)}} {{Use mdy dates|date=May 2014}} '''Richard Muenz''' (born March 9, 1948) is an American actor and baritone who is mostly known for his work within American theatre. Muenz has frequently performed in musicals and in concerts. He has also periodically acted on television.
==Early life and education== Born in Hartford, Connecticut, and grew up in the Ridgewood, New Jersey, area. He graduated from Ridgewood High School and then attended Eastern University in St. Davids, Pennsylvania, where he was a voice major.
== Career == He began his career as a member of the New York City Opera's chorus with whom he sang for three seasons during the early 1970s. At the same time he became a member of the Gregg Smith Singers, with whom he made nine recordings over a couple of years; including William Schuman's ''The Mighty Casey''. He also had the honor of performing Brahms's ''Liebeslieder Waltzes'' at Carnegie Hall with the ensemble.<ref name="NYT">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1980/07/25/archives/new-face-richard-muenz-a-baritone-aspiring-to-be-an-arthurian.html&scp=1&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=p| title=New Face: Richard Muenz A Baritone Aspiring to Be an Arthurian Legend in His Own Time; Follows 'Most Happy Fella'| first=Barbara | last=Crossette| work=New York Times | date=July 25, 1980| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref>
In 1975 Muenz performed the role of Sam in a production of Leonard Bernstein's ''Trouble in Tahiti'' at the Whitney Museum. Bernstein was in the audience and after the show he invited Muenz personally to join the cast of his upcoming Broadway musical ''1600 Pennsylvania Avenue''. He accepted and made his Broadway debut when the production premiered in the Spring of 1976 portraying a variety of smaller roles. The following year he joined the long running Off-Broadway production of ''The Fantasticks'' as El Gallo. In 1979 he returned to Broadway as Joe in the revival of ''The Most Happy Fella'' which was recorded live for television broadcast on PBS's ''Great Performances''.<ref name="NYT"/> That same year he joined the cast of ''Ryan's Hope'', portraying the role of Joe Novak from 1979 to 1980.<ref name="Night">[http://www.nightkitchenradio.com/muenz.html Biography of Richard Muenz at the Night Kitchen Radio Theater]</ref>
In 1980 Muenz was cast as Lancelot in the revival of Lerner and Loewe's ''Camelot'' with Richard Burton as King Arthur and Christine Ebersole as Guenevere. When the show moved from the New York State Theater to the Winter Garden Theatre the following year, he stayed with the production, now sharing the stage with Richard Harris as Arthur and Meg Bussert as Guenevere.<ref name="NYT3">{{cite web |url=http://theater2.nytimes.com/mem/theater/treview.html?_r=1&res=9F01E1DB1F39F935A25752C1A967948260&scp=1&sq=Richard%20Muenz&st=cse| title=STAGE: 'CAMELOT' IS BACK WITH RICHARD HARRIS| first=Frank | last=Rich| work=New York Times | date=November 16, 1981| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> This second cast was recorded live for television broadcast on HBO.<ref name="NYT4">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1982/09/24/arts/3-new-series-and-hbo-s-camelot.html?scp=3&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=3 NEW SERIES AND HBO'S 'CAMELOT'| first=John J. | last=O'Connor| work=New York Times | date=September 24, 1982| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> In 1983 he portrayed Cadet Dick Thorpe in George Gershwin and Sigmund Romberg's ''Rosalie'' at Town Hall with the New Amsterdam Theater Company.<ref name="NYT5">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1983/04/21/theater/music-noted-in-brief-1928-musical-rosalie-in-concert-at-town-hall.html?scp=5&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=Music Noted in Brief; 1928 Musical 'Rosalie' In Concert at Town Hall| first=Stephen | last=Holden | work=New York Times | date=April 21, 1983| accessdate=March 25, 2009}}</ref> In 1985 he appeared as a guest star on the ''Scarecrow and Mrs. King'' episode "Over the Limit". In 1986 he was a guest star on ''Highway to Heaven'' in the episode "To Bind the Wounds" and the following year he appeared on ''Kate & Allie'' in the episode "Ted's Fix-Up". In 1988 he returned to Broadway as Joe in the original cast of ''Chess''. In 1989 he appeared in the world premiere of the Off-Broadway hit of Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire's ''Closer Than Ever'' at the Cherry Lane Theatre. A critical success, the show ran for 312 performances and a CD recording was made on the RCA Victor label.<ref name="NYT6">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/02/25/theater/recordings-closer-than-ever-is-one-from-the-heart.html?sec=&spon=&&scp=2&sq=Brent%20Barrett%20%20Closer%20Than%20Ever&st=cse| title=RECORDINGS; 'Closer Than Ever' Is One From the Heart| first=Stephen | last=Holden | work=New York Times | date=February 25, 1990| accessdate=March 25, 2009}}</ref>
In 1990 Muenz portrayed the role of Samuel Cooper in Kurt Weill's ''Love Life'' at the American Music Theater Festival in Philadelphia.<ref name="NYT9">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1990/06/22/theater/review-theater-a-revival-of-a-show-by-lerner-and-weill.html?scp=16&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=Review/Theater; A Revival Of a Show By Lerner And Weill| first=Stephen | last=Holden | work=New York Times | date=June 22, 1990| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> In 1995 he appeared as Frank Sinatra in the television movie ''Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story''.<ref name="NYT11">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1995/02/28/arts/television-review-very-new-york-story-made-mostly-in-toronto.html?scp=25&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=TELEVISION REVIEW; Very New York Story, Made Mostly in Toronto| first=John J. | last=O'Connor | work=New York Times | date=February 28, 1995| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> In 1996 he appeared Off-Broadway as Eddie Flagrante in John Dempsey's ''Zombie Prom'' at the Variety Arts Theatre.<ref name="NYT12">{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1996/04/10/theater/theater-review-girl-meets-ghoul-hit-by-cupid-s-toxic-arrow.html?scp=26&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=THEATER REVIEW;Girl Meets Ghoul, Hit By Cupid's Toxic Arrow| first=Ben | last=Brantley| work=New York Times | date=April 10, 1996| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> In 1998 he was a guest star on the ''Law & Order'' episode "Scrambled". In 1999 he stepped in to cover a few performances for Tom Wopat as Frank Butler in the Broadway revival of Irving Berlin's ''Annie Get Your Gun'', portraying the role opposite Bernadette Peters. In 2000 he appeared as Robert Baker in New York City Center Encores!'s production of Bernstein's ''Wonderful Town''.<ref name="NYT14">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2000/05/06/theater/theater-review-this-is-new-york-eileen-people-just-dance-around.html?scp=38&sq=Richard%20Muenz&st=nyt&pagewanted=2| title=THEATER REVIEW; This Is New York, Eileen; People Just Dance Around| first=Ben | last=Brantley | work=New York Times | date=May 6, 2000| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> In 2001 he narrated ''Great Performances'''s tribute to Aaron Copland, ''Copland's America''. In 2005 he returned to Broadway as Pat Denning in the revival of ''42nd Street'', a role he had previously portrayed on Broadway in 2001.<ref name="NYT15">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2001/05/03/theater/theater-review-you-ve-got-to-come-back-a-you-know.html?scp=40&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=THEATER REVIEW; You've Got to Come Back a . . . You Know| first=Ben | last=Brantley | work=New York Times | date=May 3, 2001| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref>
Muenz's other performing credits include appearances on three seasons of Garrison Keillor’s ''The American Radio Company of the Air'', Jean-Luc on ''Guiding Light'', Dr. Kessler on ''Another World'', the national tour of Jerry Zaks’ revival of ''Guys and Dolls'' as Sky Masterson,<ref name="NYT2">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/12/27/nyregion/theater-on-the-road-with-guys-and-dolls-at-the-shubert.html?scp=21&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=THEATER; On the Road With 'Guys and Dolls' at the Shubert| first=Alvin| last=Klein | work=New York Times | date=December 27, 1992| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> the National tour of ''The Sound of Music'', performances with the Night Kitchen Radio Theater, and the Broadway companies of ''High Society'' and ''Nick & Nora''. He has also appeared in several productions with the New York City Opera, including Bob in ''Wonderful Town'',<ref name="NYT1">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1994/11/10/theater/music-review-bernstein-songs-survive-in-1953-musical.html?scp=24&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=MUSIC REVIEW; Bernstein Songs Survive in 1953 Musical| first=Edward | last=Rothstein | work=New York Times | date=November 10, 1994| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> File in ''110 in the Shade'',<ref name="NYT10">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/21/theater/review-music-bang-a-drum-bind-a-mule-s-legs-and-let-the-heavens-pour-forth.html?scp=17&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=Review/Music; Bang a Drum, Bind a Mule's Legs And Let the Heavens Pour Forth| first=Edward | last=Rothstein | work=New York Times | date=July 21, 1992| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> Danilo in ''The Merry Widow'',<ref name="NYT8">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/07/11/arts/review-operetta-merry-widow-with-revisions-at-city-opera.html?scp=13&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=Review/Operetta; 'Merry Widow,' With Revisions, at City Opera| first=Allan | last=Kozinn | work=New York Times | date=July 11, 1989| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> and Sid in ''The Pajama Game'',<ref name="NYT7">{{cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/1989/03/06/theater/review-city-opera-poodle-skirts-elvis-and-labor-relations.html?scp=10&sq=Richard+Muenz&st=nyt| title=Review/City Opera; Poodle Skirts, Elvis And Labor Relations| first=Allan | last=Kozinn | work=New York Times | date=March 6, 1989| accessdate=March 26, 2009}}</ref> the latter of which garnered him a Drama Desk Award nomination.<ref name="Night"/>
== Filmography ==
=== Film === {| class="wikitable" |+ !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1997 |''Leonard Bernstein's New York'' |Self |Documentary |}
=== Television === {| class="wikitable sortable" !Year !Title !Role !Notes |- |1979–1980 |''Ryan's Hope'' |Joe Novak |119 episodes |- |1980, 2001 |''Great Performances'' |Narrator / Joe |2 episodes |- |1982 |''Camelot'' |Lancelot du Lac |Television film |- |1985 |''Scarecrow and Mrs. King'' |Eric Sullivan |Episode: "Over the Limit" |- |1986 |''Crazy Like a Fox'' |Peter |Episode: "You Can't Keep a Good Corpse Down" |- |1986 |''Highway to Heaven'' |Gary Lee |Episode: "To Bind the Wounds" |- |1987 |''Kate & Allie'' |Roger |Episode: "Ted's Fix-Up" |- |1988 |''William Tell'' |Lord Montal |Episode: "Ladyship" |- |1990 |''H.E.L.P.'' |Paul Butler |Episode: "Steam Heat" |- |1990 |''Working It Out'' |Brian Burnell |Episode: "Old Boyfriends" |- |1995 |''Love and Betrayal: The Mia Farrow Story'' |Frank Sinatra |Television film |- |1998 |''Trinity'' |Tall Guy |Episode: "In Loco Parentis" |- |1998 |''Law & Order'' |Derek Sloan |Episode: "Scrambled" |}
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|0611139}} *{{IBDB name}} *[http://www.lortel.org/lla_archive/index.cfm?search_by=people&first=Richard&middle=&last=Muenz Richard Muenz at the Internet Off Broadway Database]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Muenz, Richard}} Category:American male musical theatre actors Category:American male stage actors Category:American male television actors Category:Musicians from Hartford, Connecticut Category:Actors from Hartford, Connecticut Category:American operatic baritones Category:Eastern University (United States) alumni Category:Male actors from Hartford, Connecticut Category:Male actors from Ridgewood, New Jersey Category:Musicians from Ridgewood, New Jersey Category:Ridgewood High School (New Jersey) alumni Category:Living people Category:1948 births Category:Singers from New Jersey Category:Classical musicians from New Jersey