JACK GILFORD - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 316416

JACK GILFORD
The award winning actor pens a short note to John Willis, Editor of Theatre World.
Autograph letter signed: "Jack Gilford", in blue ink, 4¼x6 open flat, 4¼x3 closed. In full: "Dear Mr. Willis, Thank you for your continued interest. I hope the enclosed will satisfy your need [items not included]. Yours". Jack Gilford (1908-1990) was twice nominated for a Tony Award for his work in musicals: as Best Featured Actor for A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (1963) and as Best Actor for Cabaret (1967). He was nominated for a 1973 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Save the Tiger. (Jack Lemmon, shown here, won the Best Actor Oscar for the same film.) Gilford made several appearances on The Carol Burnett Show; he had first appeared with Burnett on Broadway in Once Upon a Mattress (1959). Gilford and his wife Madeline, active in political reform causes, were blacklisted in Hollywood during the 1950s. John A. Willis (1916-2010), active in Theatre World from the beginning, became its chief editor in 1965, holding that position until 2008. Willis is regarded as one of the foremost theatre and film historians of the 20th century. While producing (and presenting) the annual Theatre World Awards, Willis also served on the nominating committee for the Tony Awards. Theatre World, which received its own Tony for Excellence in Theatre in 2001, continues under chief editor Ben Hodges. Small stain on bottom left margin. Fine condition.