Ragni, Gerome  1942-1991

PERSONAL: Born September 11, 1942 in Pittsburgh, PA (one source says Canada); died of cancer, July 10, 1991, in New York, NY; son of Lawrence and Stephanie (Williams) Ragni; married wife, Stephanie, May 18, 1963; children: Eric.  Education: Attended Georgetown University and catholic University of America; studied acting with Philip Burton.

CAREER: Actor and writer.

AWARDS,  HONORS: Barter Theatre Award, outstanding actor, 1963; Variety Poll of New York Drama Critics Award, best lyrics (with James Rado) , 1968, and Antoinette Perry Award nomination, best musical play (with James Rado and Galt MacDermot), 1969, both for Hair; Broadway cast album of Hair received Grammy Award, musical cast show - best album, 1968, Gold Record, original cast album, Recording Industry Association of America, 1969, and was named best-selling original cast album, National Association of Recording Merchandisers, 1969, 1970, and 1971; Grammy Award, record of the year, and Gold Record, both 1969, for "Aquarius/Let The Sun Shine In"

CREDITS:

Stage Appearances:

War, Village South Theatre, New York City, 1963.
Hamlet, Lunt-Fontaine Theatre, New York City, 1964.
Hang Down Your Head and Die, Mayfair Theatre, New York City, 1964.
Tom, The Knack, New Theatre of Brooklyn, New york City, 1964.
Viet Rock, Martinique Theatre, New York City, 1966.
Berger, Hair, (also see below), Anspacher Theatre, New York City, 1967, then Biltmore Theatre, New York City,
    and national touring company, U.S. cities, both 1968.

Made stage debut as Father Corr, Shadow and Substance, Washington, DC, 1954;
    also appeared at Village Gate nightclub, New York City, 1974.

Film Appearances:

Hamlet, Warner Brothers, 1964.
Lion's Love, Raab, 1969.
 

RECORDINGS:

Albums:

Hair (also see below), RCA, 1968.
Dude, the Highway Life (also see below), Columbia, 1972.
 

WRITINGS:

Book and Lyrics For Stage Musicals

(With James Rado) Hair: A Tribal Love-Rock Musical (two-act; music by Galt MacDermot; includes songs "Aquarius", "Hair", "Easy To Be Hard", "Where Do I Go?", "Good Morning Starshine", "Flesh Failures {Let The Sun Shine In]"), first produced at New York Shakespeare Festival Theatre, New York City, 1967, revised version first produced at Biltmore Theatre, New York City, 1968, published by Pocket Books, 1969.

Dude, the Highway Life (music by Galt MacDermot), produced at Broadway Theatre, New York City, 1972.

(With Rado) Jack Sound and His Dog Star Blowing His Final Trumpet on the Day of Doom (music by Steve Margoshes), produced at Ensemble Studio Theatre, New York City, 1977.

Also collaborated with rado and MacDermot on musical Sun.
 

ADAPTATIONS: Hair was adapted for film by Michael Weller and released by United Artists, 1979.
 

OBITUARIES AND OTHER SOURCES:

Books

Contemporary Authors, Volume 105, gale, 1982, pp.396-99

Periodicals

Los Angeles Times, July 15, 1991
New York Times, July 13, 1991