Steve Lawrence was a singer, actor and comedian who created the singing duo Steve and Eydie with his wife, Eydie Gormé (1928–2013) and had roles in such movies and TV shows as “The Blues Brothers,” “The Lonely Guy,” and “The Carol Burnett Show.”
- Died: March 7, 2024 (Who else died on March 7?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Los Angeles of complications from Alzheimer’s disease at the age of 88.
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Steve Lawrence’s legacy
In the earliest days of “The Tonight Show” – when Steve Allen (1921–2000) was hosting a local late-night show on New York City TV – Lawrence was hired as one of the show’s singers while he was still in his teens. So was Gormé, and both stayed with the show as it got picked up by national TV. They sang well together, and they began recording as a duo, releasing their first single, “Make Yourself Comfortable,” in 1954. They also fell in love, and they married in 1957, remaining together until Gormé’s 2013 death. Lawrence and Gormé performed and recorded together for most of those years, even as they both embarked on successful solo work.
Steve and Eydie became a beloved mainstay of ‘60s and ‘70s entertainment. Their pop standards and comfortable banter were familiar on TV as they appeared on the many variety shows of the day. Among the many venues for their performances was “The Steve Lawrence Show,” a 1965 variety show that had the distinction of being the last program on CBS airing entirely in black and white. They performed in nightclubs too, often in Las Vegas but also touring widely. As musical tastes changed, Steve and Eydie stuck with lightweight pop, recording tracks like “Sentimental Me,” “Cabaret,” and “(You’re My) Soul & Inspiration.”
Lawrence also released dozens of solo albums and had success with such singles as 1957’s “Party Doll,” 1960’s “Footsteps,” and the 1962 No. 1 hit “Go Away Little Girl.” He sang on Broadway, too, starring in the 1964 musical “What Makes Sammy Run?” and earning a Tony Award nomination for his performance.
Lawrence’s Broadway success was the beginning of an acting career that continued for decades. While music remained the center of Lawrence’s life as a performer, several acting roles became classics. One was his turn in “The Blues Brothers” as Maury Sline, agent and manager to John Belushi (1949–1982) and Dan Aykroyd’s Jake and Elwood Blues. He returned to reprise the role in “Blues Brothers 2000.” Lawrence was also a frequent guest on “The Carol Burnett Show,” appearing on the sketch comedy show 39 times over the years.
Lawrence played Morty Fine, the father of Fran Drescher’s character, on several episodes of “The Nanny.” His many other acting appearances on TV included “Hardcastle and McCormick,” “Murder, She Wrote,” “Diagnosis Murder,” and “Two and a Half Men.” He also appeared in such movies as “The Lonely Guy” and “The Yards.”
Notable quote
“There is an audience for our kind of music. They come out to see you and you forget all about your troubles.” —from a 2004 interview for the Las Vegas Sun
Tributes to Steve Lawrence
Full obituary: The New York Times
