While Gig Young’s personal life was difficult and tragic, his many comedic roles are highlights, including four films with Doris Day. (While Doris Day never played at the theatre, she did perform with Les Brown at the Trocadero Ballroom, so we consider her an alumna of the park.)
Gig Young — born Byron Elsworth Barr on November 4, 1913 — discovered his love of acting in school plays before earning a scholarship to the Pasadena Playhouse, where his talent quickly attracted the attention of a Warner Brothers talent scout. He went on to build a prolific career across film, television, and stage spanning nearly four decades, becoming particularly celebrated for his gift with light comedy and his charming portrayals of sophisticated second leads. He appeared opposite some of Hollywood’s biggest names, including Doris Day (in four films together), Clark Gable, Cary Grant, and John Wayne.
In the summer of 1973, Gig Young brought his considerable stage experience to the Historic Elitch Theatre, appearing in the comedy Under the Yum-Yum Tree — a role he had originated on Broadway in 1960–61, where it ran for 173 performances. It was a natural fit: Young had long excelled in the kind of witty, sophisticated comedy the play demanded, and Denver audiences were treated to a seasoned performer at the top of his theatrical craft.
Young’s screen career reached its pinnacle with three Academy Award nominations for Best Supporting Actor. In 1970 he took home the Oscar for his unforgettable turn as Rocky, the weary and morally compromised dance marathon emcee in They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969) — a performance that also earned him a Golden Globe.
Sadly, Young’s personal life was marked by deep struggle. Long-battling alcoholism cost him several significant roles in his later years and took a toll on his relationships. His life ended tragically on October 19, 1978, just three weeks after his fifth marriage, when he shot and killed his wife, Kim Schmidt, before taking his own life in their Manhattan apartment. He was 64. The motive was never determined. Young was buried under his birth name, Byron E. Barr, in Waynesville, North Carolina. His legacy is a complicated one — a genuinely gifted actor whose artistry on stages like Elitch’s, and on screens large and small, left a lasting mark on American entertainment.
Seasons at the Theatre
- 1973
Productions/Roles:
- 1973 – Under the Yum-Yum Tree
Notable Roles, Awards, and Other Work:
- Film & Television Roles:
- Come Fill the Cup (1951) — dramatic turn as an alcoholic alongside James Cagney
- Teacher’s Pet (1958) — comedic role with Clark Gable and Doris Day
- The Rogues (NBC, 1964–65) — lead role as charming con man Tony Fleming
- They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (1969) — Oscar-winning role as dance marathon emcee Rocky
- Stage:
- Under the Yum-Yum Tree (Broadway, 1960–61) — originated the role of Hogan; 173 performances
- There’s a Girl in My Soup (Broadway, 1967–68) — 322 performances
- Awards & Recognition:
- Academy Award, Best Supporting Actor — They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (Won, 1970)
- Academy Award, Best Supporting Actor — Come Fill the Cup and Teacher’s Pet (Nominated, 1952 & 1959)
- Golden Globe, Best Supporting Actor — They Shoot Horses, Don’t They? (Won, 1970)
Elitch Theatre Connections:
- Young appeared in the 1963 film, For Love or Money, with Elitch Alumna Mitzi Gaynor and Julie Newmar.
