Weekend Poll Top Three: Sondheim and His Tony-Winning Ladies Are Among Fans' Favorite Octogenarians

With Anything Goes star Joel Grey recently celebrating his 80th birthday, the acclaimed actor joins a prestigious group of Broadway octogenarians still enjoying an exciting career on the Great White Way. Broadway.com asked readers which 80+ Broadway legend is their favorite. The results are in, and three of Broadway’s most recognized and acclaimed Broadway icons were among readers’ picks. Take a look at the results below!

1. Angela Lansbury – 29%
Angela Lansbury’s illustrious career has spanned eight decades. With five Tony Awards to her name, Lansbury shares the record with Julie Harris for the most Tony wins by a performer. TV audiences know Lansbury for her role as Jessica Fletcher on Murder, She Wrote, but Broadway theatergoers remember her for her Tony-winning roles in Mame, Gypsy and Sweeney Todd. Within the last five years, the 86-year-old actress has appeared in the Broadway productions of Deuce, Blithe Spirit (Tony win!), A Little Night Music and currently The Best Man.


2. Stephen Sondheim – 28%
Stephen Sondheim has won more Tony Awards than any other composer (eight in total), multiple Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. Prolific New York Times critic Frank Rich called Sondheim, “the greatest artist working in musical theater,” and it would be hard to argue against that statement. Some of Sondheim’s shows include West Side Story, Gypsy, Follies, Sunday in the Park with George, Company, Sweeney Todd, Merrily We Roll Along and Into the Woods. Now at age 82, Sondheim is at work on a new show with Venus in Fur scribe David Ives.


3. Elaine Stritch – 12%
There ain’t nothing like a dame and Tony winner Elaine Stritch is a true Broadway dame. She last appeared on Broadway in 2011 as Bernadette Peters' mother in A Little Night Music. Stritch is perhaps best known for her iconic portrayal of Joanne in Stephen Sondheim’s Company. At age 87, she continues to perform in solo shows and on TV’s 30 Rock. As Stritch sang in her signature song “Ladies Who Lunch,” I’ll drink to that!

Thanks for voting!