Mark Blum to Permanently Replace Michael McKean in The Best Man

Broadway vet Mark Blum will assume the role of Dick Jensen in the Broadway revival of Gore Vidal’s The Best Man beginning June 5. Blum succeeds original star Michael McKean, who, as previously reported, was struck by a car on the Upper West Side in Manhattan on May 22. McKean suffered a broken leg but is reportedly in stable condition. McKean's understudy James Lecesne assumed the role from May 23 through June 3. Lecesne will now return to his role as Mitch Graham, which was played by Fred Parker during the interim, in the classic political drama.

Directed by Michael Wilson, The Best Man also stars John Larroquette, Eric McCormack, James Earl Jones and Angela Lansbury. Gore Vidal’s drama tells the story of two presidential hopefuls (played by Larroquette and McCormack) who are both vying for their party’s nomination during the primary season. Dick Jensen (Blum) is the campaign manager of Senator William Russell (Larroquette). After two extensions, The Best Man will play a limited engagement through September 9.

Blum previously played Dick Jensen in the 2000 Broadway revival of The Best Man. His additional Broadway credits include Twelve Angry Men, The Graduate, A Thousand Clowns, Lost in Yonkers, My Thing of Love and The Merchant. Blum was most recently seen off-Broadway in Lonely, I’m Not. His film and TV credits include I Don’t Know How She Does It, The Green, Damages and The Good Wife.