Broadway Theater Legend Jimmy Nederlander Sr. is Dead at 94

Broadway is in mourning today. Theatrical titan James M. Nederlander, Chairman of the Nederlander Organization, died last night in New York. He was 94. Known as “Jimmy,” Nederlander was a visionary impresario who built one of the largest private live entertainment companies in the world, with his portfolio including nine Broadway theaters: the Brooks Atkinson, Gershwin, Lunt-Fontanne, Marquis, Minskoff, Nederlander, Neil Simon, Richard Rodgers and the Palace.

Born on March 31, 1922, Nederlander started working in the theater aged seven, sweeping floors for his father David Tobias (D.T.) Nederlander in Detroit, Michigan. In his 70-year career he amassed the nine Broadway theaters, along with the Auditorium, Bank of America, Broadway Playhouse, Cadillac Palace and Oriental Theatres in Chicago, the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles and interests in the Adelphi, Aldwych and Dominion Theatres in the West End.

A prolific producer, he was behind more than one hundred Broadway productions including Annie, Applause, La Cage aux Folles, Me and My Girl, Nine, Noises Off, Peter Pan, Sweet Charity, The Will Rogers Follies and Woman of the Year. Performing companies he teamed up with to bring their work to Broadway include the Royal Shakespeare Company’s The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Les Liaisons Dangereuses, Cyrano and Sherlock Holmes.

Outside of Broadway, through his decades-long operation of the Greek Theatre, he presented headline artists including Tony Bennett, Judy Garland, Lena Horne, Jackie Mason, Liza Minnelli, Frank Sinatra, Andy Williams and many more.

Nederlander was bestowed with multiple honors including the United Nations Foundation Champion Award (2012), The Broadway League’s Schoenfeld Vision for Arts Education Award (2011), the New York Pop’s Man of the Year (2008), the special Tony Award for Life Time Achievement (2004), The Actors’ Fund Medal of Honor (2002), United Jewish Appeal-New York Federations’ Bernard B. Jacobs Excellence in the Theatre Award (1997) and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In 2009, the National High School Musical Theater Award was established and named The Jimmy to celebrate his career-long dedication to supporting young talent.

Nederlander is survived by his second wife, Charlene Saunders, and his son from his first marriage to Barbara Smith, James L. Nederlander, who is President of the Nederlander Organization.

Farewell Jimmy, truly the end of a great theatrical era. ALW.

— Andrew Lloyd Webber (@OfficialALW) July 26, 2016

I, along with the entire Broadway family, mourn the passing of James Nederlander. A giant, a visionary, a gentleman. https://t.co/VGwYzaDZUQ

— Hugh Jackman (@RealHughJackman) July 26, 2016

James M. Nederlander (left), a true Broadway legend. He was a 2004 Special @TheTonyAwards recipient. Rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/VX93i1qsGm

— The Tony Awards (@TheTonyAwards) July 26, 2016

We mourn the loss of our namesake, the legendary James M. Nederlander whose legacy will inspire the next generation. pic.twitter.com/6vGVUP4q8G

— NHSMTA (@JimmyAwards) July 26, 2016