William LeMassena

William LeMassena (May 23, 1916 – January 19, 1993) was an American actor.[1] He was best known for his roles in Broadway and off-Broadway productions, the film All That Jazz (1979), and the soap opera As the World Turns (1985–1992).

William LeMassena
Born(1916-05-23)May 23, 1916
Glen Ridge, New Jersey, U.S.
DiedJanuary 19, 1993(1993-01-19) (aged 76)
New Suffolk, New York, U.S.
Other namesBilly LeMassena
William Le Massena
EducationNew York University
OccupationActor
Years active1940–1992

Early life and career

LeMassena was born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey on May 23, 1916, the son of Margery L. (1883–1942) and William Henry LeMassena (1874–1944). He graduated from New York University.[1]

LeMassena made his acting debut in the 1940 Broadway production of The Taming of the Shrew, starring Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne. He then became a regular part of the Lunt's unofficial rep company of actors, including Sydney Greenstreet, Thomas Gomez, and Montgomery Clift.

In the later part of his career, LeMassena did several seasons of regional work at Meadowbrook Theatre in Rochester, Michigan, and also had a long run in Broadway's Deathtrap.

He appeared as the Heavenly Friend who serves as a guide to Gordon MacRae on his return trip to Earth in the 1956 film version of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Carousel. Massena appeared in other roles, however, including a stint towards the end of his life as Ambrose Bingham, on the daytime soap opera As the World Turns.

He also appeared throughout the 1960s in several television adaptations of stage plays on the Hallmark Hall of Fame, including a 1960 production of Shakespeare's The Tempest, starring Maurice Evans, Lee Remick, Roddy McDowall, and Richard Burton (LeMassena was Antonio), as well as a 1967 production of Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan, starring Geneviève Bujold in her American television debut as Joan of Arc, and featuring LeMassena as Jean d'Estivet.

He also appeared in the first (and so far, the only) television production of the operetta Naughty Marietta, in the role of Rudolfo.

Personal life and death

LeMassena was a close friend of Montgomery Clift, with whom he was possibly in a gay relationship.

He died of lung cancer at his home in New Suffolk, New York on January 19, 1993, at age 76.[1]

Filmography

Film
Year Title Role Notes
1956 Carousel Heavenly Friend
The Wrong Man Sang Uncredited
1964 The World of Henry Orient
1970 Where's Poppa? Judge
1979 All That Jazz Jonesy Hecht
1985 Stephen King's Golden Tales Charles Pennywell Direct-to-video
Segment: "Do Not Open This Box"
1989 See You in the Morning Mr. Livingstone

Television
Year Title Role Notes
1955 Max Liebman Spectaculars Episode: "Good Times"
Naughty Marietta Rudolfo Television film
Studio One Episode: "The Voysey Inheritance"
1957 Stanley Francisco Episode: "Stanley and Mr. Phillips' Plot"
J.B. King Episode: "Married Friends"
On Borrowed Time Dr. Evans Television film
1958 Armstrong Circle Theatre James M. Hermann Episode: "The House of Flying Objects"
1960 The Tempest Antonio Television film
1962 The Defenders Mr. Graham Episode: "The Point Shaver"
Golden Showcase Poliakoff Episode: "Tonight in Samarkand"
Naked City Mr. Hanley Episode: "The Multiplicity of Herbert Konish"
The Teahouse of the August Moon Capt. McLean Television film
1963 Naked City Dr. Thomanini Episode: "Howard Running Bear Is a Turtle"
The Patriots Col. Humphreys Television film
Route 66 Mr. Spofford Episode: "Come Home Greta Inger Gruenschaffen"
1964 The Patty Duke Show Mr. Cameron Episode: "The Continental"
1965 Inherit the Wind Radio Man Television film
1967 Saint Joan Jean D'Estivet
1974 Lincoln Senator Remley Episode: "Mrs. Lincoln's Husband"
1982 Rascals and Robbers: The Secret Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn Judge Thatcher Television film
One More Try Judge
1988 Tales from the Darkside Charles Pennywell Episode: "Do Not Open This Box"
1985–1992 As the World Turns Ambrose Bingham 9 episodes
Final role

References
  1. "William LeMassena, Actor, 76". The New York Times. January 21, 1993. Retrieved September 17, 2020.
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