Jerry Herman, legendary composer of Hello, Dolly!, dies at 88
It's curtain call for Jerry Herman's storied musical career.
The composer died in a Miami hospital Thursday at age 88, his goddaughter confirmed Friday to The Associated Press. Herman wrote the music and lyrics for several Broadway musicals, earning him a Kennedy Center honor, a handful of Tony Awards, and a special Tony lifetime achievement award along the way.
Herman's Broadway composing career kicked off with a contribution to the revue From A to Z, and his first full-length musical, Milk and Honey, made its Broadway debut in 1961. He later composed the 1964 show Hello, Dolly!, which won a then record-breaking 10 Tony Awards. His next Broadway hit came with Mame in 1966, which starred Angela Lansbury. Herman earned another Tony in 1984 for La Cage Aux Foles, which was the first Broadway musical to star a gay couple. Herman was openly gay, and was living with his partner Terry Marler in Miami when he died.
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Actors who'd worked with Herman or appeared in his shows soon chimed in with tributes. Kathryn Krawczyk
