LEONARD FREY was an American actor who was born on this date (d: 1988). He was born in Brooklyn, New York, and after attending James Madison High School, he studied art at Cooper Union, with the intention of on becoming a painter. But he switched to acting at New York City’s Neighborhood Playhouse under acting coach Sanford Meisner, and pursued a career in theater.

Frey received critical acclaim in 1968 for his performance as Harold in off-Broadway’s The Boys in the Band. He appeared with the rest of the original cast in the 1970 film version, directed by William Friedkin.

Frey was nominated for a 1975 Tony Award as Best Featured Actor in a Play for his performance in The National Health. Other stage credits included revivals of The Time of Your Life, Beggar on Horseback, Twelfth Night and The Man Who Came to Dinner. He also played Clare Quilty in the Alan Jay Lerner musical Lolita, My Love which closed, before reaching Broadway, in 1971.

Frey was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Motel the tailor in Norman Jewison’s 1971 film Fiddler on the Roof (he had appeared in the original Broadway musical production as Mendel, the rabbi’s son). Other film credits included roles in The Magic Christian, Tell Me That You Love Me, Junie Moon, Where the Buffalo Roam, Up the Academy and Tattoo.

Frey’s television credits included appearances on Hallmark Hall of Fame; Medical Center; Mission Impossible; Eight Is Enough; Quincy, M.E.; Hart to Hart; Barney Miller (1975 episode: ‘The Escape Artist’ & 1980 episode: ‘Vanished’, part 2); Moonlighting; Murder, She Wrote; and the miniseries Testimony of Two Men, as well as a co-starring role as the villainous Parker Tillman on the short-lived ABC western comedy Best of the West, and Raymond Holyoke on Mr. Smith, which ran for 13 episodes on NBC in fall 1983. He also appeared as a panelist on the game shows Match Game-Hollywood Squares Hour and Super Password.

On The Mary Tyler Moore Show episode titled “Ted Baxter’s Famous Broadcaster’s School,” airing February 22, 1975, Frey played the role of “The Student.” Frey’s final role was Walter Witherspoon in the television movie Bride of Boogedy. 

Frey died at age 49 from the complications of HIV/AIDS in New York on August 24, 1988, 11 days before his 50th birthday.