NEW YORK — Not only was Augusta's Barn Theatre an early venue for James Pritchett to display his acting talent, but it also was where he met his future wife, Kalamazoo resident Cynthia Arnold.
Pritchett, known to many as Dr. Matt Powers, a central character on the NBC daytime soap opera "The Doctors" from 1963 to 1982, died March 15 at his New York home. He was 88.
The winner of a best-actor Emmy in 1978 for his work on "The Doctors," he also acted on Broadway and in national touring companies.
But it was his work at the Barn, no doubt, that had the most significant impact on his life. While assuming the role of Sky Masterson in the Barn's 1955 production of "Guys and Dolls," Pritchett became acquainted with Arnold, an Upjohn Co. employee who acted on the side.
Playing a mission girl in that production, Arnold fell head over heels for Pritchett. "I followed him to New York, there's no other way to say it," she said.
What attracted her to him?
"Everything," she said. "He was a fine actor, and he had such a wonderful sense of humor, aside from the fact he was a very good-looking man."
The Pritchetts wed three years later and shared married life together for 53 years.
"We had three beautiful children, and he was a very, very good father," Cynthia Pritchett said.
"He was on 'The Doctors' for almost 20 years, so he was ... stationed here in New York City, but he did do a lot of area work, and he did some national tours," she said.
"His spare time was spent with his family," she added. "We had a great place out in the country and we spent all our extra time there, except when we were traveling, which we did a lot of, and we took our kids a good share of the time."
Pritchett first performed at the Barn Theatre in 1954 and returned, in addition to 1955, in 1960 and for at least three years in the 1980s, including his Barn-participation 30th anniversary year, 1984.
A native of Lenoir, N.C., Pritchett earned a degree in meteorology from the University of Chicago while serving in the Army Air Forces during World War II and also worked for a time as an attorney after earning his law degree from the University of North Carolina.
He appeared on Broadway in "Two for the Seesaw" in 1959 and " Sail Away" in 1961- 62, and in national tours of "Auntie Mame" with Sylvia Sydney in 1958 and "Other People's Money" with Tony Lo Bianco in 1991, according to an obituary in The New York Times.
He also shared top billing with Geraldine Page and E.G. Marshall in Eugene O'Neill's " Desire Under the Elms," which played in 1956 at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago.
He was on television, in both programs and commercials, for many years, including in two other daytime serials, "The Secret Storm" and "As The World Turns," the Times reported.
In addition to "Guys and Dolls," some of the Barn productions Pritchett appeared in over the years were "Mister Roberts," "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial," "The Rainmaker," "The Tender Trap," "Two for the Seesaw" — a reprisal of his role in the Broadway play — "The Golden Fleecing," "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "Present Laughter" and "The Music Man."
Surviving Pritchett in addition to his wife are his children, Laura and her husband, Priest Dimitri, of San Francisco, Shelley, of New York City, and Kyle and his wife, Claudia, of Connecticut; and three grandchildren.
A private memorial service for Pritchett will be held later in upstate New York.
Pritchett, known to many as Dr. Matt Powers, a central character on the NBC daytime soap opera "The Doctors" from 1963 to 1982, died March 15 at his New York home. He was 88.
The winner of a best-actor Emmy in 1978 for his work on "The Doctors," he also acted on Broadway and in national touring companies.
But it was his work at the Barn, no doubt, that had the most significant impact on his life. While assuming the role of Sky Masterson in the Barn's 1955 production of "Guys and Dolls," Pritchett became acquainted with Arnold, an Upjohn Co. employee who acted on the side.
Playing a mission girl in that production, Arnold fell head over heels for Pritchett. "I followed him to New York, there's no other way to say it," she said.
What attracted her to him?
"Everything," she said. "He was a fine actor, and he had such a wonderful sense of humor, aside from the fact he was a very good-looking man."
The Pritchetts wed three years later and shared married life together for 53 years.
"We had three beautiful children, and he was a very, very good father," Cynthia Pritchett said.
"He was on 'The Doctors' for almost 20 years, so he was ... stationed here in New York City, but he did do a lot of area work, and he did some national tours," she said.
"His spare time was spent with his family," she added. "We had a great place out in the country and we spent all our extra time there, except when we were traveling, which we did a lot of, and we took our kids a good share of the time."
Pritchett first performed at the Barn Theatre in 1954 and returned, in addition to 1955, in 1960 and for at least three years in the 1980s, including his Barn-participation 30th anniversary year, 1984.
A native of Lenoir, N.C., Pritchett earned a degree in meteorology from the University of Chicago while serving in the Army Air Forces during World War II and also worked for a time as an attorney after earning his law degree from the University of North Carolina.
He appeared on Broadway in "Two for the Seesaw" in 1959 and " Sail Away" in 1961- 62, and in national tours of "Auntie Mame" with Sylvia Sydney in 1958 and "Other People's Money" with Tony Lo Bianco in 1991, according to an obituary in The New York Times.
He also shared top billing with Geraldine Page and E.G. Marshall in Eugene O'Neill's " Desire Under the Elms," which played in 1956 at the Studebaker Theater in Chicago.
He was on television, in both programs and commercials, for many years, including in two other daytime serials, "The Secret Storm" and "As The World Turns," the Times reported.
In addition to "Guys and Dolls," some of the Barn productions Pritchett appeared in over the years were "Mister Roberts," "The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial," "The Rainmaker," "The Tender Trap," "Two for the Seesaw" — a reprisal of his role in the Broadway play — "The Golden Fleecing," "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," "Present Laughter" and "The Music Man."
Surviving Pritchett in addition to his wife are his children, Laura and her husband, Priest Dimitri, of San Francisco, Shelley, of New York City, and Kyle and his wife, Claudia, of Connecticut; and three grandchildren.
A private memorial service for Pritchett will be held later in upstate New York.
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