Joel Grey Then
Born Joel David Katz in1932, Joel Grey was the son of an actor and always wanted to be a star himself. His career began in the local Cleveland Play House’s children’s theatre program in the early 1940s, and Grey later made his first TV appearances in the late ’50s and early ’60s in shows like Maverick, Bronco, and Lawman.
Joel Grey in ‘Cabaret,’ 1972. Photo by Moviestore Collection / Shutterstock
In 1966, he was cast as the Master of Ceremonies in the Broadway musical version of Cabaret, winning a Tony award for his performance and really making the role his own. He also appeared in several other Broadway shows throughout the ’60s like Half a Sixpence and Goodtime Charley.