Jack Eric Williams (March 28, 1944 – January 28, 1994) was an American actor, composer, and lyricist for stage and film. He is best remembered for originating the role of Beadle Bamford in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street.
Biography
Early Life and Education Williams was born in Odessa, Texas. He grew up in Texas before moving to Nashville, and eventually settled permanently in New York City.
Career as a Performer Williams made his off-Broadway debut in 1974 as Max in Harold Pinter's The Homecoming at the Wonderhorse Theater. His Broadway debut came in 1976 in the Lincoln Center revival of Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, where he sang in the ensemble and understudied the role of the Ballad Singer. In 1979, he originated the role of the villainous Beadle Bamford in Stephen Sondheim's Sweeney Todd. Sondheim wrote the exceptionally difficult vocal lines with Williams' voice specifically in mind. His performances in both shows are preserved on their original cast albums. A noted tenor, he once gave a command performance for the King and Queen of Sweden.
Career as a Composer Despite his high-profile acting roles, Williams considered himself primarily a composer. His compositional achievements include:
- 1965: Won the National Grass Roots Opera Competition with The Hinge Tune (libretto by Elizabeth Lyne)
- 1965: Commissioned by the Budapest Madrigal Ensemble to compose a madrigal cycle
- 1971: Composed a 45-minute score for Federico García Lorca's Yerma
- 1981: Composed the score for the film Nightmare (originally banned in the UK for excessive violence)
- 1984: His musical biography of Frances Farmer, Mrs. Farmer's Daughter, was produced at the American Music Festival in Philadelphia
- 1984: Romance Language was produced at Playwrights Horizons in New York City
- 1990: Swamp Gas and Shallow Feelings: A Brand New Nashville Musical Fable earned him the Richard Rodgers Award from the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters
Personal Life and Death Williams was married to Martha Elizabeth Lyne until her death in 1993. He died in New York City on January 28, 1994, at age 49, from cardiac arrest due to complications of diabetes. He was survived by his son, Eden Payne Williams, and many notable friends including actress Angela Lansbury and composer William Finn. Composer William Finn later wrote a biographical song about him titled "The Ballad of Jack Eric Williams (and other 3-named composers)" for his 2003 song cycle Elegies, suggesting that Williams, despondent over his wife's recent death, may have deliberately chosen to die by skipping his required insulin shots.
Legacy Williams' musical compositions and lyrics are now owned by Inflagrante Music Productions, administered by Eve Martineza. His performances as Beadle Bamford in Sweeney Todd remain preserved on the original Broadway cast recording.
