RIP Roy Somlyo

The Drama Desk expresses great sadness at today’s passing of legendary theatrical and television producer Roy Somlyo following a long illness.

William Wolf, President of the Drama Desk, issued the following statement:

“The Drama Desk mourns the loss of Roy Somlyo, Consulting Producer for the annual Drama Desk Awards ceremony. In addition to being a good friend and a very special person, Roy was of enormous assistance in recent years in helping obtain sponsorship for our annual awards shows and in arranging and editing television productions. His death today is a profound loss both personally and professionally. We salute Roy for his long involvement in the theater and we extend our deepest sympathy to his family.”

Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the annual Drama Desk Awards shows since 1999, speaking for Drama Desk Awards producer Lauren Class Schneider, director Jeff Kalpak and Associate Producer Les Schecter, said the following about the loss of their friend and associate:

“All of us who have known and worked closely with Roy Somlyo will miss him terribly. In addition to being a giant in the entertainment industry, Roy was a close friend whose guidance and advice helped raise the annual Drama Desk Awards presentations to new levels and greater exposure since joining the production team in 2004. We will all miss his sense of humor, his vast amount of knowledge and his sound advice based on his decades of experience as a theatrical, film and television producer. Our love, affection and sympathy go out to his family in this time of sadness.”

(Somlyo was a seven-time Emmy nominee and a four-time winner, for three Tony Awards telecasts (1980, 1998 and 1999) and 1982's Night of 100 Stars show--RC)