Barry Dennen

Barry Dennen was an American actor and writer who was born in Chicago in 1938 and died in 2017. He spent 15 years in London, where in 1968 he played the master of ceremonies in the West End production of Cabaret. He played Pontius Pilate on the 1970 Jesus Christ Superstar album, then played the same role on Broadway in 1971 and in the 1973 film adaptation. In 1971 he appeared as Mendel in Norman Jewison's Fiddler on the Roof (1971). According to his website, he suggested that Jewison direct the Jesus Christ Superstar film. His other screen credits included The Shining (1980), The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977), Madhouse (1974), Brannigan (1975), and Twin Sitters (1994). He dubbed Frank Oz as the Skeksis Chamberlain in The Dark Crystal and voiced Tulku in The Shadow. He also wrote lyrics for the children's musical Wanna Play?! and wrote for television, including an episode of Amazing Stories.