Paul Kreppel
Encyclopedia
Paul Kreppel is an actor, producer, director. On television, he was best known as the pianist, Sonny Mann in the show, It's a Living. In his work as theater director- producer-creator, he received the 2007 Tony Award
for Jay Johnson: The Two and Only.
to Adele and Irv Kreppel. He then moved to Boston
to attend Emerson College
and graduated with honors. Kreppel received an Alumni Achievement Award in '93 and is a member of the Class of 1969. From there, he had started his acting career by starring in the improvisational theater group, "The Proposition." When the group, which included Jane Curtin, Josh Mostel, Judith Kahan
and Munson Hicks, moved to New York, Kreppel began starring in off-Broadway plays, including "Godspell" and "Tuscaloosa's Calling Me...". While appearing at the New York Shakespeare Festival, he notably starred with Meryl Streep
in the musical, "Alice in Concert", by Elizabeth Swados. Others are Agamemnon
(as part of choir) and Comedy of Errors
in the late 1970s.
to become the memorable waitress-harassing pianist, Sonny Mann, of It's a Living, and starred in all 120 episodes; he has also directed some episodes. He has been known to be spunky and jovial while acting on the show. (Kreppel, along with Gail Edwards, Barrie Youngfellow and the late Marian Mercer, were the only four who lasted through the show's network and syndicated runs.) While doing his television career there, he frequently returns to New York to do theater acts. He was a semi-regular celebrity guest on the 1980s versions of the game show, Pyramid
, and on the short-lived game show, Blackout
.
During the 1990s, he returned to theatre and starred in the musical revue of the Allan Sherman songs from, "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh
!" In addition, he starred in Jerome Robbins' Broadway
on its national tour. In the movie sector, he was the voice of Apollo Blue in Jetsons: The Movie
. Up until recently, Kreppel has guest starred and directed in many other television shows, including appearing as Jackie's dad in That '70s Show
.
He recently appeared off Broadway for more than a year in the one-man-show "My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy."
He has served on the Council of Actor's Equity Association and as a board member of the Screen Actors Guild
and is active in art's education as a professional arts educator and as a member of the board of directors of Enrichment Works, a not-for-profit that provides curriculum based theatre for schools in Southern California.
Tony Award
The Antoinette Perry Award for Excellence in Theatre, more commonly known as a Tony Award, recognizes achievement in live Broadway theatre. The awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League at an annual ceremony in New York City. The awards are given for Broadway...
for Jay Johnson: The Two and Only.
Early Theater Career
Kreppel was born in Kingston, New YorkKingston, New York
Kingston is a city in and the county seat of Ulster County, New York, USA. It is north of New York City and south of Albany. It became New York's first capital in 1777, and was burned by the British Oct. 16, 1777, after the Battles of Saratoga...
to Adele and Irv Kreppel. He then moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
to attend Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
and graduated with honors. Kreppel received an Alumni Achievement Award in '93 and is a member of the Class of 1969. From there, he had started his acting career by starring in the improvisational theater group, "The Proposition." When the group, which included Jane Curtin, Josh Mostel, Judith Kahan
Judith Kahan
Judith Kahan , is a longtime American actress and television writer. Although she has been mostly seen on film and television, she has done a number of theatre shows, including a co-starring role as Fredrika Armfeldt on the original Broadway show of A Little Night Music from 1973-1974.-Actress:*...
and Munson Hicks, moved to New York, Kreppel began starring in off-Broadway plays, including "Godspell" and "Tuscaloosa's Calling Me...". While appearing at the New York Shakespeare Festival, he notably starred with Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
Mary Louise "Meryl" Streep is an American actress who has worked in theatre, television and film.Streep made her professional stage debut in 1971's The Playboy of Seville, before her screen debut in the television movie The Deadliest Season in 1977. In that same year, she made her film debut with...
in the musical, "Alice in Concert", by Elizabeth Swados. Others are Agamemnon
Agamemnon
In Greek mythology, Agamemnon was the son of King Atreus and Queen Aerope of Mycenae, the brother of Menelaus, the husband of Clytemnestra, and the father of Electra and Orestes. Mythical legends make him the king of Mycenae or Argos, thought to be different names for the same area...
(as part of choir) and Comedy of Errors
Comedy Of Errors
Comedy Of Errors was a Glasgow-based progressive rock band formed in January 1984. Their first recording was a demo called "Ever be the Prize", and was recorded at a studio in Blanefield in 1985, and followed by a mini album in 1986....
in the late 1970s.
Television and Other Work
In 1979, Kreppel moved to Los AngelesLos Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
to become the memorable waitress-harassing pianist, Sonny Mann, of It's a Living, and starred in all 120 episodes; he has also directed some episodes. He has been known to be spunky and jovial while acting on the show. (Kreppel, along with Gail Edwards, Barrie Youngfellow and the late Marian Mercer, were the only four who lasted through the show's network and syndicated runs.) While doing his television career there, he frequently returns to New York to do theater acts. He was a semi-regular celebrity guest on the 1980s versions of the game show, Pyramid
Pyramid (game show)
Pyramid is an American television game show which has aired several versions. The original series, The $10,000 Pyramid, debuted March 26, 1973 and spawned seven subsequent Pyramid series...
, and on the short-lived game show, Blackout
Blackout (game show)
Blackout is an American game show that aired on CBS from January 4 to April 1, 1988. The pilot was hosted by former Entertainment Tonight anchor Robb Weller, but he was replaced for the series by Bob Goen...
.
During the 1990s, he returned to theatre and starred in the musical revue of the Allan Sherman songs from, "Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh
Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh
"Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh " is a Grammy Award-winning novelty song by Allan Sherman, based on letters of complaint he received from his son Robert while Robert attended Camp Champlain in Westport, New York. The song is a parody that complains about the fictional "Camp Granada" and is set to the...
!" In addition, he starred in Jerome Robbins' Broadway
Jerome Robbins' Broadway
Jerome Robbins' Broadway is an anthology comprising musical numbers from earlier shows that were either directed or choreographed by Jerome Robbins. Robbins won his fifth Tony Award for direction of the show....
on its national tour. In the movie sector, he was the voice of Apollo Blue in Jetsons: The Movie
Jetsons: The Movie
Jetsons: The Movie is a 1990 animated science fiction film produced by Hanna-Barbera and released on July 6, 1990, by Universal Pictures based on the hit cartoon series, The Jetsons . The movie features the final voice roles of George O'Hanlon and Mel Blanc who both died during production of the film...
. Up until recently, Kreppel has guest starred and directed in many other television shows, including appearing as Jackie's dad in That '70s Show
That '70s Show
That '70s Show is an American television period sitcom that centers on the lives of a group of teenage friends living in the fictional suburban town of Point Place, Wisconsin, from May 17, 1976, to December 31, 1979...
.
He recently appeared off Broadway for more than a year in the one-man-show "My Mother's Italian, My Father's Jewish and I'm in Therapy."
He has served on the Council of Actor's Equity Association and as a board member of the Screen Actors Guild
Screen Actors Guild
The Screen Actors Guild is an American labor union representing over 200,000 film and television principal performers and background performers worldwide...
and is active in art's education as a professional arts educator and as a member of the board of directors of Enrichment Works, a not-for-profit that provides curriculum based theatre for schools in Southern California.