Andy Halliday: Beloved Stage Actor and Playwright

Andy Halliday, an actor and playwright celebrated for his comedic talent and distinctive stage presence, passed away on May 5 in Palm Springs, California. He was 73 years old. His sister, Susan Cohen, confirmed that complications from Parkinson’s disease led to his death. Halliday, a cherished member of Charles Busch’s Theater in Limbo repertory company, was renowned for his role in the Off-Broadway hit, “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom”.

Paul Rudnick, a well-known playwright, novelist, and screenwriter, described Halliday as an irresistibly funny actor. He compared Halliday’s talent to iconic comedians like Carol Burnett and Imogene Coca. Despite his reputation, Halliday never planned to pursue comedy; his initial ambition was to become a dancer.

Halliday and Busch first met as teenagers at a theater camp in New Hampshire. They were both cast as dancing newsboys in the musical “Gypsy”. While Busch struggled with dance, Halliday helped him practice tirelessly, forming a lasting friendship between them.

In 1984, Busch unexpectedly secured a two-night booking at the Limbo Lounge in Manhattan’s Alphabet City. Although the production was initially nonexistent, it eventually produced the cult classic “Vampire Lesbians of Sodom”.