19 Facts About Gerome Ragni

Gerome Ragni attended suburban Scott Township High School, where he appeared in various school productions.

Gerome Ragni attended Georgetown University and The Catholic University of America.

Gerome Ragni made his acting debut in Washington, DC in 1954, playing Father Corr in Shadow and Substance.

Gerome Ragni continued to act whenever he could find work.

In 1954, Gerome Ragni made his professional stage debut in a Washington DC production, Shadow and Substance.

Gerome Ragni then appeared as the Messenger in Richard Burton's Hamlet, the film version of the production, released by Warner Bros.

In 1965, Gerome Ragni performed in the role of Tom in The Knack, the play that opened at the New Theatre, and later appeared in the touring company along with Rado.

Rado and Gerome Ragni rented the Harper Theatre to put on the production.

Gerome Ragni had been involved with The Open Theater since it was begun as part of the Living Theatre in 1962.

Gerome Ragni took a leading role in the show, which opened at the Martinique Theatre in New York and had a successful run.

Gerome Ragni bought the rights from Papp for $50,000 and began planning a grander production directed by Tom O'Horgan, who Ragni knew from off-Broadway.

Rado and Gerome Ragni reprised their roles from the off-Broadway production, and MacDermot was the musical director.

Gerome Ragni became wealthy, his marriage broke up, and he became disengaged from mainstream society.

Gerome Ragni joined a cult and contributed money to the Black Panther Party and the Yippies.

Gerome Ragni had been working on a musical called Dude ever since Hair had opened.

Gerome Ragni had bulging notebooks filled with scribbles of dialogue and lyrics written in between meals at Max's Kansas City.

Gerome Ragni wrote the music to 50 of the songs in the show.

Gerome Ragni died of cancer in New York, aged 55, on July 10,1991.

Gerome Ragni is interred in the Holy Souls Cemetery, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.