Biff Liff
Samuel "Biff" Liff (April 14, 1919 – August 10, 2015) was an American Broadway manager and producer.
Biff Liff | |
|---|---|
| Born | Samuel Liff April 14, 1919 Boston, Massachusetts, U.S. |
| Died | August 10, 2015 (aged 96) |
| Alma mater | Carnegie Mellon University |
| Occupation | Producer, manager |
| Spouse(s) | Lisette Liff |
| Parent(s) | Morris Liff Rose Liff |
| Relatives | Vincent Liff (nephew) |
Early life
Samuel Liff was born on April 14, 1919, in Boston, Massachusetts.[1][2] His father, Morris Liff, was a restaurateur.[1] His mother was Rose Liff.[1] He was nicknamed 'Biff' as a child, and kept the nickname throughout his life.[1][2]
Liff graduated from Carnegie Mellon University with a bachelor's degree in Theater in 1939.[1][2] During World War II, he served as a captain in the United States Army in Chicago.[1]
Career
Liff started his career on Broadway as a stage manager, working on Along Fifth Avenue from January to June 1949.[1][2] That same year, he was also the stage manager of Admiral Broadway Revue, which was broadcast on television, starring Sid Caesar and Imogene Coca.[1] He then became the stage manager of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes and Hello, Dolly!, both starring Carol Channing[1] By 1954, he was production stage manager on By the Beautiful Sea.[1] In 1956, he was the production stage manager of My Fair Lady starring Julie Andrews on Broadway.[1]
In the 1960s, he was an associate producer to impresario David Merrick on Promises, Promises, Cactus Flower, The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Dead, Marat/Sade, and Oliver!.[1][2] Additionally, he was an associate producer to Merrick on Woody Allen's Don't Drink the Water in 1966 and Play It Again, Sam in 1969.[1] In 1973, he produced Tricks.[1]
Liff joined William Morris Agency as the head of its theater department in 1973.[1][2] He became the manager of Julie Andrews, Jane Alexander, Angela Lansbury, Agnes de Mille, Chita Rivera, Ellen Burstyn and Jerry Herman.[1] He was the representative of Eugene O’Neill's estate, and encouraged the 1999 Broadway adaptation of The Iceman Cometh starring Kevin Spacey.[2]
Liff served on the nominating committee of the Tony Awards.[1] He was the recipient of the 2006 Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre.[1]
Personal life
Biff was married to Arlene Liff. Arlene died of cancer in 1986. Later he married Lisette Liff.[1] They resided in Yorktown Heights, New York.[1]
Death
He died on August 10, 2015 in Yorktown Heights, New York.[2] On August 14, 2015, the lights were dimmed over Broadway in his honor.[2] The president of The Broadway League, Charlotte St. Martin, said he had influenced "legendary productions and a galaxy of talented artists".[3]
References
- James Barron, Biff Liff, Broadway Manager and Powerhouse Agent, Dies at 96, The New York Times, August 13, 2015
- Gordon Cox, Broadway Dims Lights Tonight for Agent Biff Liff, Variety, August 14, 2015
- Jeremy Gerard, Broadway Will Go Dark In Memory Of Agent & Producer Samuel “Biff” Liff, Deadline Hollywood, August 13, 2015