John O’Hare, 82; Broadway Actor and Playwright

John O’Hare, actor and playwright, passed away at his home in Pacific Palisades on April 20. He was 82. Known for his comedic flair and good looks, O’Hare played leading roles both in summer stock and on Broadway before coming to Los Angeles to write. He was born on July 17, 1922 in La Junta, Colorado, and stayed in Colorado through high school, before departing for the drama department at the University of Washington. After he told his mother he wanted to be an actor, she blessed his decision and he soon migrated east to places like Erie, Pennsylvania and Wooster, Massachusetts, to do summer stock. He also performed at the Bucks County Playhouse, where he began his lifelong friendship with actress June Lockhart, with whom he toured in several shows. O’Hare’s acting career was interrupted for three years while he served in the Army Air Corps as a bombadier in the Pacific. In 1947, he met his future wife, actress Natalie Core, in summer stock in Wooster. The couple played opposite each other in several musicals and married on September 26, 1948. O’Hare continued acting, playing opposite the most glamorous actresses of the time, including Gloria Swanson in ‘Goose for the Gander,’ and Rosalind Russell, Beatrice Lillie and Greer Garson for 639 performances in ‘Auntie Mame’ on Broadway. After ‘Auntie Mame,’ O’Hare moved behind the scenes to concentrate on writing and produced his first play, ‘Pride and Joy,’ in 1954. In 1961, Natalie came to Los Angeles to play in the film version of ‘The Music Man,’ with Robert Preston. Once while John was visiting from New York, the couple decided to relocate to L.A., John saying that ‘he could just as well write here as there.’ The O’Hares lived in Santa Monica Canyon for two years before moving to their home on Rimmer in 1964. Dedicating himself to scriptwriting, O’Hare had a number of his plays produced both in the United States and Europe. His comedy ‘The Gentle Trap’ played London, then toured in both England and France. It has since been staged in Poland, Italy and Germany. Seven years ago, O’Hare had one leg amputated and the following year the other. But he went on with his life, enjoying his books and his Yorkies. His nurse, Mirna Guzman, who loved him like a father, relished their daily outings to the library, the park and to the ocean. O’Hare is survived by his wife, Natalie. In lieu of a memorial, there will be a private gathering of friends. Contributions may be made in his name to the Actors’ Fund of America, c/o Wallace Munro, 729 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10019; or by e-mail: munro@actorsfund.org