Todd Haimes, who saved New York’s Roundabout Theater Company from bankruptcy and turned it into one of America’s largest non-profit theaters, has passed away at the age of 66.
Roundabout’s artistic director and CEO passed away Wednesday at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York from complications from osteosarcoma, a bone cancer.
His passing was announced by Roundabout spokesman Matt Polk. Haimes had been battling the cancer since 2002, when she was first diagnosed with jaw sarcoma.
He is survived by wife Jeanne-Marie Haimes, daughter Hilary, son Andrew, as well as four grandchildren and stepdaughters Julia and Kiki Baron.
Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon, 57, took to Instagram with a touching message after learning of his passing, sharing a photo of the two and writing: “So deeply saddened to hear of the passing of the incredible Todd Haimes. ‘
Sad news: Todd Haimes, who saved New York’s Roundabout Theater Company from bankruptcy and turned it into one of America’s largest non-profit theaters, has passed away at age 66; seen in 2007
Gone too soon: Roundabout’s artistic director and CEO passed away Wednesday at New York’s Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital from complications from osteosarcoma, a bone cancer; seen with Dame Helen Mirren in 2015
“Todd was the inspired and inspiring leader of the Roundabout Theater, which he directed for 40 years, transforming it from a struggling off-Broadway troupe into a major NYC theater institution and home to so many of us theater people,”
“He produced two plays that I really enjoyed working on for him – The Women and Distracted – so I got to see his magic up close.”
“Todd combined the world’s sweetest attitude with a great sense of what to produce and when and how to produce it. He was gentle but direct. He remembered everyone and treated us all onstage, backstage and in the offices of the Roundabout with such warmth and respect.”
“I’m in awe, Todd, when I think of everything you’ve built that will last, but I’m stunned to imagine Broadway (and off-Broadway) without you here as part of it. We’ll miss you, RIP Todd.”
New York City native Haimes graduated from the University of Pennsylvania and the Yale University School of Management.
Haimes started at Roundabout as the company’s general manager in 1983, when he was only 26.
At the time, the company was in debt and Haimes even used his own credit card to keep it going. However a few weeks after he took office, the board of directors voted to close the space.
But thanks to the generosity of a board member who donated money to keep the company afloat for a while, Haimes was able to turn things around.
Tribute: Cynthia Nixon, 57, took to Instagram with a touching message after learning of his passing, sharing a photo of the two and writing: ‘So deeply saddened’
Cancer battle: Haimes has been battling cancer since 2002, when she was first diagnosed with jaw sarcoma; seen with Matthew Broderick in 2017
Illustrious career: Under his leadership, the Roundabout won 34 Tony Awards, 58 Drama Desk Awards, 21 Lucille Lortel Awards, 73 Outer Critics Circle Awards, and 14 Obie Awards; seen with Alan Cumming and Neil Patrick Harris in 2020
A theater legend: He had a four-decade tenure and helped transform the nonprofit into a major player on Broadway, where it now has three of its 41 theaters; seen with Maggie Gyllenhaal and brother Jake Gyllenhaal in 2021
Always remembered: He is survived by wife Jeanne-Marie Haimes (pictured in 2019), daughter Hilary, son Andrew, as well as four grandchildren and stepdaughters Julia and Kiki Baron
He worked on improving marketing, shrinking space, reducing staff and attracting more audience through various strategies.
Under his leadership, the Roundabout won 34 Tony Awards, 58 Drama Desk Awards, 21 Lucille Lortel Awards, 73 Outer Critics Circle Awards, and 14 Obie Awards.
He had a long and successful tenure spanning four decades, helping to transform the nonprofit into a major player on Broadway, where the company now has three of its 41 theaters.
Under his leadership, the company has been responsible for many famous productions, including the 1998 revival of Cabaret – starring Alan Cumming and the late Natasha Richardson – and the 2020 revival of A Soldier’s Play, both of which won Tony Awards.
Other productions included The Man Who Came To Dinner (2000), Big River (2004), The Pajama Game (2006) and a Long Day’s Journey Into Night (2016).
Some of the more recent Broadway productions included the 1776 revivals, as well as Caroline, Or Change, Birthday Candles, The Minutes, and Trouble in Mind.
The company has three Broadway locations – the American Airlines Theater, the Stephen Sondheim Theater and Studio 54 – as well as two Off Broadway locations at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theater.
And in 2016, he became the first host to livestream a performance of a Broadway show – a revival of She Loves Me.
Under Haimes Roundabout also launched community initiatives, including Education at Roundabout, which helps disadvantaged youth find theater careers.
Famous: Under his leadership, the company has been responsible for many famous productions, including the 2020 revival of A Soldier’s Play, which won a Tony Award; Blair Underwood, David Alan Grier and Jerry O’Connell on stage at A Soldier’s Play opening night
What He Built: Other productions included The Man Who Came To Dinner (2000), Big River (2004), The Pajama Game (2006), and a Long Day’s Journey Into Night (2016); Marin Ireland, Sienna Miller and Jonny Lee Miller featured in After Miss Julie (2009)