Created the roles of Curley in "Oklahoma!", Fred in "Kiss Me Kate" and
the Beggar Poet in "Kismet" in the original Broadway productions.
Won Broadway's 1954 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Kismet," as
well as a Special Tony Award in 1990 "for excellence in the Theatre."
Was also nominated two other times for Best Actor (Musical) Tony
Awards: in 1962 for "Kean" and in 1974 for "Gigi."
Brother of Metropolitan Opera baritone Arthur Kent.
He was first choice for the role of the King in the original 1951
Broadway production of "The King and I", but turned down the role
because of a full schedule. This was before Yul Brynner auditioned and
was immediately selected for the role.
His salary of $5000 per week for the 1954 Broadway production of "Kismet" made him the highest-paid leading man in Broadway history, until Jackie Gleason demanded (and was given) $5,050 per week in the 1959 production of "Take Me Along".
He had 2 daughters with his wife, Esther: Candace and Samantha.
He died of heart failure after a long fight with cancer.