Kim Milford
Encyclopedia
Richard Kim Milford was an American actor
, singer-songwriter
, and composer
. He is best known for his acting in musicals such as The Rocky Horror Show and Jesus Christ Superstar
. Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey
, Milford grew up in Winnetka, Illinois
where he attended New Trier High School
. His sister is actress Penelope Milford
and brother Doug is the co-owner of Artsystems.
at age 10. Age 17 he was in the original stage version of Hair
on Broadway
, playing Woof and Claude. In 1976 he was awarded the Faith and Freedom Award by the Religious Heritage of America
for his portrayal of the Prodigal Son in ABC
Directories series Round Trip. Milford later performed in the first concert tour of Jesus Christ Superstar
playing Jesus
and Judas
. He also appeared in the original American production of The Rocky Horror Show as Rocky with the Los Angeles
Roxy Cast and in the Broadway
production. He reprised his role in the 1980 North American Tour production. He also appeared in the plays Henry Sweet Henry (1967), Your Own Thing, Rockabye Hamlet
(1975–76, Laertes), More Than You Deserve
, Sunset, and All Bets Off.
In addition to stage work, Milford appeared in the 1975 television movies Song of the Succubus (with Brooke Adams) and Rock-a-Die-Baby also known as Night of the Full Moon, in which he performed music with his band Moon. During the 1970s and 1980s he had guest roles on Mannix
and The Highwayman
, and starred in the 1978 feature films Laserblast
and Corvette Summer
.
Milford briefly became vocalist for Beck, Bogert & Appice
for six performances between July 24 to August 7, 1972. He was also the front man for his own band "Moon" who were co-writers on songs such as, "Lovin' Lady", "Jo Anna" and "She's Puttin' Me Through Changes". According to an interview in Viva
, Milford recorded an album Chain Your Lovers to the Bedposts and a single, "Help is on the Way, Rozea". He recorded the single "Muddy River Water" for (Decca Records
), the Sunset soundtrack and appeared on the Roxy Cast album of Rocky Horror Show.
Milford composed the music for Salome, based on the Oscar Wilde play
and also starred in it as Mark Taper Forum
, in Los Angeles
in 1979. He wrote and performed "My Love is a Rebel" on the soundtrack of Limbo, starring Barry Bostwick
. His song "Justice" appeared on the Ciao! Manhattan
soundtrack.
On June 16, 1988, Milford died of heart failure following open heart surgery
several weeks earlier. He was 37 years old.
Rocky Horror Show
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
, singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriter
Singer-songwriters are musicians who write, compose and sing their own musical material including lyrics and melodies. As opposed to contemporary popular music singers who write their own songs, the term singer-songwriter describes a distinct form of artistry, closely associated with the...
, and composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
. He is best known for his acting in musicals such as The Rocky Horror Show and Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
. Born in Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Glen Ridge, New Jersey
Glen Ridge is a borough in Essex County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 7,527. In 2010, Glen Ridge was ranked as the 38th Best Place to live by New Jersey Monthly magazine....
, Milford grew up in Winnetka, Illinois
Winnetka, Illinois
Winnetka is an affluent North Shore village located approximately north of downtown Chicago in Cook County, Illinois. Winnetka was featured on the list of America's 25 top-earning towns and "one of the best places to live" by CNN Money in 2011...
where he attended New Trier High School
New Trier High School
New Trier High School is a public four-year high school , with its major campus located in Winnetka, Illinois, USA, and a second campus in Northfield, Illinois, with freshman classes and district administration...
. His sister is actress Penelope Milford
Penelope Milford
Penelope Milford is an American film, stage, and television actress.An alumnus of the Chicago/New York theatrical scene , American actress Penelope Milford struck paydirt with her first film Coming Home...
and brother Doug is the co-owner of Artsystems.
Career
Milford first appeared at the stock theatre in ChicagoChicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
at age 10. Age 17 he was in the original stage version of Hair
Hair (musical)
Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement...
on Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
, playing Woof and Claude. In 1976 he was awarded the Faith and Freedom Award by the Religious Heritage of America
Religious Heritage of America
The Religious Heritage of America Foundation was founded by W. Clement Stone as a national interfaith organization in the U.S. It was instrumental in getting the phrase, "one nation, under God", added to the US Pledge of Allegiance....
for his portrayal of the Prodigal Son in ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
Directories series Round Trip. Milford later performed in the first concert tour of Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar
Jesus Christ Superstar is a rock opera by Andrew Lloyd Webber, with lyrics by Tim Rice. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971...
playing Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and Judas
Judas Iscariot
Judas Iscariot was, according to the New Testament, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus. He is best known for his betrayal of Jesus to the hands of the chief priests for 30 pieces of silver.-Etymology:...
. He also appeared in the original American production of The Rocky Horror Show as Rocky with the Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
Roxy Cast and in the Broadway
Broadway theatre
Broadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production. He reprised his role in the 1980 North American Tour production. He also appeared in the plays Henry Sweet Henry (1967), Your Own Thing, Rockabye Hamlet
Rockabye Hamlet
Rockabye Hamlet is a rock musical with a book, lyrics, and music by Cliff Jones. It is based on the classic tragedy by William Shakespeare and tells the story of a Danish prince who plots revenge on his uncle for killing his father.- Production history :...
(1975–76, Laertes), More Than You Deserve
More Than You Deserve
More Than You Deserve is a musical written by Jim Steinman and Michael Weller, produced by Joseph Papp and directed by Kim Friedman. It opened at The Public Theater on November 21, 1973, ran for 63 performances and closed on January 13, 1974...
, Sunset, and All Bets Off.
In addition to stage work, Milford appeared in the 1975 television movies Song of the Succubus (with Brooke Adams) and Rock-a-Die-Baby also known as Night of the Full Moon, in which he performed music with his band Moon. During the 1970s and 1980s he had guest roles on Mannix
Mannix
Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors...
and The Highwayman
The Highwayman (TV series)
The Highwayman is an action-adventure themed television series starring Sam J. Jones, set in "the near future." It was created by Glen A. Larson and Douglas Heyes. The pilot aired in September 1987, and was followed by a short-lived series of nine episodes, with significant changes to the cast and...
, and starred in the 1978 feature films Laserblast
Laserblast
Laserblast is a 1978 American science fiction film about an unhappy teenage loner who discovers an alien laser cannon and goes on a murderous rampage, seeking revenge against those who he feels have wronged him. The low-budget film was directed by Michael Rae and produced by Charles Band, who is...
and Corvette Summer
Corvette Summer
Corvette Summer is an American film, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1978 starring Mark Hamill and Annie Potts. It tells the story of a lonely, car-obsessed California teenager and the theft of his beloved customized Corvette Stingray.-Plot summary:...
.
Milford briefly became vocalist for Beck, Bogert & Appice
Beck, Bogert & Appice
Beck, Bogert & Appice was a hard rock supergroup and power trio formed by guitarist Jeff Beck and evolving from The Jeff Beck Group. the line up included bassist Tim Bogert and drummer Carmine Appice who were both previously in Vanilla Fudge and Cactus....
for six performances between July 24 to August 7, 1972. He was also the front man for his own band "Moon" who were co-writers on songs such as, "Lovin' Lady", "Jo Anna" and "She's Puttin' Me Through Changes". According to an interview in Viva
Viva (magazine)
Viva was an adult woman's magazine that premiered in 1973 and ceased publication in 1980. Its full title was Viva, The International Magazine For Women, and it was published by Bob Guccione and his wife, Kathy Keeton. Guccione was the editor of Penthouse, an adult men's magazine, and he wanted to...
, Milford recorded an album Chain Your Lovers to the Bedposts and a single, "Help is on the Way, Rozea". He recorded the single "Muddy River Water" for (Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
), the Sunset soundtrack and appeared on the Roxy Cast album of Rocky Horror Show.
Milford composed the music for Salome, based on the Oscar Wilde play
Salome (play)
Salome is a tragedy by Oscar Wilde.The original 1891 version of the play was in French. Three years later an English translation was published...
and also starred in it as Mark Taper Forum
Mark Taper Forum
The Mark Taper Forum is a 739 seat thrust stage at the Los Angeles Music Center built by Welton Becket and Associates on the Bunker Hill section of downtown Los Angeles...
, in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
in 1979. He wrote and performed "My Love is a Rebel" on the soundtrack of Limbo, starring Barry Bostwick
Barry Bostwick
Barry Knapp Bostwick is an American actor and singer. He is known for playing Brad Majors in the 1975 cult classic The Rocky Horror Picture Show, replacing Peter Scolari as Mr. Tyler in the sitcom What I Like About You, and playing mayor Randall Winston in the sitcom Spin City...
. His song "Justice" appeared on the Ciao! Manhattan
Ciao! Manhattan
Ciao! Manhattan is a 1972 American avant garde film starring Edie Sedgwick, one of Andy Warhol's Superstars. Although not a documentary, the film centers around a character very closely based on Sedgwick, and deals with the pain of addiction and the lure of fame.-Film overview:Written and directed...
soundtrack.
On June 16, 1988, Milford died of heart failure following open heart surgery
Open Heart Surgery
Open Heart Surgery was released on August 8, 2000 by rock band Virginwool. The band signed to Breaking/Atlantic Records after initially beginning signed to Universal Records. The album was produced and mixed by Brad Wood....
several weeks earlier. He was 37 years old.
Albums
- Chain Your Lovers to the Bedposts
Rocky Horror Show
- Rocky Horror Show Original Los Angeles Cast (1974)
- Rocky Horror Picture Show 15th Anniversary (1990)
- Rocky Horror Collection Original Soundtrack (1997)
- Rocky Horror Collection Original Soundtrack (2005)
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1978 | Laserblast Laserblast Laserblast is a 1978 American science fiction film about an unhappy teenage loner who discovers an alien laser cannon and goes on a murderous rampage, seeking revenge against those who he feels have wronged him. The low-budget film was directed by Michael Rae and produced by Charles Band, who is... |
Billy Duncan | |
| Corvette Summer Corvette Summer Corvette Summer is an American film, released by Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer in 1978 starring Mark Hamill and Annie Potts. It tells the story of a lonely, car-obsessed California teenager and the theft of his beloved customized Corvette Stingray.-Plot summary:... |
Wayne Lowry | Alternative title: The Hot One | |
| Bloodbrothers | Butler | Alternative title: A Father's Love | |
| 1986 | Wired to Kill | Rooster | Alternative title: Booby Trap |
| 1988 | Nightmare at Noon | Albino's Henchman | Alternative title: Death Street USA |
| 1990 | Escape | Zoka | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1971 | The Mod Squad The Mod Squad The Mod Squad is a television series that ran on ABC from September 24, 1968, until August 23, 1973. This series starred Michael Cole, Peggy Lipton, Clarence Williams III, and Tige Andrews... |
1 episode | |
| 1974 | Mannix Mannix Mannix is an American television detective series that ran from 1967 through 1975 on CBS. Created by Richard Levinson and William Link and developed by executive producer Bruce Geller, the title character, Joe Mannix, is a private investigator. He is played by Mike Connors... |
Singer | 1 episode |
| 1975 | Rock-A-Die, Baby | Television movie | |
| Song of the Succubus | Television movie | ||
| Sunshine | Eric | 1 episode | |
| 1986 | Crime Story Crime Story (TV series) Crime Story is an NBC TV drama created by Gustave Reininger and Chuck Adamson. The executive producer was Michael Mann, who had left Miami Vice to oversee Crime Story and direct the film Manhunter. The show premiered with a two hour pilot — a movie which had been exhibited theatrically —... |
Babe Petro | 2 episodes |
| 1988 | The Highwayman The Highwayman (TV series) The Highwayman is an action-adventure themed television series starring Sam J. Jones, set in "the near future." It was created by Glen A. Larson and Douglas Heyes. The pilot aired in September 1987, and was followed by a short-lived series of nine episodes, with significant changes to the cast and... |
Cotten | 1 episode |