Hiram Sherman

Hiram Sherman (February 11, 1908 – April 11, 1989) was an American actor and playwright born in Boston, Massachusetts, whose Broadway career spanned from 1936 to 1967. His father, Clifford Leon Sherman, worked in the art department of The Boston Globe.

Sherman's connection to Broadway began not as a performer but as a writer. His comedy Too Much Party, directed by William Friedlander, opened at the Theatre Masque on March 5, 1934, and ran for only eight performances before closing. The short-lived production marked his only attempt at playwriting. Two years later, Sherman returned to Broadway as an actor, making his performing debut in the Federal Theatre Project's Horse Eats Hat. In 1937, he took on the role of Junior Mister in the original production of The Cradle Will Rock.

Sherman went on to accumulate an extensive list of stage credits. He appeared in the inaugural Mercury Theatre productions of Caesar and The Shoemaker's Holiday, as well as Very Warm for May, Cyrano de Bergerac, The Alchemist, The Talley Method, Town House, Boyd's Daughter, which he also directed, Mary, Mary, and 3 for Tonight. He received two Tony Awards for Best Featured Actor in a Musical, winning in 1953 and again in 1968, for Two's Company and How Now, Dow Jones, respectively.

Sherman's stage work extended beyond the United States. He made his London debut in 1949 in Brigadoon and later appeared in the West End as Matthew Cuthbert in the British premiere of Anne of Green Gables.

In addition to his theatre career, Sherman worked extensively in television, portraying Simon Ward on The Tammy Grimes Show and appearing in early anthology series including Kraft Television Theatre, Studio One, The Alcoa Hour, and Hallmark Hall of Fame. His film career began with One Third of a Nation in 1939 and included The Solid Gold Cadillac, Mary, Mary, in which he reprised his stage role, and Oh Dad, Poor Dad, Mamma's Hung You in the Closet and I'm Feelin' So Sad.

Sherman died of a stroke in Springfield, Illinois on April 11, 1989, at the age of 81.