What roles has John Cecil Holm played?

John Cecil Holm has played roles as Director, Performer, Writer, Source Material, Assistant.

Can I see John Cecil Holm at Sing with the Stars?

Sing with the Stars hosts invite only karaoke nights with real Broadway performers in NYC. Request an invite and let us know you'd love to sing with John Cecil Holm. The more people who request someone, the more likely we are to make it happen. Visit singwiththestars.com/invite.

John Cecil Holm

Best Foot Forward Brighten the Corner Gramercy Ghost The Southwest Corner Three Men on a Horse

DirectorPerformerWriterSource MaterialAssistant

John Cecil Holm is a Broadway performer known for Best Foot Forward, Brighten the Corner, Gramercy Ghost, The Southwest Corner, and Three Men on a Horse. Explore their Broadway credits, shows, and songs below.

Part of our Broadway Credits Database, a resource for musical theater fans.

About

John Cecil Holm was an American actor, dramatist, and theatre director born on November 4, 1904, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died on October 24, 1981, in Westerly, Rhode Island, at the age of 76. His Broadway career spanned from 1929 to 1968, encompassing work both as a performer and as a book writer for the stage.

Holm received his education at West Philadelphia High School and Perkiomen School before graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, where he participated in productions through the Mask and Wig organization. He spent three years working in stock theater prior to relocating to New York to pursue a career as an actor. As a performer, he was frequently billed as Cecil Holm, reserving his full name, John Cecil Holm, for his writing credits.

His most celebrated work as a writer is the 1935 play Three Men on a Horse, which he co-wrote with George Abbott. The production became one of his defining contributions to the American theater and remains the work for which he is best known. He also wrote the book for the musical Best Foot Forward, as well as the plays Gramercy Ghost and The Southwest Corner, among other Broadway productions. His writing credits also include Brighten the Corner.

As an actor on Broadway, Holm appeared in a range of productions across several decades. He played James Knox in Bloodstream in 1932 and Gordon Whitehouse in Dangerous Corner that same year. In 1933 he portrayed Jamie, a guard, in Mary of Scotland. Later in his career he took on the role of Chester Kincaid in Mr. President in 1962 and Mr. Latham in Forty Carats in 1969.

Personal Details

Born: November 4, 1904
Hometown: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
Died: October 24, 1981

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is John Cecil Holm?: John Cecil Holm is a Broadway performer known for Best Foot Forward, Brighten the Corner, Gramercy Ghost, The Southwest Corner, and Three Men on a Horse. John Cecil Holm was an American actor, dramatist, and theatre director born on November 4, 1904, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He died on October 24, 1981, in Westerly, Rhode Island, at the age of 76. His Broadway career spanned from 1929 to 1968, encompassing work both as a performer and as a book ...
What shows has John Cecil Holm appeared in?: John Cecil Holm has appeared in Best Foot Forward, Brighten the Corner, Gramercy Ghost, The Southwest Corner, and Three Men on a Horse.
What roles has John Cecil Holm played?: John Cecil Holm has played roles as Director, Performer, Writer, Source Material, Assistant.
Can I see John Cecil Holm at Sing with the Stars?: Sing with the Stars hosts invite only karaoke nights with real Broadway performers in NYC. Request an invite and let us know you'd love to sing with John Cecil Holm. The more people who request someone, the more likely we are to make it happen.