Paul Lipson, who played Tevye in "Fiddler on the Roof" for more performances than any other actor, died earlier this month at New York University Hospital. He was 82 and lived in New York City.
For the original 1964 Broadway production of the musical, starring Zero Mostel as Tevye, Lipson was the understudy for Mostel and played Avram, the bookseller. When Mostel became ill during a matinee performance in Washington on the show's pre-Broadway tour, Lipson filled in for him, as he would on other occasions.In New York in 1970 he took over the role of Tevye (replacing Harry Goz). He was succeeded in the role by Jan Peerce but returned to it in 1972.
Reappraising the show in the New York Times, Clive Barnes said: "It has often been rumored that Mr. Lipson was one of the very finest Tevyes, and the rumors now proved abundantly true."
At various times he also took over for Luther Adler, Herschel Bernardi and Theodore Bikel.
Lipson was appearing as Tevye when "Fiddler" gave its 3,225th performance on Broadway in 1972 and became Broadway's longest-running show of its time. Counting revivals, by 1980 he had played Tevye more than 2,000 times.
Lipson made his Broadway debut in 1942 in Ben Hecht's "Lily of the Valley." After serving in the Army Air Corps in World War II, he toured with Zazu Pitts in "Dangerous Woman" and Diana Barrymore in "Joan of Lorraine."
He was on Broadway in "Detective Story," "Remains to Be Seen," "Carnival in Flanders," "I've Got Sixpence," "The Vamp," and "Bells Are Ringing" (the first time he worked with Jerome Robbins, who later directed "Fiddler").
He is survived by two sisters, Sylvia Allen, of New York City, and Charlotte Paskin, of Port Jefferson.