Levant, Oscar, 1906-1972

Oscar Levant (December 27, 1906 – August 14, 1972) was an American concert pianist, composer, conductor and actor born in Pittsburgh, U.S., from Russian-emigrant parents. Levant studied under Zygmunt Stojowski and Arnold Schoenberg, and has 33 albums as a pianist, having recorded works of numerous classical composers. For a period of time during the 1940s, he was the highest paid concert pianist in the United States. Levant composed for over 75 Hollywood movies and Broadway plays. He acted in supporting roles in musicals starring Fred Astaire and Gene Kelly, and also in several movies, including The Barkleys of Broadway (1949), An American in Paris (1951), The Band Wagon (1953) and his friend George Gershwin's biopic Rhapsody in Blue (1945; where he played himself). He was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960 for recordings featuring his piano performances. Levant's musical and comedic geniuses were well known to American audiences through his frequent appearances on radio and TV. From 1958 – 1960 he hosted his own talk show, the Oscar Levant Show. He was portrayed by Sean Hayes in the Broadway play Good Night, Oscar, written by Doug Wright. Levant is also notable for having talked openly (and with a wit characteristic of him) about his mental health issues. He was addicted to prescription drugs and had been committed to psychiatric hospitals.