Robert Preston Meservey was born on June 8, 1918, in Newton, Massachusetts, to a garment worker and a record store clerk. He attended Abraham Lincoln High School, where he developed his musical skills and played multiple instruments, but dropped out at the age of 16 to pursue acting at the Pasadena Community Playhouse.
Preston made his Broadway debut in 1940 with the play The Philadelphia Story, and went on to star in numerous successful Broadway musicals, including The Pajama Game in 1954, Damn Yankees in 1955, and I Do! I Do! in 1966.
In addition to his stage work, Preston appeared in several films, including The Music Man in 1962, The Dark at the Top of the Stairs in 1960, and Victor/Victoria in 1982. He was a versatile actor known for his charisma, singing voice, and comic timing, earning him a two-time Tony Award winner and an Academy Award nomination.
Preston was also a member of the American Theatre Hall of Fame, and his legacy continues to be celebrated through his iconic role as Professor Harold Hill in The Music Man. He died on March 21, 1987, at the age of 68, due to cancer, leaving behind his wife Catherine Craig, with whom he had no children.
In 2022, a biography titled @Robert Preston - Forever The Music Man” was published, providing a comprehensive look at the actor's life and career.
