Reid Shelton; Played Daddy Warbucks on Stage

Reid Shelton, who originated the role of Daddy Warbucks in the Broadway production of “Annie,’ has died of a stroke at 72.

Shelton, who died at a hospital on Sunday, first played the tycoon when “Annie” premiered in 1976 at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Conn. In that production, the capitalist character had hair.

But Shelton shaved his head for the New York production in 1977, establishing a standard for actors who followed him in the role. The original cast also included Dorothy Loudon as the orphanage matron Miss Hannigan and Andrea McArdle in the title role.

“Annie,” based on the “Little Orphan Annie” comic strip, was one of the most successful productions in Broadway history, playing 2,377 performances.

Shelton was born in Salem, Ore., and was educated at Willamette University and the University of Michigan. He made his Broadway debut in 1952 in the Harold Rome musical “Wish You Were Here.”

He also appeared on Broadway in such shows as “Wonderful Town,” “By the Beautiful Sea,” “The Saint of Bleecker Street,” “My Fair Lady,” “Oh! What a Lovely War!,” “Canterbury Tales,” “The Rothschilds” and “1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.”

Shelton appeared in “My Fair Lady” for eight years, in New York and on tour, starting in the chorus and working his way up to the role of Freddy Eynsford-Hill, the young man in love with Eliza Doolittle.

One of his Southern California appearances was in a revival of “Major Barbara” at the South Coast Repertory Theater in 1983.

The actor had extensive TV credits, including six seasons as Coach Ernie Donardo on the HBO series “First and Ten.” Shelton also appeared on such network series as “Tales of the Gold Monkey,” “Remington Steele,” “Cheers,” “Knight Rider” and “Three’s Company” and in “The Annie Christmas Special.”

Shelton is survived by his companion, Donovan Baker.