Longtime West Hollywood resident John Angelo has died. A former dancer, choreographer and actor in MGM musicals who later worked as a set designer and costumer designer, Angelo was 98.
An active member of both the West Hollywood community and the LGBT community, Angelo is perhaps best remembered locally for his WeHo Public Access Channel talk show, The John Angelo Interviews. He produced over 500 episodes over a span of 20 years.
Angelo was also an acting teach for both children and adults for the City of West Hollywood. Likewise, he produced community theater projects for the City of West Hollywood, recruiting many of the actors from his acting classes.
For his 90th birthday on June 24, 2012. the city declared it John Angelo Day and presented him with an accommodation. The City Council members all posed for a picture with Angelo.
Born in New Jersey, Angelo started dancing as a teenager and performed on Broadway, including in the original production of Oklahoma. He later performed in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo.
In 1950, Angelo moved to West Hollywood after being recruited by MGM as a dancer and acting extra. Rent on his first apartment was $60 a month ($647 in 2020 dollars).
His film appearances included Singin’ in the Rain, West Side Story, An American in Paris and Guys and Dolls. He also appeared as a regular dancer in the late 1950s on TV’s The Frank Sinatra Show. Later, he became a choreographer for shows in Las Vegas.
After retiring from dancing, he worked as a set designer for television shows like Dallas, Knots Landing and Hart to Hart
His longtime friend Sue Sexton posted this tribute to Angelo on Facebook:
“It is with a heavy heart that I say farewell for now to long-time friend and West Hollywood legend, John Angelo. I met John in the 1990’s at West Hollywood Public Access and soon started directing the taping of his talk shows and his Christmas plays. Every year he wrote a new Christmas play for the actors he taught in both his adult and children’s acting classes with the adults playing roles like Santa and Mrs. Claus and the kids playing the roles of elves and talking toys. After three hours of filming he always had energy to go out for coffee or a late night dinner.
“John came to West Hollywood under contract to MGM as a dancer in the early 50s and performed in many musicals such as West Side Story and Singing in the Rain. John is the man Gene Kelly hands the umbrella to in Singing in the Rain. John later became a set designer and worked on many TV shows including Hart to Hart.
He was best known in West Hollywood as the City’s long time acting teacher and inspired many young people to become actors. Sadly, due to the pandemic, I could only see John through a window as his health declined in the last several weeks of his life. I wanted to post photos of happier times with the wish that we will see each other again and we will be able to hug once more. #RIP #JohnAngelo #WehoPA,#untilwemeetagain #bestfriends #nowyouareanangel #untilwemeetagain #singingintherain“
John….dear funny John. I had the pleasure of interviewing him several times over the years, on my cable show. He was witty funny and certainly bawdy. I will remember the things he would whisper in my ear , thinking no one else could hear. We all would laugh long and loud. I liked him. A lot. Fly with the fairies dear John. xoxo
Took Shakespeare classes from him in the 90s. If I remember correctly, he ran the only Shakespeare company in Los Angeles for many years. He was a treasure, extremely kind and generous with his time and energy. He will be sorely missed.
Very sad news! I only got to know John over our twice weekly phone visits these last nine months, but I will truly miss speaking with him. He always insisted he was “ just wonderful “ no matter how he was feeling, and was more interested in how I was and what was going on in the neighborhood.
He had wonderful adventures in his lifetime, accomplished so much, and it truly was a blessing to get to meet and chat with him. I wish I had had the pleasure of meeting him earlier.
Happy to know John through mutual friends and I, as well as my husband, were two of his interviews for his talk show. John will always be remembered as someone fun to be around, a lovable curmudgeon, and a talented man in all he endeavored to do.
The stories, the life he led, the kind-heartedness… a Legend!
How sad to see John was a beloved teacher to our kids at Plummer Park, my son Richard and his best friend Michael Carrier knew him. He really was a treasure to us giving the kids alternatives to stay off the streets.
I agree with Ruth; Joh was delightful to know and was a huge asset to West Hollywood. He loved this community and was much loved in return.