Roundabout Theatre Company’s Artistic Director, Todd Haimes, Passes Away at 66 After Rebuilding the Theatre Company

Todd Himes, who saved New York’s Roundabout Theater Company from bankruptcy and turned it into one of the largest nonprofit theaters in America, has died at the age of 66.

Roundabout’s artistic director and CEO died Wednesday at Memorial Sloan Kettering Hospital in New York of complications from osteosarcoma, a bone cancer.

His death was announced by Vertigo spokesman Matt Polk. Himes has struggled with cancer since 2002, when he was first diagnosed with sarcoma of the jaw.

He is survived by his wife Jane Marie Himes, daughter Hillary, and son Andrew, as well as four grandchildren and stepdaughters Julia and Kiki Barron.

Sex and the City star Cynthia Nixon, 57, took to Instagram with a touching message after learning of his passing, sharing a photo of the two and writing, “So sad to hear of the passing of the incredible Todd Haymes.”

GONE EARLY: Roundabout’s artistic director and CEO died Wednesday at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital in New York of complications from osteosarcoma, a bone cancer. Seen with Dame Helen Mirren in 2015

“Todd was the inspiring and inspiring leader of the Roundabout Theater which he ran for 40 years, transforming it from a struggling Broadway company into a major New York City theater institution and a home for many of us as a playhouse.”

“He’s produced two plays that I’ve had the pleasure of working on—Women and Distractors—so I got to see his magic up close.”

Todd paired the world’s sweetest demeanor with a killer sense of what, when, and how to produce. He was soft-spoken but direct. He remembered everyone and treated all of us on stage, backstage, and in the Vertigo offices with such warmth and respect.

“I am amazed, Todd, to think of all that you have built that will endure but amazed to imagine Broadway (and Off-Broadway) without you here as part of it.” We will miss you, RIP Todd.

Himes was born in New York City and is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania and Yale University School of Management.

Haimes started in He took over as Managing Director of the company in 1983, when he was just 26 years old.

At the time the company was in debt, and Haymes even used his credit card to keep it going. but A few weeks after he took office, the board of directors voted to close the venue.

But thanks to the generosity of a board member who donated money to keep the company afloat for a while, Haimes was able to turn things around.

Tribute: Cynthia Nixon, 57, took to Instagram with a touching message after learning of his passing, sharing a photo of the two and writing, ‘So sad’

Cancer battle: Himes has struggled with cancer since 2002, when he was first diagnosed with sarcoma of the jaw. Seen with Matthew Broderick in 2017

Illustrious Career: Under his helm, Vertigo has won 34 Tony Awards, 58 Drama Desk Awards, 21 Lucille Lortel Awards, 73 Outer Critics Circle Awards, and 14 Opie Awards. Seen with Alan Cumming and Neil Patrick Harris in 2020

A theatrical legend: His tenure spanned four decades, and he helped turn the nonprofit company into a significant player on Broadway, where it now has three of 41 theaters; Seen with Maggie Gyllenhaal and her brother Jake Gyllenhaal in 2021

Always remembered: He is survived by wife Jane Marie Himes (pictured in 2019) daughter Hillary and son Andrew plus four grandchildren and stepdaughters Julia and Kiki Barron

He worked to improve marketing, reduce expansion, reduce headcount, and attract more audience members through a variety of strategies.

Under his direction, Vertigo has won 34 Tony Awards, 58 Desk Drama Awards, 21 Lucille Lortel Awards, 73 Critics’ Choice Awards and 14 Obie Awards.

He had a long and successful four-decade run, and helped turn the nonprofit company into a significant player on Broadway, with the company now owning three of its 41 theaters.

Under his leadership, the company has been responsible for several acclaimed productions including the 1998 revival of Cabaret – starring Alan Cumming and the late Natasha Richardson – as well as the 2020 revival of The Soldier, both of which won Tony Awards.

Other productions have included The Man Who Came To Dinner (2000), Big River (2004), The Pajama Game (2006), and Long Day’s Journey Into Night (2016) among many others.

Some of the more recent Broadway productions have been the 1776 revival plus Caroline, or Change, Birthday Candles, Minutes and Trouble in Mind.

The company owns three venues on Broadway—American Airlines Theatre, Stephen Sondheim Theater and Studio 54—plus two Off-Broadway venues at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Theater Center.

And in 2016, he became the first presenter to broadcast a live Broadway show – a revival of She Loves Me.

Under Roundabout Himes she also launched community initiatives, including Education at Roundabout, which help disadvantaged youth find theater jobs.

Famous: Under his leadership, the company has been responsible for several iconic productions including the 2020 revival of The Soldier, which won a Tony Award; Blair Underwood, David Alan Grier and Jerry O’Connell are seen on stage at The Soldier’s opening night.

What He Built: His other credits included The Man Who Came To Dinner (2000), Big River (2004), The Pajama Game (2006), A Long Day’s Journey Into Night (2016) among many others; Maren Ireland, Sienna Miller and Johnny Lee Miller seen in After Miss Julie (2009)