David Schramm of 90s Sitcom 'Wings' Has Died at 73

On Saturday, March 28, 2020, David Schramm died at the age of 73. Most people will remember him from the ’90s NBC sitcom “Wings.”

On Sunday, Margot Harley announced Schramm’s passing but his cause of death wasn’t revealed. Harley is the co-founder of the New York-based theater troupe the Acting Company, that Schramm was a founding member of alongside John Houseman.

She released a public statement where she said: "We mourn his loss and will miss him." On “Wings,” Schramm was best-known for playing Roy Biggins.

Where was Schramm born

The actor was born in Louisville, Kentucky, before moving to New York City as a member of the first graduating class of the Juilliard School from 1968 to 1972. The historic repertory group’s original ensemble included Patti LuPone, Kevin Kline, and David Ogden Stiers.

Schramm starred in dozens of theater productions on and off-Broadway. Some of these included a 2009-10 Broadway revival of the musical “Finian’s Rainbow.”

Acting on “Wings”

On “Wings” he appeared in hi supporting role for all eight seasons. He starred on the show for 172 episodes between 1990 and 1997.

Some of his other acting credits include “Jake and the Fatman,” “The Equalizer,” “Miami Vice,” and “Spenser: For Hire.”

Working on “Kennedy”

He also starred in “The Time of Your Life” (1976) and the musical “Cradle Will Rock” (1999). Schramm also acted as Robert McNamara in the 1983 TV series "Kennedy."

Some of his Broadway productions

Over four decades, Schramm appeared in multiple Broadway productions, including The Acting Company’s 1975 productions of “The Three Sisters,” “The Time of Your Life,” “Edward II,” and “The Robber Bridegroom.”

Schramm’s other acting credits

The actor also appeared in “Bedroom Farce” (1979); “Goodbye Fidel” (1980); “The Misanthrope” (1983); “Tartuffe” (1996), and “London Assurance” (1997). He also worked in regional theaters like the Kennedy Center, the Philadelphia Drama Guild, the New York Theatre Workshop, the Pasadena Playhouse, the George Street Playhouse, and the Shakespeare Theatre Company.

David’s directory work

He directed Arthur Muller’s “The Price” at Chicago’s American Theater Company and Ronald Ribman’s “The Rug Merchants of Chaos” at Pasadena Playhouse.