James Alexander Radomski, better known as James Rado, was an American actor, playwright, director, and composer best known for co-writing the 1967 musical Hair with Gerome Ragni.

The nonagenarian and Ragni were nominated for best musical at the 1969 Tony Awards, and they won best musical at the 11th Annual Grammy Awards.

James Rado cause of death: What happened to James Rado?

According to a friend and publicist Merle Frimark, Rado died Tuesday(June 21) night in New York City of sudden cardiac arrest.

His brother Ted Rado, sister-in-law Kay Rado, nieces Melanie Khoury, Emily DiBona, and Melissa Stuart, as well as great-nieces and a great-nephew, survive him.

Rado was born in Los Angeles on January 23, 1932, and raised in Rochester, New York, and Washington, D.C. He majored in Speech and Drama in college and began writing songs.

At the University of Maryland, he co-wrote two musical shows, Interlude and Interlude II.

After graduating and serving two years in the United States Navy, he returned to Washington, D.C. for graduate studies at The Catholic University of America, where he co-wrote a musical revue called Cross Your Fingers.

All of his early songs had lyrics and music written by him.

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