Merle Louise Simon—known to Broadway audiences as Merle Louise—passed away January 11 at the age of 90.
Ms. Simon, who would become associated with many Stephen Sondheim musicals, was born April 15, 1934, to Alvin Letowt and Merle Letowt (née Barnes) in New York City. She began performing under her birth name, Merle Letowt, at Pennsylvania's Drawing Room Theater and Pennsylvania Playhouse, while traveling to New York for auditions.
In 1959, Ms. Simon made her Broadway debut as Thelma in Gypsy. Later, she would take over the role of June, which she also played in the musical's first national tour. Ms. Simon returned to Broadway in 1970 to play Susan in the original production of Company, the first of many Sondheim musicals she would appear in.
Ms. Simon originated the role of the Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street in 1979, which earned her a Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actress. Her series of performances in Sondheim musicals continued when she originated the role of Cinderella's Mother/Grandmother/Giant in the original production of Into the Woods in 1987.
Ms. Simon's additional Broadway credits included La Cage aux Folles, Kiss of the Spider Woman, and Billy Elliot: The Musical. She was also part of Bernadette Peters' one-night-only Broadway Barks benefit concert in 2009.
On screen, Ms. Simon was featured in the televised production of Into the Woods and D. A. Pennebaker's 1970 documentary, which followed the recording of Company's original cast album.
After years of performing, Ms. Simon enrolled as a part-time student at Marymount Manhattan College and graduated in 2004 with a degree in psychology. Aside from her time on the stage, Ms. Simon was an avid traveler and scuba diver who once climbed to the base camp of Mount Everest.
Ms. Simon is survived by her daughters Laura Simon and Heather Simon; son Matt Simon; sister Jane Halteman; and brother Alvin "Butch" Letowt, Jr. She was preceded in death by her sister, Christine A. King, brother-in-law Walter I. King, and nephew Adam D. Halteman.
The family has requested that donations be made to Bethlehem Catholic High School in Ms. Simon's memory in lieu of flowers.