illness, Everhart performed the role on the original Broadway cast recording (Da Silva was finally able to record the role when 1776 was filmed in 1972). When 1776 was revived on Broadway in 1997, Everhart again served as the understudy for the role of Benjamin Franklin. In 1978, Everhart was nominated for a Featured Actor Tony Award for his role in the musical, Working. The actor's television career, which started back in days of live broadcasting, included series, plays, films, soap operas and commercials. Appearing in 16 feature films, Everhart gave his last film performance as the voice of Belle's father, Maurice in the Disney movie Beauty and the Beast. Personal life Everhart first married Jill Reardon on February 11, 1944. The two divorced in 1957 and had no children. In 1960, he met Claire Violet (née Richard), who was an actress, when they were in the Broadway musical Tenderloin. They were married on December 21, 1962 and had a daughter named Degan (born 1966). He lived for 37 years in Westport, Connecticut. Death Everhart died of lung cancer on March 13, 2000, at age 79, three months short of his 80th birthday. Filmography and performances Stage Film Television References External links 1920 births 2000 deaths People from Watseka, Illinois Male actors from Illinois American male film actors American male musical theatre actors American male voice actors Singers from Illinois Deaths from lung cancer in Connecticut University of Missouri alumni 20th-century American male actors 20th-century American singers 20th-century American male singers