Andy Halliday, NYC Theater Legend, Dies at 73
He was an invaluable member of Charles Busch's Theatre in Limbo troupe and an accomplished, lethally funny playwright
May 7, 2026
So sad to hear the news that playwright and performer Andy Halliday died in Palm Springs May 6. He was 73.
His sister Sue Cohen told friends on Facebook:
“I am very sad to tell you that Andy passed away last night from complications from Parkinsons disease. It has been a struggle for him these last few months not being able to use his hands to type and so unable to post his daily comments on Facebook or to write his plays. His communication with all meant the world to him. And I thank you all for the years of kindness and generous responses. It was a huge part of his life.”
Halliday moved to New York in the early ‘70s, where he did commercials and print ads and off-Broadway acting.
He became part of his best friend Charles Busch’s Theatre in Limbo troupe of eight, appearing in Busch’s iconic Vampire Lesbians of Sodom (1984), as well as Psycho Beach Party (1987), Pardon My Inquisition, or, Kiss the Blood off My Castanets (1986) and Theodora, She Bitch of Byzantium (1984).
He was especially proud of his Bad Seed-inspired Lotte in Busch’s The Lady in Question (1988), and was thrilled that the great Al Hirschfeld drew him because of it.
He wrote the plays Sex Slaves of the Lost Kingdom (1988) and I Can’t Stop Screaming (1991) before a period working day jobs (including a stint at Broadway Cares).
Halliday directed several shorts (2004-2012) and returned to theater with a performance in Devil Boys from Beyond (2010).
I was lucky enough to catch his play Nothing but Trash (2014), in which he also acted and which was a riot. It was followed by Up the Rabbit Hole (2017) and Those Musclebound Cowboys from Snakepit Gulch (2020).
His self-described swan song was the play Obsessed three years ago.
Andy told Outer-Stage in 2023 of that experience:
“I’m really proud to put my name on it. I’m turning 70, on stage, on March 31, and on our last show on April 22 it’s going to be my AA anniversary of 31 years. So it’s quite a way to bookend a life and a career. What a wonderful way to finish this very exciting career that’s been beyond my wildest dreams.”
He had a savage wit, and yet he was a kind, warm, self-effacing and sweetly funny guy. So sorry to all his loved ones and fans for this great loss.⚡️