BroadwayWorld confirmed the sad news of the talented actor’s passing on Monday.
Throughout his impressive career spanning three decades, Bailey appeared in 15 Broadway productions. He made his debut in 1976 with Your Arms Too Short to Box With God and went on to perform in notable shows such as Hot Feet, La Cage aux Folles, Dreamgirls, The Wild Party, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, The Who’s Tommy, Jelly’s Last Jam, Prince of Central Park, Legs Diamond, My One and Only, and Sophisticated Ladies.
In 2008, Bailey suffered serious injuries after falling through a trap door just before a Saturday matinee performance of a Disney musical.
Following the accident, Bailey was treated for multiple serious injuries, including fractured wrists, a broken back, a shattered pelvis, a fractured sternum, several broken ribs, and a fractured foot, as reported by PlayBill. At that time, he expressed to Backstage, “My life has been changed forever. It will never be the same. My immediate goal is to somehow be able to walk up to my own apartment and care for myself. I try to stay positive and look forward to being made whole someday, along with being fully compensated for my injuries.”
Many stars paid tribute to Bailey, including actress Lucie Arnaz Luckinbill, who shared her condolences on Instagram. “The wonderful Adrian Bailey has gone home,” she wrote. “Adrian was our gentle giant. The talent and compassion he had were beyond description.” She added that Bailey “struggled for his life for years relearning everything” and noted, “He survived decades longer than they predicted because he was Adrian Bailey.”
Playwright Patrick L. Riley also shared his thoughts online, stating, “Adrian Bailey is now an ancestor.”
Born in Detroit, Michigan, Bailey was best known for his roles in The Kings of Brooklyn (2004), N.Y.P.D. Mounted (1991), and Sophisticated Ladies (1982). His passing was mourned by many on social media platforms, with numerous users expressing their grief.
