Martin Charnin, the Emmy-, Tony- and Peabody Award winner best known as the creator, lyricist and director of the musical “Annie,” has died. He was 84.
Charnin died Wednesday after suffering his third heart attack, his daughter Sasha announced on Facebook.
“He was watching Family Feud at the end, laughing with Shelly in bed at the hospital. He suffered a minor heart attack on the 3rd and tried to hold on for all us. His strength was astounding,” Sasha wrote. “He’s in a painless place, now. Probably looking for Cole Porter and Ira Gershwin.”
The New York native began his career in the theater performing as one of the Jets in “West Side Story” both on Broadway and on the road, but shortly thereafter went on to write, direct and produce nightclub acts for numerous singers, including Dionne Warwick and Nancy Wilson.