The Broadway community is mourning the loss of one of its beloved performers.
Gina Ferrall, a veteran actress whose career lit up Broadway stages for decades in productions including Mamma Mia!, Big River, and the acclaimed revival of Leopoldstadt, has died following a brief battle with uterine sarcoma. She was 67.
The heartbreaking news was shared by her husband, Broadway drummer and percussionist Kory Grossman, who confirmed her passing to Playbill.
For theater lovers, Ferrall’s name was synonymous with dedication, talent, and versatility. Throughout a career that spanned more than three decades, she brought unforgettable characters to life on some of Broadway’s biggest stages, earning the admiration of colleagues and audiences alike.
Ferrall came from a family deeply rooted in the performing arts. Her mother, Marrian Walters, was an actress, while her father, Mike, worked as a director.
Born in San Francisco on September 6, 1958, Ferrall made her Broadway debut in Les Misérables as a replacement cast member. That opportunity launched an impressive stage career that saw her appear in beloved productions such as Beauty and the Beast, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, and The Sound of Music throughout the 1990s.
Gina Ferrall poses at the opening night after party for the new Tom Stoppard play “Leopoldstadt” on Broadway at Bryant Park Grill on October 2, 2022 in New York City. (Photo By Bruce Glikas/WireImage)
Her success continued into the 2000s with roles in Jane Eyre, Mamma Mia!, Big River, It Shoulda Been You, and She Loves Me, further cementing her reputation as a respected and reliable presence in the theater world.
One of Ferrall’s most recent Broadway appearances came in Tom Stoppard’s award-winning Leopoldstadt in 2022. In the powerful drama, she portrayed Poldi, the devoted servant of a wealthy Jewish family whose lives are shattered by the rise of Nazi persecution during the Holocaust.
Beyond Broadway, Ferrall also captivated audiences across the country through national touring productions. She took on the role of Madame Morrible in Wicked and portrayed the iconic Madame Thénardier in Les Misérables, introducing her talents to theatergoers far beyond New York City.
(L-R) From Mama Mia, Judy McLane, Beth Leavel and Gina Ferrall attend the Real Simple 10th anniversary celebration in New York-Grand Central Station at Vanderbilt Hall at Grand Central Terminal on April 15, 2010 in New York City.
Her work extended to television as well, with appearances in popular series including Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, FBI, Blue Bloods, The Good Cop, and NBC’s The Sound of Music Live!. She also appeared in the filmed 2017 production of She Loves Me as part of PBS’s Great Performances.
While Ferrall’s career was filled with memorable performances, those who knew her best remember her not only as a gifted actress, but as a cherished colleague and friend whose passion for storytelling never faded.
She is survived by her husband, Kory Grossman.
