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Creator
Dukes, David, 1945-2000
Call number
*T-Mss 2004-012
Physical description
16 linear feet (33 boxes)
Preferred Citation

David Dukes Papers, *T-Mss 2004-012. Billy Rose Theatre Division, The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

Scripts, photos, programs, publicity and clippings document the career of stage, sceen and television actor, David Dukes.

Biographical/historical information

Versatile actor on stage, screen and television, David Coleman Dukes was born in San Francisco on June 6, 1945 and died on October 9, 2000 while on location near Tacoma, Washington to film a television miniseries.

Dukes' acting career began at the College of Marin and then the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, but he was soon crisscrossing the country appearing on Broadway and regional theater as well as on film and television. His Broadway debut was in a revival of Moliere's School for Wivesin 1971. He received a Tony nomination for his work in Bent(1979) with Richard Gere, starred in Arthur Miller's Broken Glass(1994), and in a number of productions: Amadeus, M. Butterfly, Frankensteinand Dracula, successfully stepped into a starring role originated by another. His final stage role for which he won great critical acclaim was as Vladimir in Waiting for Godotat the Matrix Theatre Company in Hollywood in 2000. Film highlights included The First Deadly Sin(1981) with Frank Sinatra and the Oscar-winning Gods and Monsters(1998). Dukes received an Emmy nomination for best supporting actor for his work in The Josephine Baker Story(1990). Other television work included the miniseries The Winds of Warand War and Remembrance, an appearance on All in the Family, and a regular part on Dawson's Creek. His career was busy and prolific: he played character roles and leading men, lovers and murderers and most everything in between.

David Dukes was married twice. With his first wife Carolyn Lee Mackenzie he had a son Shawn. With his second wife Carol Muske-Dukes he had a daughter Anne Cameron Muske-Dukes (Annie).

Scope and arrangement

The papers, primarily scripts, photographs, publicity, programs and clippings, provide extensive documentation of the acting career of David Dukes. The scripts are highlighted for the roles he played. The many photographs range from formal portaits to snapshots from film shoots and family trips. The personal papers include correspondence with family and friends, school photos and report cards and many condolence letters after his sudden death. Oversized material includes theater posters, many signed by the casts involved.

The David Dukes papers are arranged in six series:

  • Series I: Personal papers
    1946-2004
    2+ boxes

    Contains biographical material such as lists of his credits and articles and clippings about him, correspondence with family and others, childhood photos, school photos and report cards, papers from high school and college, personal ephemera such as the invitation to his first wedding, a birth announcement for his daughter, a passport, drawings of Dukes, obituaries, memorial tributes and many condolence letters after his sudden and untimely death. Also includes a folder of material pertaining to his second wife Carol Muske-Dukes consisting of correspondence and clippings.

  • Series II: Professional papers
    1966-2001
    8 folders

    A small series that includes contracts, a few published articles by Dukes, some research material and many acting awards.

  • Series III: Scripts
    1965-2000
    20 boxes

    Actor's working scripts for many of the productions in which David Dukes appeared. Typescripts are often underlined or annotated and contain some notes.

  • Series IV: Production files
    1964-2000
    7 boxes

    Primarily photos, publicity and clippings and for the plays, programs. Only a small amount of correspondence and memos.

  • Series V: Photographs
    ca. 1966-1998 and n.d.
    1 box

    Photographs, both personal and professional, document the life and career of David Dukes. Includes head shots, photos from unidentified productions, photos with other actors and photos with family. Photos from identified productions are filed in Series IV. Production files under title.

  • Series VI: Oversized material
    1979-2001 and n.d.
    2 boxes

    Includes oversized photos, publicity and theater posters.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

Papers were donated by his widow, Carol Muske-Dukes in 2004-2005.

Processing information

Processed by: John Calhoun & Elisabeth Elkind; Machine-readable finding aid created by: John Calhoun & Elisabeth Elkind.

Separated material

  • Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement (a plaque) to David Dukes for Performance/Major Role in Travesties, 1977.
  • Drama Critics Circle Award for Distinguished Achievement (a plaque) to David Dukes for Lead Performance in Waiting for Godot, 2000.
  • 41 cassettes
  • 12 videotapes
  • Miscellaneous standard programs for non-Dukes productions

Using the collection

Location

Billy Rose Theatre Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor

Conditions Governing Use

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Billy Rose Theatre Division.

Access restrictions

Library policies on photocopying apply.