Robert Franklin Bingham October 29, 1946 — February 8, 2025
Robert Franklin Bingham of Brewster, NY. passed away on Saturday, February 8th, 2025 at Putnam County Hospital at the age of 78.
Robert was born on October 29th,1946 in Seattle, WA. being raised in the town of Edmonds, WA. He was the son of the late William Richard Bingham and Grayce Viola Ryburn. Robert is remembered for his career and passion for acting and singing. He is best known for playing the role of Caiaphas in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's rock opera Jesus Christ Superstar in the first USA concert tour, original Broadway cast, original French cast, and in the 1973 film version.
He attended the University of Washington for three years and studied singing with Ernest J. Anderson and acting with Larry and Pamela Liester's Home Adjunct, Inc. His first professional appearance was in a touring production of the musical Hair in 1970, first at the Moore Theatre in Seattle that ran for more than three months, a local record, and then in Miami, Florida.
Robert was also responsible for leading a Buddhist group dedicated to world peace in the 1970s. After retiring from show business in the late 70’s Robert obtained a COO managerial position at the Talon zipper factory.
In 1995 Robert married Idilcia (Aracena) in Lake George, NY. and they went on to have two children, Franklin Alexander and Yasamin Rufina where they lived together in Brewster, NY. for the past 25 years.
Apart from his wife, Robert is survived by his son Franklin, daughter Yasamin, his brother and sister.
Robert will be remembered for all of his life accomplishments and for being a dedicated husband, father and friend.
Todd Hunter
Bob was a great guy and teamate. We were on the wrestling team. He was heavyweight and a good wrestler. We took the ame bus to school. Wish I could have known him better. Rest well my friend.
Rita Trost (Pruczinski)
I remember Bob from school - really nice guy. He always remembered to send me birthday wishes. Best wishes to his family.
Gary Sager
I was not a close friend of Bob's but he is one of the few people I remember well from High School. I attended a recital he gave and I recall a school assembly where he sang. He had a wonderful, deep voice. But most of all I recall a football game where the other team assigned two players to block him and he still managed to make a lot of tackles.
Joyce Ramsey (Jackson)
So sorry to hear this. Bob had such a great voice and was such a nice guy. We were lucky to have him as a classmate. Prayers for his wife and children.
John Hendrickson
I went to school with Bob since grade school and shared a lot of classes. He was always a nice guy. Some years back he just started wishing me a Happy Birthday every year on the EHS site. He was a very thoughtful person. Rest in Peace my friend.
Carol Martin (Turner)
We only had two classes together at EHS but I recall what a gentleman you were. I had never seen Jesus Christ Superstar and had absolutely no idea you became a formidable actor. I rented it today and was impressed with your character interpretation. Most of all Bob, you gave your best to your family. Congratulations on a life well lived! I will think of you often.
Jim Sellers
Bob and I were good friends in our last years of high school after having gone through twelve grades of public school together. With time to kill and his parents somewhere else we would occasionaly hang out at their house in North Edmonds, sometimes spending the night. It was at that location, sitting next to the pool, that he told me that the strength that he held in his voice was evidenced by that fact that he had enough lung capacity to sit on the bottom of the pool and not raise for air for up to four minutes.
I too can remember him along the line in football games his Senior year. He was a load to handle.
In colllege we joined the same national fraternity, but on different campuses. It was after that when we both moved on to other things and were gone from Edmonds. it was only on rare occassions that our paths crossed after college. Ironically, my best friend and roomate in law school turned out to have been one of Bob's fraternity brothers at Washington.
Once when I was home after colledge, my Mom told me that Bob was in the cast of "Jesus Christ Superstar", which I did not think much about because I had seen him in Seattle in a regional production of "Hair". I joined him in the dressing room in Seattle and was struck by the fact that the cast didn't pay any attention to who was there or what anybody might be wearing as they changed clothes. Bob embraced life in the sixties and many of the values of those times.
It was much to my surprise a few years later when my wife and I went to see the movie in Portland and Bob showed up on the screen as one of the leads, down to a weight that appeared to be about sixty pounds lower than what he carried playing high school football; it took me awhile to confirm to myself that it was him. He looked good and sang wonderfully.
I am sorry to have not taken opportunities to see him in our later years.
Jim Sellers