Philip Dorian, 87, passed away March 14, 2024, – heeding Shakespeare’s warning – in his home in Montclair. He was born Dec. 9, 1936, in Cranston, Rhode Island, to Elsie and Sam Goldberg. “Big Phil” grew up with his sisters, Edna and Elena, in Rhode Island, where he became a lifelong Yankee fan. Go figure.
Phil attended The University of Pennsylvania. After college, he pursued his love of theater, producing and performing in summer stock shows throughout Rhode Island. He co-founded and produced the New Jersey Shakespeare Festival and ultimately got his “cup of coffee” as a cast member in Broadway’s “Marathon ’33.”
One of his most enduring roles was that of Santa Claus, whom he portrayed alongside the likes of Bobby Kennedy, Sammy Davis Jr. and Dave Winfield. If you’re reading this in the Monmouth County area and remember seeing Santa in the Monmouth Mall parking lot – that was him.
After the birth of his first son in February 1972, Phil’s acting career gave way to fatherhood. He joined The Prudential Insurance Company, where he enjoyed a 20-year career.
After retiring from The Prudential, Phil returned to the theater, becoming a published critic and Drama Desk member. He spent many a night at Broadway shows and frequented Canadian Shakespeare festivals. His reviews remain on his self-published website, sceneonstage.com. He fostered and maintained some of his most cherished friendships with fellow theatergoers.
An avid and lifelong baseball fan, he was one of the few people who really understood the infield fly rule and was passionate about getting the runner to third with less than two outs. He also enjoyed the occasional martini.
He loved being a grandfather.
Phil is survived by his son, Philip (Little Phil), daughter-in-law Mayte Cabrera Dorian, grandchildren Carolina and Samuel Peter, nephew Martin Gertsacov, niece Joan Kopels and cousin Liz Goldberg.
He was predeceased by his sisters, Edna Gertsacov and Elena Doria, and younger son, Peter Samuel Flipse Dorian, whose death Phil carried like a stone in his pocket.
A memorial service will be held from 1 to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 19 at Fitzgerald’s, 13 Herman St., Glen Ridge. Come hungry.
For those who feel inclined, the family asks that donations be made in his memory to The Entertainment Community Fund at entertainmentcommunity.org.
The article originally appeared in the March 21 – 27, 2024 print edition of The Two River Times.
