Harry Goz, actor and singer best known for his long run as Tevye in the original Broadway production of Fiddler on the Roof, died Sept. 6 after a long battle with cancer. He was 71.

The son of a tailor, Goz was born in St. Louis, Missouri, where he began his career at 16 singing in local night clubs. After attending Washington University and the St. Louis Institute of Music he was inducted into the Army, he served in the Far East performing with the Special Services.

Upon his discharge, Goz resumed his career stateside. While his early work was in opera he soon altered his course toward the theatre. He was a mainstay at the St. Louis Municipal Opera in 33 productions.

Following his New York debut in a production of Utopia Limited, he went on tour with the National Chorus of America, where he met Margaret Avsharian, who soon became his wife. Together, they performed at the New York World's Fair, at Guy Lombardo'ss Jones Beach Theatre, as well as in a series of concerts with composer Rudolf Friml in Washington, DC.

He made his Broadway debut in 1963, understudying Herschel Bernardi in Bajour. He was called upon to assume the lead overnight when the star came down with a sudden case of chicken pox. He then went on to Fiddler on the Roof where providence again came into play; when Goz went on for the lead (again Bernardi) the performance led to his later winning the role of Tevye.

The New York Times review stated, "He acts it out. Bit by bit this Tevye comes to very vigorous life, until at the end he has virtues to match any of his predecessors." In the LA Times, "Goz makes the dairyman a little younger and fresher and lighter on his feet than the other Tevyes, more impish, less patriarchal. Goz can roar and sing like a musical lion." The San Francisco Examiner, "Goz is superb in the role, infusing the character with nuances that are peculiarly his own." And in Variety, "He is excellent as Tevye, with the best singing voice of anyone who has played the role." Mr. Goz followed Fiddler with Richard Rodgers' Two by Two playing Noah's first son and understudying Danny Kaye. When Kaye broke his ankle on stage, Goz again stepped in to keep the show going. This was followed by Neil Simon's Prisoner of Second Avenue.

Goz appeared in many motion pictures, among them Marathon Man, Looking Up, Annie Hall and Mommie Dearest, and dozens of television shows, including Kojak, Wise Guy, Ned and Stacey, LA Law, Bill, and Law and Order. He was also seen and heard in over a thousand television commercials. Most recently he was heard as Captain Murphy in Cartoon Network's Sea Lab.

He never forgot his roots in the theatre, returning to Broadway in 1988 as the KGB "coach" in Chess. Some of his favorite performances were in productions of Fiddler where he played opposite his wife Margaret and with his children in supporting roles.

A resident of Manhasset for 33 years, Goz was a loving and devoted husband, father and grandfather. In addition to his wife, he is survived by his three children, their spouses, nine grandchildren and his sister. Contributions in his memory may be made to the International Myeloma Foundation (myeloma.org) or the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation (multiplemyeloma.org).