In January 1985, the tour reached New York for a farewell Broadway run. Aware he was dying, Brynner gave an interview on Good Morning America discussing the dangers of smoking and expressing his desire to make an anti-smoking commercial. The Broadway production of The King and I ran from January 7 to June 30 of that year, with Mary Beth Peil as Anna. His last performance, a few months before his death, marked the 4,625th time he had played the role of the King.
The role earned him a Tony Award in 1952, solidifying his place as one of the most compelling stage actors of his generation. Brynner famously said that performing on stage gave him “a chance to live many lives in one,” reflecting his philosophy of acting as a means of exploration and self-expression. Brynner successfully transitioned to film, where his striking look and magnetic presence made him a natural leading man.
