The hit Broadway musical “Death Becomes Her” has already been announced as part of the upcoming Broadway in Boston season, with shows planned for Jan. 12-24, 2027 at the Citizens Opera House. Now, actor Ken Marino has been announced as part of the touring cast in the role of Ernest Menville (the role played by Bruce Willis in the 1992 film).
The musical is adapted from the dark comedy, which costarred Meryl Streep and Goldie Hawn as a youth-obsessed actress and writer, respectively, who sink to depraved depths to maintain their beauty, often with the assistance of plastic surgeon Ernest.
Marino is currently appearing in “Gail Daughtry and the Celebrity Sex Pass,” but he’s had a long career on television, appearing in “Party Down,” the Starz comedy about a group of disaffected cater waiters working Hollywood parties, “Veronica Mars,” “The Other Two,” and more recently the Uzo Aduba-starring “The Residence” on Netflix.
He’s also well-known as a member of the sketch comedy group The State, which made the MTV series “The State” in the mid ’90s, and subsequently released the beloved comedy “Wet Hot American Summer” in 2001. Prominent members include Michael Ian Black, Michael Showalter, Joe Lo Truglio, Kerri Kenney, Thomas Lennon, and David Wain, who directed “Gail Daughtry” (Marino and Wain co-wrote it).
“Death Becomes Her” was a hit on Broadway, earning 10 Tony nominations, including best musical and best actress nods for its two leads, Megan Hilty and Mass. native Jennifer Simard. It ultimately won one Tony for its costume design.
Marino will costar alongside Jackie Burns as Madeline Ashton and Kristen Beth Williams as Helen Sharp. Though both Burns and Williams are Broadway vets (Burns has appeared in “Wicked,” “Hair,” and ”If/Then,“ while Williams has been in “Hello, Dolly!,” “Pippin,” and “Promises, Promises”), this will be Marino’s stage musical debut, per People magazine.
Due to a reporting error, a prior version of this story misstated the roles played by Goldie Hawn and Meryl Streep. The Globe regrets the error.
Lisa Weidenfeld can be reached at lisa.weidenfeld@globe.com. Follow her on X @LisaWeidenfeld and Instagram @lisaweidenfeld.