- Created the roles of Curley in "Oklahoma!", Fred in "Kiss Me Kate" and the Beggar Poet in "Kismet" in the original Broadway productions.
- Won Broadway's 1954 Tony Award as Best Actor (Musical) for "Kismet," as well as a Special Tony Award in 1990 "for excellence in the Theatre." Was also nominated two other times for Best Actor (Musical) Tony Awards: in 1962 for "Kean" and in 1974 for "Gigi."
- Brother of Metropolitan Opera baritone Arthur Kent.
- He was first choice for the role of the King in the original 1951 Broadway production of "The King and I", but turned down the role because of a full schedule. This was before Yul Brynner auditioned and was immediately selected for the role.
- His salary of $5000 per week for the 1954 Broadway production of "Kismet" made him the highest-paid leading man in Broadway history, until Jackie Gleason demanded (and was given) $5,050 per week in the 1959 production of "Take Me Along".
- He had 2 daughters with his wife, Esther: Candace and Samantha.
- He died of heart failure after a long fight with cancer.
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