Obituary: Sidney Shier

Sidney Shier, age 90, passed away on June 16, 2026. He was preceded in death by his daughter, Robyn Shier, sister, Sybil Shier and parents. He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Lynn and Rob Hassett and son, Scott Shier, grandchildren, Laura O’Dell (Ryan), Elizabeth Hassett (Jonah Kaplan) and Joe Hassett, four great-grandchildren, Cameron and Rosalie O’Dell, Abram and Eva Kaplan, and former wife, Jackie Kanfer.

Sid was born in Miami, Fla., to Isidore Shier and Rae Glaser Shier. The family moved to Macon, Ga., when Sidney and sister, Sybil, were very young. A born performer, Sidney and Sybil were in talent shows during their youth. Sidney also was a talented puppeteer and performed with his marionettes and self-built stage at many schools in Macon. It was in Macon where he met his lifelong friend and eventual wife, Jackie Frankel. He graduated from Lanier High in Macon and attended the University of Miami for one year. At 19, he moved to New York City, initially staying with an aunt and his cousin, Marilyn Bittrich, with whom he remained close his entire life. He worked as a dance instructor with Arthur Murray.

He returned to Atlanta to be with his childhood friend, Jackie, who had recently lost her husband. Sidney and Jackie got married and moved with daughter, Lynn, to Miami, where daughter, Robyn, was born. The family packed up and moved back to Atlanta where son, Scott, was born.

Sid took a job as an interior designer with an Atlanta furniture store. He then went off on his own, initially working out of the basement of his home on Haverhill Drive. His business grew from that point on, and he became a nationally recognized interior designer, working in Atlanta, Miami, Los Angeles, Seattle and New York. He was instrumental in founding ADAC.

Sid was one of Atlanta’s best-known character actors during the 1960s, 70s and 80s. Among his roles were Harold in “Boys in the Band,” Cocky in “Roar of the Greasepaint” (with his daughters, Lynn and Robyn in the chorus). He won the Best Supporting Actor in a Musical from the Atlanta Critics Association for his performance as Hysterium in “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum,” and was nominated for Best Actor in a Dramatic rRle as Common Man in a “Man for All Seasons.”

Sid’s resume included restauranteur, fashion stylist, and display director. In addition to acting, producing and directing, he designed costumes and sets for numerous shows. He performed at Gene and Gabe’s in Midtown, and was in “Heart Strings,” a musical revue at the Fox Theater, to raise money for AIDS support.

Sid moved to Los Angeles in the 1990s. His children and grandchildren would visit him, and all would explore L.A., including a trip to DisneyLand which he managed to survive. Sid returned to Atlanta and, in 2010, produced and performed in his final show, “Confessions of a Nightingale,” a one-man show based on the life of Tennessee Williams, a role he felt deeply connected to. Again, daughters, Lynn and Robyn, assisted in the production. He enjoyed visiting son, Scott, at Scott’s homes in Dallas and Crested Butte.

Sid said his dream was to make New York his permanent home, which he eventually did. He lived on the upper East Side in a fantastically decorated studio apartment and enjoyed going to the theater, walking up and down Fifth Avenue, exploring the city, often with his cousin, Alva, and her husband, Barry Milowitz, having family visit and showing off his adopted city. He maintained ties to Atlanta, returning often and staying with good friends, Arlene and Morty (z”el) Tauber.

Sidney will be dearly missed by all of his family, his friends, and the many people whose lives he touched throughout the years.

Graveside services were be held 2 p.m., Sunday, June 21, at Arlington Memorial Park with Rabbi Peter Berg officiating. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the charity of one’s choice. Dressler’s Jewish Funeral Care, 770-451-4999.