After numerous curtain calls on opening night, producer David Merrick stunned the cast and audience by announcing Champion had died earlier that day.
Champion | Champion Jack Dupree | John Gower | David Gower | Cromartie Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 4th Duke of Sutherland | champion | Septuple champion | Richard Champion | Gower Peninsula | George Leveson-Gower, 1st Duke of Sutherland | Champion Hurdle | William Leveson-Gower, 4th Earl Granville | Weekly Shōnen Champion | United States Women's Champion | The Adventures of Champion (TV series) | Queen's Champion | Michael Gower Coleman | Malcolm Champion | HMS ''Champion'' | HMS Champion | Harry Champion | Greg Champion | Granville Leveson-Gower, 2nd Earl Granville | Gower | George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 3rd Duke of Sutherland | George Sutherland-Leveson-Gower, 2nd Duke of Sutherland | Eternal Champion | Elizabeth Leveson-Gower, Duchess of Sutherland | Champion's Trophy | Champion Records |
Merrill then suggested Gower Champion, who agreed to tackle the project because "It grabbed me." Angela Lansbury liked the idea of an intimate show for a small theatre.