Joel Paley, Writer of ‘Ruthless,’ an Off Broadway Hit, Dies at 69

Joel Paley, a dancer, playwright and director who wrote the book and lyrics for “Ruthless!,” an award-winning Off Broadway musical about an ambitious girl who will do anything — including murder her rival — to star in a grade school show, died on Jan. 11 in Milford, Conn. He was 69.

His sister Barbara Paley Cohen confirmed the death but did not know the cause.

According to the Connecticut State Police, Mr. Paley had a medical emergency while driving on I-95 and pulled over at a rest stop in Milford. Someone who saw him in distress called 911, and medics administered lifesaving measures, but he died in a hospital. He lived in Redding, Conn.

Mr. Paley’s death followed by nearly six weeks that of Marvin Laird, his partner in marriage, who wrote the music to “Ruthless!,” which opened in 1992. When the show was revived Off Broadway in 2015, Mr. Paley surprised Mr. Laird during his remarks at an opening night party by saying, “Now that our child is alive and well and kicking, will you marry me?” Mr. Laird accepted, and they married a few months later.

Mr. Paley’s first major show business job — after taking ballet lessons — was with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, a cross-dressing parody troupe, in 1975, a year after it was formed. He stayed three years.

“He was an absolutely natural comedian,” Peter Anastos, Trockadero’s founder, said in an interview. “He wasn’t a very good dancer, but none of us were in those days. Even the prima ballerinas were lacking.” He added, “He made his comedy chops with us. ‘Ruthless!’ might have been different if not for us.”