Listen Live
Listen Live

Stratford Festival Founder Dies

Douglas Rain passed away this morning at the age of 90 at St. Marys Memorial Hospital of natural causes.  

Rain was one of the few surviving members of the Festival’s founding company.   During his career, he spent 32 seasons in Stratford.

In a media release, Stratford Festival Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino commented on Rain’s passing, “Canadian theatre has lost one of its greatest talents and a guiding light in its development.  Douglas Rain was that rare artist: an actor deeply admired by other actors. The voice of HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey, Douglas shared many of the same qualities as Kubrick’s iconic creation: precision, strength of steel, enigma and infinite intelligence, as well as a wicked sense of humour. But those of us lucky enough to have worked with Douglas soon solved his riddle and discovered that at the centre of his mystery lay warmth and humanity, evidenced in his care for the young members of our profession. Douglas dedicated his talent to the stages of his native land, and we are proud in return to dedicate the coming season’s production of Othello to his memory. We owe him so much.”

Production Shot: Douglas Rain as Henry V in the Stratford Festival’s 1966 production of Henry V. Photo by Peter Smith. Supplied by: The Stratford Festival

Over the course of his career Rain appeared in over a hundred television and film roles and also worked on hundred of radio plays.  He also did voiceover work for the National Film Board of Canada.

He is survived by his two sons, daughter, granddaughter and daughter-in-law.

Continue Reading

cjcs Now playing play

chgk Now playing play

- Advertisement -

Related Articles

- Advertisement -

Latest News

Petition launched to bring awareness to youth homelessness

Stratford's Shelterlink Youth Services have been collecting signatures since the Thanksgiving long weekend to get the federal government to proclaim November 17 as that day.

Stratford police looking for male after intimate partner violence

Police said the accused is to be arrested and charged with one count of assault.

CleanFix to expand operations in Stratford, leading to more jobs

The expansion was announced in a groundbreaking ceremony earlier today at the CleanFix at 250 Wright Boulevard, with the company constructing a new facility.

Section of Romeo Street to close for emergency training

The City of Stratford said the staged exercise is taking place on Romeo Street near the River Gardens Retirement Residence on October 23.

Get to know your local library even more during Ontario Public Library Week

This year's theme is 'Libraries for Life', and locally will include a draw for a prize-filled SPL book bag, a scavenger hunt and social media fun online.
- Advertisement -