Sheldon Bergstrom
1971 – 2023

From the first day I met Sheldon, I knew he was one of those people that everyone would be drawn to. His big smiles, hilarious remarks and friendly demeanor were true to the very core of his big heart. As a gifted and talented actor, he managed to hold the viewer’s attention on screen remarkably well.  

Every time I knew I was going to be performing with one of the best huggers around, it would brighten my day and you couldn’t help but notice that the entire set would just naturally feed off his everlasting good spirits. I never once in the eight years that I knew him ever saw him down or gloomy.  I think acting may have been one of his most favorite activities, but alas I only speak from what I observed.  

Every time I think of Sheldon, I can’t help but smile as his happiness was contagious and still is today just by the mere thought of him. 

I just want to say “Thank you Sheldon for the days you shared your kindness and for making me feel welcome every single time I had the good fortune of sharing the same space with you.”

Dawn Bird

Adrian Burhop
1975 – 2023

On December 6th, the ACTRA community bid farewell to a remarkable performer, friends lost a cherished companion, and fans mourned the departure of a beloved star. Adrian Burhop’s untimely passing in a cross-country ski accident left us all stunned. Tragic as it was, in a way it was fitting that he passed while skiing, something he so loved to do. His approach to life was so unwaveringly genuine, a wildly creative bon vivant, Adrian could be trusted to pursue only the activities that brought him joy. Whether it was making people feel special, engaging in deep conversations about life, or igniting laughter through his performances, he radiated a passion for the things that truly mattered to him.

As with many great artists who’ve left us too soon, it is only in their absence that we grasp the profound impact they had on their community and those around them. The outpouring of tributes online speaks volumes about the indelible impressions Adrian left on everyone he encountered. With his big, bright (unforgettable) smile, and his genuine warmth, he had an uncanny ability to brighten anyone’s day.

Though Adrian’s departure came far too early, he managed to leave behind a lasting legacy for all of us to enjoy. If you’ve ever driven with the radio on, you’ve undoubtedly heard his smooth, glassy voice on nearly every other radio spot. However, it’s the multitude of unforgettable characters he brought to life that will be etched in our memories forever -his comedic genius will be eternally remembered. 

In our collective grief, let us not only mourn the loss of a talented artist but also celebrate the vibrant life Adrian lived and the joy and laughter he brought to so many around him. 

Daniel Haber

Jean Freeman
1934-2024

Jeannie, as she was known to almost everyone, was familiar throughout Saskatchewan as an actress and director, a television producer, a radio personality, a writer and a public speaker.  Her careers in public relations, radio, television, and on the stage were accompanied by the publication of several children’s books.

I met Jeannie when I went to work at CKCK Television in 1958, where she was the first female writer-producer. She left television to work at the CBC, where she attracted a province-wide audience with her intelligent and witty commentaries, full of insight into both city and rural communities. 

Jeannie’s stage presence was wonderful to watch, in plays such as A Man for All Seasons (Best Supporting Actress) and Come Blow Your Horn (Best Character Actress). She played Louis Riel’s mother in the first production about Riel performed in Saskatchewan. In each production, she transformed herself as only a real actress can, to engage the audience. She wrote and directed Radio Rides Again, a stage production of classic radio shows, which opened the Regina Little Theatre season for seven years. She is also remembered for her role as the mayor’s grandmother on Corner Gas.

When anyone told Jeannie a story, it became material for her creative inspiration. Jeannie’s greatest love and talent was serving as a mentor. One of her proudest accomplishments was writing the brief that saved Saskatchewan’s historic Government House from destruction. If it was out there, it was worth trying, as far as she was concerned.

Jeannie won many awards, including the Canadian Public Relations Society National Award, the YWCA Woman of the Year, Regina Toastmaster’s Club Communicator of the Year, the Canada 5 Medal for Community Service, a Seniors Lifetime Achievement Award and ACTRA’s Woman of the Year. She also enjoyed Lifetime Membership in the Saskatchewan Writers Guild, of which she was a founding member. Jeannie was awarded an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts by the University of Regina in recognition of her remarkable service to the province.

She’ll be greatly missed by both the local Saskatchewan and wider Canadian community.

Lyn Goldman

Daniel “Dan” MacDonald
1934-2023

As the noon gun was fired from Citadel Hill, Dan passed away, peacefully, at the
Halifax Infirmary, on November 23. 

Dan was born into a proud Scottish family with nine siblings in Pictou, Nova Scotia on August 28, 1934.

He graduated from the famous Pictou Academy in 1953. Dan received a scholarship and attended the Vancouver Theatre School, and Saint Mary’s University.

In the late 1950’s he joined the Old Vic Company in London, England where his acting career developed. He was the first Canadian actor to receive the Shakespearean Cup. 

As part of the Old Vic touring company, he performed for several years throughout the United Kingdom and the Middle East. This is where his life changed, meeting Haligonian Nancy Fry, and they married in London England in 1965.

His film and television repertoire included Wind at My Back, Road to Avonlea, The Little Kidnappers, Blue Murder, Due South, Street Legal, The Trailer Park Boys, The Book of Negros, ENG, the Campbells, the Neptune Disaster… to name only a few. 

Dan was the first President of Canadian Actors Equity, and he negotiated the separation from American Equity including the provision of Canadian performers with Equity pensions for theatre work performed in the U.S.

Dan was also President of ACTRA, and a director of The Performing Arts Lodges of Canada (PAL), an organization that provided housing and assistance to aging performing artists across Canada.

He fought hard for the performing arts community and was a staunch supporter of the Actra Fraternal Benefit Society (AFBS), Canada’s national insurance and retirement fund provider for performers and screenwriters. 

Although based in Toronto for much of his career, Nova Scotia was his home, and he and Nancy retired to Hubbards, Nova Scotia in 2005.

Dan will be missed by performers across Canada, many of whose lives were touched by his generous spirit.

Robert Underwood

Charles Officer
1973 – 2023

On Friday, December 1, 2023. Charles Officer, sadly missed by is partner Alice. Loving father of Selah. Loved of Lonie Officer, and Hubert Officer. Dear brother of Jeanette, Hannah, Christine, Berjae, and Berjoe. Loving uncle of Tashawn, Tashawndra, Kyle, Ryan, and Darian. Charles leaves his close friends Jake and Carleen, as well as many dear friends and colleagues.

Dear Charles,

Thank you for being there for every human being who knew you. You blessed us with your constant optimism. I returned to Toronto from New York City after years of theatre school and saw you on stage at Soulpepper, in the play A Raisin in the Sun directed by Weyni Mengesha. You captivated me and the souls of many as Walter Lee Younger. You and Walter were fighting for equality for all mankind and the importance of family and legacy. I felt the way you saw the world and knew you were an artistic force to be reckoned with. Your humanity and artistry was profound and generous. Your authentic advocacy was steeped in passion and truth. I was honoured to be your friend. You deepened the importance of art and community for generations to come.

You are a renaissance man and fought for Black liberation that aimed to unite through art and love. You gave us brilliance in projects such as Nurse. Fighter. Boy, Unarmed Verses, Akilla’s Escape, and The Porter, provoking thought of the human experience. As a Black female artist, I felt safe and seen and watched you nurture BIPOC artists, reminding them of the importance of storytelling while honouring our ancestors. We will continue our work in your honour.

Your greatest creation is Selah. You have left us, but we will continue to seek your spiritual guidance and be there for him as he journeys through life. He will know the legacy his father has left for him to be outstanding.

Thank you for your outstanding work. Thank you for your unconditional love, authenticity, and joy. Thank you for Selah.

Love, Olunike Adeliyi

Matthew Perry
1969 – 2023

The world took a heavy hit when we lost one of the greats. Someone who gave us so much joy and laughter…who had dedicated his recent years to helping those struggling with addiction. 

Matthew Perry, without question, was one of the most unique talents of our time and was universally loved.

He grew up in Ottawa with his mother, Suzanne Morrison, who was a Canadian journalist and press secretary to Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau. He also went to elementary school with Justin Trudeau. When he was 15, he made the move to Los Angeles to be with his father, John Bennett Perry, and the rest is history.

His career peaked when, at the age of 24, he was the youngest actor to be cast in the immensely popular show ‘Friends’. Audiences around the world fell in love with his witty and sarcastic portrayal of ‘Chandler Bing’, and he quickly earned critical acclaim and widespread fame. 

But that’s not how I know him. I know him as Matty, which is what his friends called him. I met him in my early 20’s, when a dear friend we had in common introduced us. I remember feeling starstruck at first—he was at the height of his fame. But then something about him…perhaps his politeness, his kindness, the fact that we were both very proudly Canadian, his razor sharp wit….he just put me at ease. He was relentlessly followed by the paparazzi then, and I couldn’t help but feel protective of him. Yet he endured it all with patience and grace.

He was a deeply intelligent man, compassionate and giving. He was humble and a hopeless romantic at heart. He was thoughtful, spontaneous, included others, and literally lived to make everyone laugh. That was where he got his joy. Making people laugh. His satisfied smile at doing so said everything. 

Jennifer Finnigan

Kevin Rothery
1963-2023

The Calgary Arts Community is still grieving the loss of a beloved artist and human being. After a courageous 22-month struggle with cancer, Kevin Rothery left us on August 1, 2023. 

Kevin had a long and illustrious career as an actor, working extensively in Calgary, as well as across the country, from British Columbia to the Maritimes. He was seen on virtually every stage in Calgary, and was a perennial audience favourite at many theatre companies. Kevin also made a name for himself in the world of film and television, appearing in many films, TV movies, and television series. His commitment to his craft and ability to create rich, compelling characters, both on stage and screen, earned him admiration and respect from his colleagues and audiences alike.

Through his extensive career Kevin amassed a large network of friends across the country, all of whom will miss his incredible talent, generosity, wit, sense of humour, sparkling personality, unbridled laughter, and mostly his incredibly warm and giving heart. The flood of tributes to him after his passing was extraordinary and is a testament to the incredible impact he had on so many people’s lives. 

We had the pleasure to share the stage and a dressing room with Kevin on what would be his ultimate theatrical production – The Importance of Being Earnest at Theatre Calgary in the fall of 2022. The theatre scene was rebounding and so was Kevin. We could tell that he was nervous and apprehensive. Could he remember things well enough? Could he contribute to the room, to the play? Just a few of us knew about his condition.

Well, we are happy to report that Kevin soared! He rose to the occasion, confronted his fears head on and triumphed! It will be forever etched in our minds as “The Importance of Being Kevin”.

Duval Lang and Mark Bellamy