Farewells
We remember… today and always
Len Birman
1932-2023
Leonard Birman has left the stage, exiting his long and fabulous life at 90 years and passing peacefully at Cedars Sinai in Los Angeles on February 10.
Len was the son of Maurice and Anne Birman, brother to David and Norton and father to Matthew. His wife Ruby predeceased him in 2020 after 56 wonderful years together. He is survived by his two loving sisters-in-law Marilyn and Naomi, his dear grandchildren Jack and Spencer who loved their “Poppy” like mad, and sweet daughter-in-law Neesha. Uncle Lenny also leaves behind beautiful nieces and nephews Elissa, Wendy, Alden, Perry and Sheldon.
One of Canada’s most respected actors, Len had an almost 50-year career spanning theatre, film, radio and television from the far reaches of the globe to his crazy commutes between Montreal, Toronto, New York and Los Angeles. Both he and wife Ruby were trailblazers in the industry, when live television and radio were the norm. A multi-award winner, it is hard to know where to begin the saga of his wonderful career.
He was also an accomplished multi-medium artist who loved working in everything from watercolour and oil to clay and bronze. His imagination and creativity were boundless.
He could grab a spark of illumination from the tiniest moment, giving his attention to detail to the little things in life he held most importantly, all qualities that made him a great listener, a phenomenal storyteller and a loving, caring friend. He was grounding, he was strength and he was knowledge. While often an enigma, he was a philosopher and a poet, a true gentleman and, to boot, a suave and styling dresser!
He was a lover of a good joke, whether borscht-belt gems or a corny old chestnut, and he’d often sit for hours repeatedly retelling our favourite jokes.
Somehow, we’d laugh every time.
Matt Birman
Doreen Brownstone
1922-2022
On the morning of Friday, December 16, 2022, Doreen Brownstone, O.M. died peacefully in her sleep at the age of 100. A mainstay in Winnipeg’s film and theatre scene, Doreen was called both the “Grand Dame of Winnipeg Theatre” and Winnipeg‘s “Theatre Grandma,” reflecting the kind of warm inclusivity with which she approached her castmates who very often became friends.
Doreen began acting during her time in the Royal Air Force during the Second World War before moving to Winnipeg as a war bride. When John Hirsch and Tom Hendry established Theatre 77, she was involved from the beginning, both taking classes and performing. In 1958, she played opposite Gordon Pinsent in Manitoba Theatre Centre’s inaugural production, A Hatful of Rain, before taking a long break (to raise children and teach swimming).
Doreen re-entered professional performance seriously in the 1970s, appearing frequently in CBC radio dramas during their heyday (and as a regular on CBC TV’s multi-city soap opera House of Pride). Although theatre performance was her first love, she was also a prolific film, TV and radio actor, and a passionately proud ACTRA member (she was also a staunch supporter and appreciator of Canadian Equity, she would be quick to point out).
Later in her career, she appreciated the opportunities film provided, including less memorization, which allowed her to continue working right up to the end. She acted in theatre for the last time at age 92, but she submitted her final TV audition the same month she turned 100. Her final feature, Whatever Happened to Barbara Blackwood?, in which she played the titular role is yet to be released. Being able to continue to work was meaningful to Doreen, as was her connection to her vast theatre and film “family,” including many of you reading this.
Stefanie Wiens
Patricia Hamilton
1937-2023
Pat Hamilton is, unquestionably, best known to most viewers as Rachel Lynde in the Anne of Green Gables movies as well as the television series, Road to Avonlea. Also unquestionable is that her passion was in the theatre. She acted in every regional theatre in the country, all the mid-sized and countless small theatres in Toronto, on and off Broadway, across America, etc. Teaching, producing, occasionally directing, always mentoring, she was a force with which to be reckoned. But mostly, for her, it was about her main craft; she had a life-long devotion to and fascination with the art of acting.
Born in Regina, Saskatchewan, Pat studied at Carnegie Tech in Pittsburgh, then worked across the States and Canada before settling in Toronto. She didn’t stop working until she was 80, with hundreds of stage, film and television credits over a 60-year career. She brought energy and enthusiasm to every project; her fierce dedication and determination are remembered by everyone who worked with her. She was an unflinching optimist, with seemingly unlimited reserves of strength.
In the time after her death at age 86, I’ve heard from so many people about what Patsy meant to them: Inspiration, collaboration, humour, play, professionalism, the search for excellence… but mostly friendship. She had so many friends, so many colleagues for whom the gift of her presence was something that went beyond ordinary workplace stuff; they wanted to bask in her light, to feed off her natural radiance. A colleague of mine said that she was the best scene partner he’d ever had; that to look into her eyes in a scene was to feel absolutely present and totally eliminated the need to “act.”
Some of the most lasting impact she’s had has been as a facilitator for education. She started Masterclass Theatre in Toronto in the ‘80s, which she presided over for seven years before it was morphed into the Advanced Actors’ Workshop at Banff. She felt actors were always being short-changed for time: they were being limited by the demands of the system and three weeks was not enough time to examine a play before presenting it to an audience. She wanted actors to have a chance to employ their craft without having to build tension into the rehearsals. She succeeded through the strength of her convictions: 11 shows got produced over that time, employing scores of actors (in the case of the last group, for three years running!) who worked on shows with longer rehearsal periods than most North American actors see in a lifetime.
Some people have described her as fearless. As her only son, I can lay that notion to rest: It wasn’t true. She had many fears and anxieties; they plagued her as they plagued everyone. As she got older, the fear of losing her words gave her a lot of trouble before she actually started to lose them. But if bravery is the ability to act in spite of one’s fears, then my mom was a hugely brave soul. She threw herself at the work with abandon and sought out challenge as hunters seek food. I suspect if illness hadn’t slowed her down and limited her capacity, she would have worked up until the day she died.
Take a break Ma, you’ve earned it. Time for a coffee in the Great Greenroom in the Sky.
Ben Carlson
Gordon Lightfoot
1938-2023
I met Gordon Lightfoot when he was visiting the CBC in Toronto in the 1970s. He was curious about environmental issues. I was giddy to meet such a big star, but he was disarming in his low-key demeanour and genuine curiosity.
I took advantage of that meeting when I joined the battle in BC to save the Stein Valley in from logging. I invited Gordon to come and sing for an annual festival to celebrate the Valley. He drew a lot of people and came regularly after that. When the festival went deep into the red, Gordon wrote a cheque that kept it going until 1989 when 20,000 people attended. It’s now the Stein Valley Nlaka’pamux Heritage Park. What impressed me was his lack of ego. He never demanded credit or even to have his support acknowledged.
In 1988, when I was filming a special about the Amazon for The Nature of Things, I was overwhelmed by the destruction of one of the greatest ecosystems on the planet. I met Kayapo leader Paiakan, who told me he had learned the World Bank had promised Brazil a loan of $500 million to build a dam that would flood a vast area of territory, including Kayapo land. “I have a plan to bring all the tribes who will be flooded to the dam site where we will tell the government it must not be built,” he told me through a translator. “But I need money. Can you help?”
I called my wife, Tara Cullis, in Vancouver, told her of Paiakan’s plan and his willingness to come to Canada to raise money. With help from the World Wildlife Fund and Elizabeth May, she organized events in Toronto and Ottawa , which included performances by the Nylons, Margaret Atwood, Paiakan and Gordon. Aside from raising $70,000 for Paiakan to protect the “lungs of the planet,” we called for people to write the federal finance minister and Canada’s representative at the World Bank and ask them to stop the money for the dam.
Gordon came to the Amazon for Paiakan’s event. Although he was a mega star, on this trip, he hauled his luggage like everyone else, doubled up in hotel rooms and slept in a hammock under a grass roof at a research station near Manaus. He didn’t find it easy. Again, he held back, taking it all in as people like Sting soaked up the media attention. After four days of demonstrations at the dam, the gathering ended just as a rainbow appeared overhead and we learned the World Bank had cancelled its loan.
Gordon led quite a life. In the outpouring of memories and celebration of his immense musical legacy, I am grateful to remind people of his contribution to the fight to protect Mother Earth.
David Suzuki
Thomas (Tom) Peacocke
1933-2022
The “small-town boy from Barons, Alberta,” theatrical giant, actor, director, teacher, administrator, advisor, mentor, advocate, raconteur, humanitarian, father figure and friend who understood the importance of community – the cornerstone of his professional and personal life – has taken his final bow from this earthly stage and moved on to his much warranted rest with his extraordinary wife, Judy, soulmate and love of his life.
Of his dozens of outstanding acting roles, the most notable was his Genie Award-winning performance as Père Athol Murray in The Hounds of Notre Dame in 1981. An ACTRA Life Member, he was also a distinguished recipient of the Order of Canada (1995), the Queen’s Medal, Dave Billington Award, University of Alberta Distinguished Alumni Award and Elizabeth Sterling Haines Lifetime Achievement Award.
We shall surely miss Tom: his humour and his vision; his bristle; his love of food, art and natural beauty; his mischief and passion, and the tenacity of his beliefs. Tom loved our shared history and heritage and admired the richness and light he saw in others; he championed Canadian storytellers and had a life-long passion for the writings and artworks of our Indigenous nations. He strived for a better future for Canadian theatre and society, while his disdain for arrogant political stupidity never ebbed. He was at once a complex and simple man, and a fighter to the end.
Tom was an uncompromising man who defined his character through purpose and could not resist any opportunity to try to make us better. He led by example, instilling confidence, engagement, and permission to love deeply. In his company, you felt a unique bond that no one else shared. This was his most remarkable gift; every relationship mattered to him. If you thought you were special to him, you were right. As with most, I never left his company without feeling enlightened, enriched and uplifted. Countless theatre artists carry the soul and passion Tom infused in them and he remained a guidepost throughout their artistic lives. We shall all miss him tremendously, but we are so thankful for having had him in our lives.
“May flights of angels sing thee to thy rest.”
Jean-Pierre Fournier
Gordon Pinsent
1930-2023
When the end of Gord’s spectacular run was in sight, and while his upper story was slipping a little, he could still always slay me with his wit. To wit: five years ago, we got a mini-doodle puppy and Gord named her Flossie after his mother, Florence, who “insisted on Flossie ‘cause Florence was just too fancy.”
Gord and little 20-pound Flossie were more than besties, they were soulmates to the end. Flossie always made such a fuss over Gord during his weekly visits, never leaving his side ‘til he left then would mope after his departure.
About a year ago, I was driving Gord home from a haircut and lunch when we stopped at a red light. To our side was a carbon copy of Flossie but about four times her size. I marvelled to Gord: “Look at that dog, it’s Flossie but four times the size!” He glanced over and said, “Yeah…Flossie auditioned for that part. Didn’t get it.”
This was Gord. Flashes of brilliance and a proud actor to the end. It was my absolute privilege to know him as family for 23 years.
We lost a great one, but the foundation he built for Canadian actors will be eternally rock solid.
Peter Keleghan
Red Robinson
1937-2023
As the public mourns the recent passing of larger-than-life media personality Red Robinson, it’s inspiring to consider just how much larger than life Red truly was.
The teenage DJ who first brought rock ’n’ roll to Canada via CJOR radio in Vancouver, Red was the only announcer to MC both an Elvis Presley concert and a Beatles show. Red added more colour than his red hair to the vibrancy of youth culture.
To be a kid growing up with Red on the radio was like having one of “us” in the driver’s seat. His red 1957 Ford Fairlane 500 convertible, from which he would broadcast live on the streets of Vancouver, made him a one-man parade in the burgeoning days of rock music. Attracting kids to his live broadcasts at the Kitsilano Showboat was huge fun for everyone, except some of the older generation who considered Red as much a threat as the beat music he championed.
When the then-Boulevard Casino named its lavish theatre the Red Robinson Show Theatre, it was a fitting tribute to the legend himself. Red would occasionally show up onstage to introduce the acts. The audience always gave Red a standing ovation; it became a matter of anticipation whether he might actually show up to MC the acts.
When the suits at the now Hard Rock Casino Vancouver decided to rename the theatre, a petition to prevent it was signed by everyone in the business, including such influential names as Bruce Allen. That movement has recently been revived; may it yet succeed!
Red never stopped being creative, productive, a pioneer and a champion of the music of youth, a philanthropic media personality and an author. He had multiple Hall of Fame inductions, was appointed to the Order of British Columbia and won too many awards to mention. Red did not outlive his legend, legacy or larger-than-life success as hero to us all.
Al Harlow
Samantha Weinstein
1995 – 2023
Samantha Weinstein (28) died peacefully at Toronto’s Princess Margaret Hospital on May 14th, 2023 after a vicious, two and a half year battle with ovarian cancer.
Having started acting at age six, she leaves behind her twenty-two year career having played so many interesting, challenging roles and receiving a great deal of critical acclaim along the way.
At age ten Samantha was nominated for best performance by a female and later became the youngest recipient to date of the ACTRA Toronto Award. She won for her performance in the short film, Big Girl, which had just won best Canadian short film at the 2006 Toronto International Film Festival. She was nominated for a second time in 2020 for the ACTRA Award in voice, for her performance in the animated series, D.N.Ace. Samantha also had a twenty year career in voice having started in it at the age of eight.
Samantha once said in an interview that cancer was both the best and worst thing that had ever happened to her. It was the best because after her terminal prognosis in June of 2022, she started to really live her best life. With just a year left to live she decided to travel. First to the west coast of Canada, followed by trips to Disneyworld, Japan, Hawaii, and Mexico. She travelled until it was no longer safe for her to do so. Samantha also got married to her love and best friend, Michael in October of 2022. She spent a great deal of time with her friends and reached new heights of friendship with them all. She ate ice cream for breakfast, listened to tons of music, dove deep into her relationships and made sure every day counted. She really learned who she was and what was important.
Sam leaves behind her sister, Sabrina; husband, Michael; her parents, David and Jojo; her best friend, Steph; and her punk band, Killer Virgins. May she be off on her next adventure!
Jojo Weinstein
