Beloved Canadian actor Denis Simpson passes away
Denis Simpson appeared in the Arts Club Theatre Company's Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story from May to June 2010.
Beloved Vancouver-based actor and singer Denis Simpson died suddenly today, two weeks shy of his 60th birthday. According to Bill Millerd, artistic managing director of the Arts Club Theatre Company, Simpson suffered a brain hemorrhage and passed away this morning surrounded by family in Toronto, where he was about to start rehearsals for A Year With Frog and Toad with the Lorraine Kimsa Theatre for Young People.
The original bass singer of the a cappella group the Nylons, Simpson was a long-time host of the children’s television series Polka Dot Door , later hosting a cooking show on Channel M and appearing as the Live Eye Guy for City TV.
He received a Jessie Award for his 1996 one-man show Denis Anyone? and directed the critically acclaimed 2009 Fringe show NGGRFG starring Berend McKenzie. Simpson was active in charitable work, in particular with HIV/AIDS organizations. His most recent Vancouver performance was this past May to July with the Arts Club Theatre in Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story .
“He first performed for us in Ain’t Misbehavin’ in the late 1980s at the Revue Stage, and he was just electric,” Millerd recalled. “He would just take the audience into his embrace. Really, that was his personality. He embraced people and was one of those just very open, honest, performers....He was just one of those dynamic forces that suddenly are gone.”
Millerd added: “You know how people always say 'Have a nice day'? He’s the kind of person that would say it and mean it. He would look at you with his eyes and he had a big smile and you felt good. You just felt better for knowing him as a person. There was nothing dishonest about him....He just had a tremendous amount of grace.”
Millerd said the Arts Club is waiting for guidance from Simpson’s family and close friends before organizing a memorial.
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Comments
feeling in our souls....love you my friend ..."ENJOY"
I'll always remember sharing laughs with Denis and watching him interact with an audience - something very special to behold!
I am glad our last words not so long ago were full of laughs and warm greetings, exactly like him.
A warm and kind soul, Denis' legacy in Vancouver's Arts community will live on but his friendship will be sorely missed.
You will be missed!
Throughout the years, I've met Dennis and was pleased to have worked with him on numerous occasions. Always a good word, alway a sincere way about him. He will be truly missed
Our paths crossed over the years, and he always always always had a smile... even when the computer he wanted to use at the Library computer lab wasn't working.
I send condolences to his family and to all of us who will miss him so much.
Sincere condolences to Denis's family. Sing with the angels darling.
His sublime quick wit, brilliant talent that included singing, songwriting, acting ( theatre, Film, TV).
Directing or dancing his ass off - he always inspired others around him.
We're sure he's already jamming with John Lennon and God know's who else.
We'll miss him dearly.
My Family and many of our friends Will never forget you, My heart goes out to your family and all of our many friends over the years that had the chance to experience such a great talent as you Denis Simpson. Gbless you and yours..
This was my friend, Denis Simpson.
"What did he do?", he asked.
"Denis", I said. "Oh Denis, did everything."
Denis was....good.
He was the essence of a gentle man. He was frisky, caring, loving and a bon vivant gentleman on and off the stage.
You see, to those of you who didn't know him, he was an actor.
To us actors, he was who we all looked to when we were on the stage with him and off the stage clapping 'to' him, for him.
If you didn't meet him then I'm sorry about that. Because I wish you had. He made me, US, laughhhhh honey! and feel good about insecure selves. Oh yeah! Oh, the stuff we talked about! He'd knock the stuffing out of you with his antics and then give you a good hard hug and say, "It'll all work out, you'll see, cause Ah'm here! baby!"
I will miss you, you brave and gentle, silly soul who you are and still are...somewhere.
Wherever you are, someone is running up to you, Denis Simpson, with eyes wide open, and a great big smile, wanting to break through those crowds around you and see why you're causing so many to laugh at the top of their lungs!
Dane
Dane B. McFadhen