Dawn Greenhalgh, the Canadian stage star also known for her roles in films including Virgin suicides and television roles in Anne of Green Gablesdied on November 6 in Toronto. She was 93 years old.
His death was announced by his family and the Stratford Festival in Ontario. The cause was not revealed, but her family noted that she died peacefully at home, surrounded by loved ones.
“The Festival lost one of its founders this week with the passing of Dawn Greenhalgh,” the Stratford Festival said in a statement. “Dawn was one of the few surviving members of the first theater company, having joined the Festival in 1953 at just 19 years old. She played a Lady at the Court of France in All’s well that ends wella production starring Alec Guinness as the King of France.
“For eight seasons, she played characters such as Charmian in Antony and Cleopatra (1967), Natalia Petrovna in A month in the countryside (1973), Béline in The imaginary invalid (1974), the Princess of France in Love’s labor is lost (1974), Dionyza in Pericles (1974) and Héloïse in Héloïse and Abelard (1978).”
See the full Festival statement below.
Among his many screen credits are Canadian television series such as Slings and Arrows, Dracula the Series And Strange paradise. In the 1985 limited series Anne of Green Gablesshe starred alongside her daughter Megan Follows and in the 2013 CW series Reign she played Catherine, Queen of France.
Other television credits include Five days at the Memorial, Saving hope, La Femme Nikita and animation Babar.
Born in Shanghai, China in 1933, Greenhalgh emigrated to Canada at the age of 14, accompanied only by a guardian. She launched a stage career shortly after high school.
Greenhalgh was the matriarch of one of Canada’s most prominent acting families, which, besides Megan Follows, includes Greenhalgh’s other children Edwina Follows, Samantha Follows and Laurence Follows, her children with her former husband, actor Ted Follows.
“For more than 60 years, Dawn has captivated audiences across the country, performing frequently on radio, film, television and on stage,” notes the Stratford Festival. “Her immense talent, her lively spirit and her dedication have truly made her a pioneer on the Canadian art scene. »
Greenhalgh was just 19 when in 1953 she was made a founding member of the Stratford Festival. She would go on to become a founding member of Neptune Theater in Halifax and Theater Plus in Toronto.
Of her film roles, her family notes that she “loved working with directors Sophia Coppola (Virgin suicides) and David Cronenberg (Star map)”, as well as with his daughter on Anne of Green Gables.
“Dawn Greenhalgh was a powerhouse, a dynamic and brilliant actress,” said Stratford artistic director Antoni Cimolino. “As an extraordinary artist, she could be both charming and unsettling. It was a pleasure to hear her views on plays and productions, as it drew on a lifetime of broad experience, a sparkling intellect, and an independent, free-thinking spirit.”
Greenhalgh is survived by children Edwina Follows (Matthew Ives); Laurence follows (Peter Ferri); Samantha follows (Sean O’Bryan); and Megan follows; six grandchildren, two step-grandchildren.
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