William Hutt (actor) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Hutt
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William Ian DeWitt Hutt
May 2, 1920 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Died | June 27, 2007 (aged 87) Stratford, Ontario, Canada
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| Occupation | Actor |
William Ian DeWitt Hutt (May 2, 1920 – June 27, 2007) was a famous Canadian actor. He performed on stage, in movies, and on TV for over 50 years. William Hutt won many awards for his amazing acting. While he spent most of his career at the Stratford Festival in Stratford, Ontario, he also acted in London, New York, and all over Canada.
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William Hutt's Early Life
Hutt was born in Toronto, Ontario. He was the second of three children in his family. He went to Vaughan Road Collegiate Institute in Toronto.
During World War II, he served for five years as a medic. He helped injured soldiers and received a Military Medal for his bravery. After the war, he earned his university degree in 1948 from Trinity College at the University of Toronto.
Soon after, he joined the Stratford Festival of Canada in 1953. This was the festival's very first season. A theatre director named Richard Nielsen spoke about Hutt's early life. He said that Hutt was brave to volunteer as a medic. He also noted that Hutt chose a career in theatre when Canadian theatre was just beginning.
William Hutt's Acting Career
William Hutt's acting career was mostly at the Stratford Festival. He was praised for many roles there. Some of his famous roles include King Lear in 1988. He also played James Tyrone in Long Day's Journey into Night from 1994 to 1995. This play was even made into a movie.
He also played Lady Bracknell in The Importance of Being Earnest from 1975 to 1979. Hutt performed many characters from Shakespeare's plays. These included Hamlet, Lear, Falstaff, Prospero, Macbeth, and Titus Andronicus.
Hutt was also the artistic director of the Grand Theatre in London, Ontario. He held this role from 1976 to 1980. He also acted at other famous theatres. These included the Shaw Festival and the National Arts Centre.
Film and Television Roles
William Hutt also acted in movies and on television. He played Le Moyne in the 2003 film The Statement. He also played Sir John A. Macdonald, Canada's first Prime Minister, in the TV show The National Dream. Another film he appeared in was Timothy Findley's The Wars.
Awards and Honours
William Hutt received many important awards. In 1969, he became a Companion of the Order of Canada. This is one of Canada's highest honours. In 1992, he received the Order of Ontario.
He also received an honorary Doctor of Letters degree from McMaster University in 1997. In 2000, he was added to Canada's Walk of Fame. This honours famous Canadians. Hutt also won a Governor General's Performing Arts Award in 1992. He received the Sam Wanamaker Prize in 1996.
William Hutt was one of the few people in North America to appear on a postage stamp while still alive. The stamp celebrated the Stratford Festival's anniversary. It showed him dressed as his character, Prospero.
In 2000, a bridge in Stratford, Ontario, was named the "William Hutt Bridge" to honour him. This bridge is very close to the house where he lived for many years.
Later Life and Passing
William Hutt retired from the Stratford stage in 2005. His last role was a return to his famous character, Prospero, in The Tempest. He also appeared in the TV series Slings and Arrows. In this show, he played an older actor who wanted to play King Lear one last time.
Hutt had planned to return to Stratford in 2007 for a play called A Delicate Balance. However, he had to cancel because he was not feeling well.
William Hutt was diagnosed with leukemia, a type of cancer. He passed away peacefully in his sleep on June 27, 2007, in Stratford, Ontario.
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William Hutt
