Obituary of Richard Francois Donat

Richard Donat died on Saturday, March 28 with his partner Maggie Thomas, and their sons Owen and Morgan Donat by his side.

Born in Kentville, Nova Scotia, and brother to actor Peter Donat and nephew to actor Robert Donat, so as a young man Richard decided to try acting. He graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in l967 and began a career in theatres across the country. From the middle 1970’s to the late 1980’s he lived in Toronto started a family and worked on stage, in film and TV and on radio. In 1974 he was in the smash hit Hosanna by Michel Tremblay which toured Canada and went to New York City, Off Broadway. He was awarded a Dora Mavor Award for In the Jungle Of the Cities and nominated for a Genie Award for the film My American Cousin. In 1989 the family moved to Nova Scotia to a home on the South Shore. Richard continuing working in theatre in such productions as Stone Angel, Our Town, Driving Miss Daisy, The Drawer Boy and Fool for Love for which he was awarded a Merrit Award. Starring in His Greatness he was awarded a second Dora Mavor Moore Award.  He won much respect as a director of shows including Gideons Blues and Consecreated Ground by Nova Scotia writer George Boyd and was awarded the Montreal English Critics Award for his productions of Wade in the Water and The Drawer Boy at Centaur Theatre. Appearing in many films and TV shows he can be seen as Colonel Boyle in Blackfly, Dr. Burnley in Emily of New Moon and Vince Teagues in Haven. With CBC Halifax radio drama he can be heard as the voice of Ben Marsden in the radio series Clean Sweep, narrating Rockbound the 2005 Canada Reads winner and every Christmas reading the poem Christmas At Sea by Robert Louis Stevenson.

A passionate gardener, a loving and supportive partner, a devoted father and an extremely proud grandfather of Charlize, Nadia, Mira and Taran. He will be missed but his presence will always be with us.  He was a good man.

Donations if you wish can be made to the South Shore Regional Hospital. Over the two years of his illnesses the staff at the hospital have been so very kind and caring, supportive to both Maggie and Richard.   

Arrangements entrusted to Sweeny’s Funeral Home, Bridgewater, where online condolences may be left at www.sweenysfuneralhome.com