Veteran stage actor Julien Arnold died after suffering a medical emergency onstage during a performance of A Christmas Carol at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Canada.
Arnold, who died Sunday, was 59, according to the Edmonton Journal, which noted that he was playing the role of jovial Fezziwig, Scrooge’s mentor who was the opposite of his miserly apprentice. According to the Citadel’s website, he also played the role of Marley and other ensemble parts in this production.
According to CBC, paramedics were called to the scene and made resuscitation attempts, but Arnold died in the theater.
The Citadel announced his death on Instagram but did not reveal the cause of death.
“It is with heavy hearts we share the news of the sudden passing of Julien Arnold, a beloved actor and dear friend of the Citadel Theatre,” the caption read. “A cherished member of the Edmonton theatre community, Julien was a gifted performer whose charisma and talent graced our stage in countless productions, including A Christmas Carol. Julien’s passing is a profound loss to his family, friends, fellow Carol company members, Citadel staff, and the Edmonton community he loved so dearly. His presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions — and big hugs — will be deeply missed.”
The theater added that this season’s run of A Christmas Carol will be dedicated to Arnold’s memory and that a GoFundMe page had been set up to assist his widow, Sheiny, and the various costs related to the funeral and other expenses.
The Citadel also posted several photos of Arnold appearing in its productions over the years, including previous performances of A Christmas Carol, in which he’s held various roles. He’s also portrayed Feste in Twelfth Night, the Cowardly Lion in The Wizard of Oz, Cogwsorth in Beauty and the Beast, Bottom in A Midsummer’s Night Dream and Da in Once. Other Citadel credits include Make Mine Love; One Man, Two Guvnors; Sense and Sensibility; Evangeline; Spamalot; and Travels With My Aunt.
According to his bio on the Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia website, Arnold grew up in Edmonton and graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor’s degree in fine arts in 1989. In 2006, he earned a master’s degree in fine arts in directing from the University of Alberta.
Arnold was a founding member of Free Will Players, not-for-profit, professional theater company that produces the Freewill Shakespeare Festival each summer in Edmonton. He also founded his own company, the Atlas Theatre Collective, for which he directed and starred in several productions.
In addition, he performed for Workshop West Theatre, Theatre Network, Northern Light Theatre, Mayfield Dinner Theatre and Theatre Yes in the world premiere of Cat Walsh’s play The Laws of Thermodynamics, for which he was nominated for a Sterling Award for best performance by a supporting actor. Arnold also won a Sterling Award for best Fringe performance by an actor for his starring role in A Picasso at the Edmonton Fringe Festival and was an ensemble member of Teatro La Quindicina.
