R.I.P. Douglas Rain, voice of HAL 9000
Variety reports that Douglas Rain, the actor who memorably voiced the terrifyingly polite HAL 9000 in Stanley Kubrick’s 2001: A Space Oddysey has died at the age of 90. According to the Stratford Festival, which Rain co-founded in 1972, he died of natural causes in Stratford, Ontario.
Born in Winnipeg, Rain was a prolific screen actor, having performed in a number of Canadian TV series, including Festival and Playdate. His true passion, however, was theater, the art form in which he performed for the majority of his life. In 1972, he was nominated for a Tony Award for his role in Robert Bolt’s production of Vivat! Vivat! Regina!.
“Canadian theatre has lost one of its greatest talents and a guiding light in its development,” Stratford’s artistic director, Antoni Cimolino, said in a press release Sunday. “Douglas Rain was that rare artist: an actor deeply admired by other actors.” He performed at the esteemed festival for more than 45 years.