Actor Julien Arnold died after suffering a medical emergency on stage during a performance of A Christmas Carol in Edmonton, Alberta.
The actor, 60, had multiple roles in the interpretation of the Charles Dickens festive classic at the Citadel Theatre but was taken ill on stage on Sunday, November 24. Paramedics arrived on the scene at 8:28 p.m. local time but following unsuccessful attempts to resuscitate Arnold, he was pronounced dead at the venue.
“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,” Arnold’s friends at the Citadel said in a statement on Monday, November 25. “His presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions — and big hugs — will be deeply missed. Julien was a gifted performer whose charisma and talent graced our stage in countless productions, including A Christmas Carol.”
David Horak, artistic director of the Free Will Players, of which Arnold was a founding member, added: “He just had the ability to create characters that had the biggest hearts in the world, and he was like that as well, as a person. There’s nobody, nobody quite like him.”
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According to an obituary in the Canadian Theatre Encyclopaedia, Arnold was born in Tanzania to an English family, but moved to Edmonton as a young child, before studying at the University of Alberta and achieving a master’s degree in directing. As well as appearing as Marley and Mr. Fezziwig in A Christmas Carol, he had performed in dozens of shows over the years and founded his own theater company, The Atlas Theatre Collective, in 2008.
Arnold’s loved ones have launched a fundraiser to support the late actor’s wife, Sheiny Satanove, managing director of Punctuate! Theatre. “We are deeply grateful for the incredible support shown in memory of Julien and to assist Sheiny during this difficult time,” they shared via Instagram on Wednesday, November 27. “Your generosity will help ease the financial burden of funeral expenses and daily needs as she navigates her loss. To continue honouring Julien’s legacy, we ask that you share this fundraiser with your networks so others who knew and admired him can contribute. Each share helps us reach more people touched by Julien’s life and work, extending the support his family needs. Thank you for standing with Sheiny and for helping celebrate Julien’s enduring impact on our community.”
Meanwhile, the theater company is facing the difficult task of continuing with the show without one of its key cast members and most beloved stars.
“We are asking for some privacy and patience as we turn our attention to supporting family members, the Christmas Carol company, staff and patrons at this time,” they said. “Thank you for your ongoing kindness and understanding as we take time to remember Julien and navigate this difficult time. As they prepare to return to the stage, please know the Carol family feels the warmth and support of the community as they come together once again to share a story grounded in the importance of compassion, the power of generosity, and the resilience of the human spirit.”
