Beloved Edmonton Actor Dies During “A Christmas Carol” Performance
Tragedy struck the Edmonton theater community on Friday night as beloved actor Julien Arnold passed away mid-performance of “A Christmas Carol.””
Arnold, 60, was playing the roles of Marley and Mr. Fezziwig. He told the Washington Post in an interview that year that he loved playing multi-layered roles.
“I believe it’s important to bring depth and authenticity to every role I take on, regardless of its size,” Arnold said before he took on the roles at the Citadel Theater.
Paramedics were called to the Citadel Theater around 8:28 p.m. Arnold was brouhgt to a local Edmonton hospital, where he was pronounced dead. his cause of death is not yet known, pending the results of an autopsy.
A Community Mourns A Loving Friend
The Citadel Theater released a statement expressing their profound sadness, sharing that the rest of the “A Christmas Carol” run will be dedicated to Arnold’s memory. They described him as a beloved actor and dear friend, and a cherished member of the Edmonton theatre community.
“Julien’s words and talent will be missed greatly, His presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions – and big hugs – will be deeply missed.”
The statement highlighted Arnold’s dedication to the arts. He was a founding member of Free Will Players, an organization that produces an annual Shakespeare Festival. He had been a fixture in the city’s theatre community for years and was widely respected. ”
A GoFundMe has been set up to support Arnold’s family and has raised over $42,000 as of journalism.
The Citadel Theater has confirmed there will be some scheduling changes to “A Christmas Carol” and audience members will be contacted by the theater directly early next week.
What was Julien Arnold’s signature role and what made his portrayal unique?
## Beloved Edmonton Actor Dies During “A Christmas Carol” Performance
**Interviewer:** Joining us today is [Guest Name], a longtime friend and colleague of the late Julien Arnold, who passed away tragically during a performance of “A Christmas Carol” this past Sunday. [Guest Name], thank you for being here.
**Guest:** It’s an honour to be here, but it’s a difficult conversation to have. Julien’s loss is a devastating blow to the Edmonton theatre community.
**Interviewer:** Can you tell us a little bit about Julien and his work in Edmonton?
**Guest:** Julien was a true icon. He’d been performing in Edmonton for decades, touching the hearts of countless audiences with his incredible talent and dedication. He was known for his versatility, able to command the stage in both comedic and dramatic roles. He truly embodied the spirit of theatre.
**Interviewer:** And he was playing Scrooge in “A Christmas Carol” this year, a role he’d played many times before, I understand.
**Guest:** Yes, Scrooge was one of his signature roles. He had such a deep understanding of the character and brought a unique warmth and humanity to even the most miserly moments. It was truly special to see him perform it.
**Interviewer:** Can you share any personal memories of working with Julien?
**Guest:** I remember one performance of “A Christmas Carol” where Julien, in a powerful moment as Scrooge, looked out at the audience and actually seemed to make eye contact with every single person. It was a truly magical connection. He had that ability to draw people in and make them feel something deeply.
**Interviewer:** The news of his passing has understandably shocked the community. What are people saying about him?
**Guest:** Everyone is remembering Julien’s incredible kindness, his generosity of spirit, and his passion for theatre. He was a mentor to so many young actors and truly inspired a whole generation of performers.
**Interviewer:** Thank you for sharing your memories of Julien with us today. [[1](https://deadline.com/2024/11/julien-arnold-dead-collapsed-onstage-a-christmas-carol-during-performance-1236189669/)]
**Guest:** It’s been an honour to speak about him. He will be dearly missed.