Douglas Rain Explained

Douglas Rain
Birth Name:Douglas James Rain
Birth Date:9 May 1928
Birth Place:Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Death Place:St. Marys, Ontario, Canada
Alma Mater:University of Manitoba
Banff School of Fine Arts
Old Vic Theatre School
Occupation:Actor, voice actor
Known For:Voice of HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
Spouse:Lois Shaw
Martha Henry
Children:3
Awards:Dora Mavor Moore Award

Douglas James Rain (May 9, 1928 – November 11, 2018) was a Canadian actor. Although primarily a stage actor, he is perhaps best known for his voicing of the HAL 9000 computer in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and its sequel (1984). He co-founded the Stratford Festival, and was nominated for a Tony Award for the Broadway play Vivat! Vivat Regina!.

Early life

Rain was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Scottish parents Mary and James Rain. His father was a rail yard switchman and his mother was a nurse. His parents emigrated to Canada from Glasgow, Scotland.[1]

He graduated with a B.A. from the University of Manitoba in 1950,[2] then studied acting at the Banff School of Fine Arts in Banff, Alberta and the Old Vic Theatre School in London, England.[3] [4]

Career

Rain was a founding member of the Stratford Festival of Canada in 1953 and was associated with it as an actor until 1998.[5]

He performed a wide variety of theatrical roles, such as a production of Henry V staged in Stratford, Ontario, that was adapted for television in 1966.[6] [7] In 1972, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for his performance in Vivat! Vivat Regina![8]

Voice of the HAL 9000 computer

Stanley Kubrick cast Rain as the voice of the HAL 9000 computer for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) after hearing his narration of a short documentary titled Universe and later chose him as "the creepy voice of HAL".[9] In the film, his voice was also sometimes processed with an electronic device called the Eltro information rate changer.

Rain reprised the role for the sequel (1984). He also briefly parodied it in a sketch on Second City Television where Merv Griffin (played by Rick Moranis) takes his talk show into outer space.[10]

Personal life and death

Rain was married twice, first to Lois Shaw and then to Martha Henry, who was also an actress on stage, film and television, and had three children and a grandchild. He died of natural causes on November 11, 2018, at the age of 90, at St. Mary's Memorial Hospital in St. Marys, Ontario.[11] [12] [13]

Filmography

Notes and References

  1. News: Douglas Rain, Stratford actor who voiced HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey, dies at 90 . November 12, 2018 . The Globe and Mail.
  2. Web site: December 8, 2018 . University of Manitoba: Archives & Special Collections . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20180828130526/http://umanitoba.ca/libraries/units/archives/UofM_history/prominent_grads.shtml . August 28, 2018 . December 8, 2018 . University of Manitoba.
  3. Web site: Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Rain, Douglas . 2023-03-22 . www.canadiantheatre.com.
  4. News: Smith . Harrison . November 12, 2018 . Douglas Rain, Shakespearean actor who voiced HAL in 'Space Odyssey,' dies at 90 . The Washington Post.
  5. News: Andrew. Pulver. November 12, 2018. Douglas Rain, voice of HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey, dies aged 90. November 12, 2018. The Guardian.
  6. Web site: Rain, Douglas . Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia . August 2, 2018.
  7. Web site: Douglas Rain acting credits . Stratford Festival Archives . June 21, 2019.
  8. News: Voice of 2001: A Space Odyssey's Hal dies. November 12, 2018. BBC News. November 12, 2018. en-GB.
  9. News: Johnson . Alex . Douglas Rain, the creepy voice of HAL in '2001,' dies at 90 . . November 12, 2018 . November 12, 2018 .
  10. Web site: Programs: Merv Griffin Show. SCTV Guide.
  11. Web site: Gray . Andy . Stratford Festival Founder Dies. Mystratfordnow.com . November 11, 2018.
  12. News: Douglas Rain, Voice of HAL 9000 in '2001: A Space Odyssey,' Dies at 90 . Vlessing . Etan . The Hollywood Reporter . November 11, 2018 . November 12, 2018.
  13. Web site: Voice actor HAL 9000 has passed away . Techwarrant.com . November 12, 2018 . November 12, 2018.
  14. Web site: Ohayon. Albert. The 1960s: An Explosion of Creativity. NFB.ca. National Film Board of Canada. November 10, 2011.

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