Actors Theatre Of Louisville Honors Late Actor Ray Fry, Memorial Held 5/17

Actors Theatre of Louisville was saddened by the news that Ray Fry died on Monday, May 4 in Louisville, Kentucky at the age of 86 following a brief illness.
"Ray Fry was a company member for more than 24 years, throughout a significant period of Actors Theatre's history," said Artistic Director Marc Masterson. "His impression on our theatre as well as theatres around the country was significant. He will be missed."

A Memorial Service will be held on Sunday, May 17 at 10:30 a.m. in the Bingham Theatre at Actors Theatre of Louisville, 316 W. Main Street. Expressions of sympathy may be sent to Actors Theatre of Louisville.

In addition, this year's production of A Christmas Carol will be dedicated to Ray Fry who was well known throughout Louisville for his portray of Scrooge on The Actors Theatre stage for 10 years.
ABOUT Ray Fry:
Mr. Fry was born February 22, 1923, in Hebron, Indiana and grew up in Gary, Indiana. He is predeceased by his parents, Ernest and Elva Fry, and a sister. He will be missed by his many colleagues and good friends, including George Hayden and Karl and Roanne Victor.

Mr. Fry attended Indiana University and Northwestern and later completed his B.A. degree at San Francisco State University. He moved to New York City at the age of 22 and immediately landed a role on Broadway in HICKORY STICK, starring Richard Basehart and Steve Cochran. Other Broadway productions include Jose Ferrer's CYRANO DE BERGERAC and a revival of THE CRADLE WILL ROCK, starring AlfrEd Drake and Vivian Vance. He also appeared in the National Tour of THE SUNSHINE BOYS as standby to both Sam Levene and Jack Albertson. In the late 1940's Mr. Fry performed in USO Army tours during the Korean War in Germany, France and England.

Mr. Fry is best remembered for his long career in regional theatre. He was a founding member of The Acting Company of The American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco from 1953 to 1966, leaving there to join the founding acting company of the Repertory Theatre at New York's then brand-new Lincoln Center where he performed for nine seasons, before joining Actors Theatre of Louisville's resident company. He was a member of The Actors Theatre resident company from 1974 to 1989.

Over a period of 24 years at Actors Theatre, Mr. Fry played a wide range of roles in such plays as THE GIN GAME, ON GOLDEN POND, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? and BEAST ON THE MOON. However, he is probably best remembered for his masterful portrayal of the curmudgeonly "Scrooge" in Charles Dickens' A CHRISTMAS CAROL which he performed for ten years.

In addition to acting, Mr. Fry directed a number of plays, including BORN YESTERDAY, BRIEF LIVES, THE CAINE MUTINY COURT MARTIAL, CLOUD NINE, DEAR LIAR and the Australian tour of THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL. Other theatres at which he appeared include Indiana Repertory Theatre, Guthrie Theater, O'Neill Theatre Center, Dallas Shakespeare Festival, Sundance Institute and four summers with the New Harmony Project in Indiana

 

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