Summary
Veteran actor Julien Arnold, 60, died on Nov. 24 during a performance of A Christmas Carol at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Canada.
The theater described Arnold as a beloved member of the local arts community whose talent and charisma enriched countless productions.
He suffered a medical emergency on stage while playing Marley and Mr. Fezziwig and could not be revived despite paramedics’ efforts.
The cause of death remains unknown. The Citadel Theatre is dedicating this season’s run of A Christmas Carol to his memory.
60 is too young, but at least he got to go out doing what he loved to do.
Going out doing what you love to do is great, and all - but not in front of everybody!
I mean it sucks for the audience obviously, but if being on stage was what I loved most in the world (which is true of most stage actors), dying on stage would be what I would want.
I used to joke back when I did stand-up that literally (rather than what often happened figuratively) dying right on stage right after saying, “be sure to tip your wait staff!” would be the perfect moment to die.
Writhing on the ground in agony in fear in front of his loved ones?
You aren’t invited to very many parties, are you?
And in front of complete strangers. That’s what acting is all about.
That’s true. I guess I just imagined myself in that situation
Sounds like he had a massive heart attack, so it would basically be:
You’re singing. Then dead. There is no writhing on the ground just lights out and topple over.
Sadly, no, it takes, as I recall, about 2 minutes for oxygen starvation in the brain to make it fade out.
From what I have been told by people who were revived after their heart stopped, there was no 2 minutes of “wtf is going on with me,” it was a lot more like being under general anesthesia. You’re gone and then you’re back.
I went into cardiac arrest and from the moment I realized something was wrong to blacking out felt like 10 seconds but was probably closer to 2 or 3.