A celebrated Canadian actor Julien Arnold, 60, tragically died on stage during a holiday performance in Edmonton, Alberta.
During an evening performance of “A Christmas Carol” at the Citadel Theatre on Sunday, November 24, 2024, Arnold suffered a medical emergency. Despite the immediate arrival of paramedics at around 8:28 p.m., Arnold could not be revived.
In the production, Arnold was portraying multiple characters, including Marley, Mr. Fezziwig, and Banjo. The show was slated to entertain audiences through Christmas Eve.
Arnold was a founding member of the Free Will Players theatre company, known for its annual Freewill Shakespeare Festival in Edmonton. Over three decades, Arnold built a remarkable career, with notable roles such as the Cowardly Lion in “The Wizard of Oz,” Cogsworth in “Beauty and the Beast,” and Bottom in “A Midsummer Night’s Dream.”
In tribute to Arnold, the Citadel Theatre announced that the remaining performances of “A Christmas Carol” this season would be dedicated to his memory. The theatre highlighted his artistic contributions in a statement, saying, “His presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions – and big hugs – will be deeply missed.”
The Punctuate! Theatre, where Arnold’s wife Sheiny Satanove works as managing director, released a statement honoring him as “a gifted performer” who died embodying his love for theatre.
An outpouring of support from the theatre community has led to a fundraising campaign to help Satanove handle funeral expenses, rent, groceries, and time off work. The campaign has already succeeded in raising more than 55,000 Canadian dollars, which is approximately 43,000 U.S. dollars.
