I'm choked. The first time I saw him on stage was in a production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat at the Citadel Theatre (when it was a tiny theatre) in Edmonton in about 1968. RIP.
Deeply saddened by this news. Last time I think I saw him was as Tevye at Stratford, a lovely very different but authentic performance. I still remember his terror inspiring performance in One Night Stand.
A remarkable artist, and a kind and humble person to boot. His versatility was limitless -- big Broadway musicals and small contemporary dramas, classical theater and operetta, even cabaret. As a native Canadian, I saw him multiple times at the Stratford Festival, going back to the early 80s when he played Edmund Tyrone in LONG DAY'S JOURNEY opposite Jessica Tandy and another great Canadian actor, Bill Hutt. For many in Canada, Brent Carver WAS the face of Canadian theater. He will be missed.
And as this princess lay dying She raised her lovely head And as her lover knelt beside her This is what she said Looking into those steely blue eyes of his She cried "Viva la guerra!" "Viva la revolucion!" "Viva whatever it is!"
"You can't overrate Bernadette Peters. She is such a genius. There's a moment in "Too Many Mornings" and Bernadette doing 'I wore green the last time' - It's a voice that is just already given up - it is so sorrowful. Tragic. You can see from that moment the show is going to be headed into such dark territory and it hinges on this tiny throwaway moment of the voice." - Ben Brantley (2022)
"Bernadette's whole, stunning performance [as Rose in Gypsy] galvanized the actors capable of letting loose with her. Bernadette's Rose did take its rightful place, but too late, and unseen by too many who should have seen it" Arthur Laurents (2009)
"Sondheim's own favorite star performances? [Bernadette] Peters in ''Sunday in the Park,'' Lansbury in ''Sweeney Todd'' and ''obviously, Ethel was thrilling in 'Gypsy.'' Nytimes, 2000
I was wondering about that too, Dollypop. I haven’t read anywhere about a cause. All obits I read don’t mention it. I know many think it’s not the important thing at a time as this, and is also private information, but so many have loved Mr. Carver’s performances over the years and he was so young- I think it’s just human curiosity to wonder.