If the content you are seeing is presented as unstyled HTML your browser is an older version that cannot support cascading style sheets. If you wish to upgrade your browser you may download Mozilla or Internet Explorer for Windows.

Rain, Douglas

CTE photo
Douglas Rain as Shylock in the 1995 Stratford Festival production of The Merchant of Venice

One of the finest actors in the country, he was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba in 1928.

Douglas Rain has performed lead roles across the country but is probably best known for his four-decade association with the Stratford Festival where he has performed in a wide variety of productions from Michael Langham 's celebrated Henry V in 1956 to the more recent leads in the premiere of Elliott Hayes ' Homeward Bound (1991), Albert Millaire 's production of Michel Tremblay 's Bonjour, là, bonjour (1992) and as Shylock in the 95-96 production of The Merchant of Venice. In 1998 he played the lead in A Man For All Seasons, and received almost unanimously positive reviews.

He has also performed at the Shaw Festival notably in Arms and the Man and Simpleton of the Unexpected Isles and Heartbreak House (1999).

He has also played at the Tarragon Theatre , Manitoba Theatre Centre and was head of English acting section at the National Theatre School of Canada (1974-77).

Douglas Rain brings a modernity of accent and spirit to his performances that always illuminates the texts in which he plays.

He is probably best known for his performance as the voice of HAL 9000 in Stanley Kubrick's masterpiece, 2001, A Space Odyssey. He also performed in the sequel, 2010.

(Additional information provided by Paul Burwick)

Last updated 2009-07-21