Douglas James Rain (May 9, 1928 – November 11, 2018) was a Canadian actor. Although primarily a stage actor, he is perhaps best known for his voicing of the HAL 9000 computer in the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and its sequel 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984). He co-founded the Stratford Festival, and was nominated for a Tony Award for the Broadway play Vivat! Vivat Regina!.
Douglas Rain | |
|---|---|
 Rain in 1968 | |
| Born | Douglas James Rain May 9, 1928 Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada |
| Died | November 11, 2018 (aged 90) St. Marys, Ontario, Canada |
| Alma mater | University of Manitoba Banff School of Fine Arts Old Vic Theatre School |
| Occupation(s) | Actor, voice actor |
| Known for | Voice of HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) |
| Spouse(s) | Lois Shaw Martha Henry |
| Children | 3 |
| Awards | Dora Mavor Moore Award |
Early life
editRain was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to Scottish parents Mary and James Rain. His father was a rail yard switchman and his mother was a nurse. His parents emigrated to Canada from Glasgow, Scotland.[1]
He graduated with a B.A. from the University of Manitoba in 1950,[2] then studied acting at the Banff School of Fine Arts in Banff, Alberta and the Old Vic Theatre School in London, England.[3][4]
Career
editRain was a founding member of the Stratford Festival of Canada in 1953 and was associated with it as an actor until 1998.[5]
He performed a wide variety of theatrical roles, such as a production of Henry V staged in Stratford, Ontario, that was adapted for television in 1966.[6][7] In 1972, he was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for his performance in Vivat! Vivat Regina![8]
Voice of the HAL 9000 computer
editStanley Kubrick cast Rain as the voice of the HAL 9000 computer for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) after hearing his narration of a short documentary titled Universe and later chose him as "the creepy voice of HAL".[9] In the film, his voice was also sometimes processed with an electronic device called the Eltro information rate changer.
Rain reprised the role for the sequel 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984). He also briefly parodied it in a sketch on Second City Television where Merv Griffin (played by Rick Moranis) takes his talk show into outer space.[10]
Personal life and death
editRain was married twice, first to Lois Shaw and then to Martha Henry, who was also an actress on stage, film and television, and had three children and a grandchild. He died of natural causes on November 11, 2018, at the age of 90, at St. Mary's Memorial Hospital in St. Marys, Ontario.[11][12] [13]
Filmography
edit- Christmas in the Market Place (1956, TV movie) - Joey
- Oedipus Rex (1957) — Messenger
- The Hill (1960, TV movie) - Jesus
- Just Mary (1960, TV series) — voice
- The Night They Killed Joe Howe (1960, TV drama, co-starring Austin Willis and James Doohan) — Joseph Howe
- Universe (1960, short film)[14] — Narrator
- One Plus One (1961) — segment "The Divorcee"
- William Lyon Mackenzie: A Friend to His Country (1961, short) — William Lyon Mackenzie
- Robert Baldwin: A Matter of Principle (1961, short) — William Lyon Mackenzie
- The Other Man (1963, TV miniseries) — David Henderson
- Twelfth Night (1964, TV movie)
- Fields of Sacrifice (1964) — Narrator
- Henry V (1966, TV movie) — Henry V
- 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) — voice of HAL 9000[8]
- Talking to a Stranger (1971, TV miniseries) — Alan
- Sleeper (1973) — voice of Evil Computer and Various Robot Butlers
- The Russian-German War (1973, documentary) — Narrator
- The Man Who Skied Down Everest (1974) — Narrator
- One Canadian: The Political Memoirs of the Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker (1976, TV miniseries, voice)
- SCTV (1982, "The Merv Griffin Show") — voice of HAL 9000
- 2010: The Year We Make Contact (1984) — voice of HAL 9000
- Love and Larceny (1985, TV movie) — Ashton Fletcher
References
edit- ^ "Douglas Rain, Stratford actor who voiced HAL 9000 in 2001: A Space Odyssey, dies at 90". The Globe and Mail. November 12, 2018.
- ^ "University of Manitoba: Archives & Special Collections". University of Manitoba. December 8, 2018. Archived from the original on August 28, 2018. Retrieved December 8, 2018.
- ^ "Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia - Rain, Douglas". www.canadiantheatre.com. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ^ Smith, Harrison (November 12, 2018). "Douglas Rain, Shakespearean actor who voiced HAL in 'Space Odyssey,' dies at 90". The Washington Post.
- ^ Pulver, Andrew (November 12, 2018). "Douglas Rain, voice of HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey, dies aged 90". The Guardian. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ "Rain, Douglas". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia. Retrieved August 2, 2018.
- ^ "Douglas Rain acting credits". Stratford Festival Archives. Retrieved June 21, 2019.
- ^ a b "Voice of 2001: A Space Odyssey's Hal dies". BBC News. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ Johnson, Alex (November 12, 2018). "Douglas Rain, the creepy voice of HAL in '2001,' dies at 90". NBC News. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ "Programs: Merv Griffin Show". SCTV Guide.
- ^ Gray, Andy. "Stratford Festival Founder Dies". Mystratfordnow.com. Retrieved November 11, 2018.
- ^ Vlessing, Etan (November 11, 2018). "Douglas Rain, Voice of HAL 9000 in '2001: A Space Odyssey,' Dies at 90". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ "Voice actor HAL 9000 has passed away". Techwarrant.com. November 12, 2018. Retrieved November 12, 2018.
- ^ Ohayon, Albert. "The 1960s: An Explosion of Creativity". NFB.ca. National Film Board of Canada. Retrieved November 10, 2011.
