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Julien Arnold, a celebrated Canadian stage actor and founder of Edmonton's Free Will Players theater company, passed away on November 24 at age 60 following a medical emergency during a live performance at the Citadel Theatre. Arnold, who was portraying multiple roles in 'A Christmas Carol', collapsed mid-show, prompting paramedics to arrive at 8:28 p.m. Despite multiple resuscitation attempts, he was pronounced dead at the scene, according to Alberta Health Services.
Arnold's death has left the Edmonton arts community in mourning. Born and raised in Edmonton, Arnold graduated from the University of Alberta before embarking on a prolific career in theater. Over the years, he captivated audiences in productions such as 'The Taming of the Shrew', 'The Wizard of Oz', 'Twelfth Night', and 'Sense and Sensibility'. His enduring legacy includes founding the Free Will Players, a Shakespeare-focused company that produces Edmonton's annual Freewill Shakespeare Festival.
The Citadel Theatre has announced modifications to the remaining performances of 'A Christmas Carol' to provide time for the cast and crew to grieve. The theater's executive director Jessie van Rijn and artistic director Daryl Cloran released a heartfelt statement describing Arnold as an actor whose presence brought "joy, heart, and depth" to every role he played. "His artistic contributions—and big hugs—will be deeply missed," they wrote.
The theater community continues to pay tribute to Arnold's impactful career and larger-than-life personality.
