Actor Julien Arnold has tragically died after suffering from a medical emergency on stage.
The 60-year-old actor was playing the roles of Marley, Mr. Fezziwig, and Banjo during A Christmas Carol at the Citadel Theatre in Edmonton, Canada, on November 24 when the tragedy occurred.
According to the Daily Mail, emergency services arrived around 8.28PM but despite multiple resuscitation attempts, Arnold was pronounced dead at the scene. A cause of death is yet to be disclosed.
The company announced his passing in a statement, which read: “It is with heavy hearts we share the news of the sudden passing of Julien Arnold, a beloved actor and dear friend of the Citadel Theatre.
“A cherished member of the Edmonton theatre community, Julien was a gifted performer whose charisma and talent graced our stage in countless productions, including A Christmas Carol. Julien’s passing is a profound loss to his family, friends, fellow Carol company members, Citadel staff, and the Edmonton community he loved so dearly," they penned.
The statement continued: “His presence brought joy, heart and depth to every role, and his artistic contributions - and big hugs - will be deeply missed. In his honor, this season’s run of A Christmas Carol is dedicated to his memory.
"We kindly ask for respect for his family’s privacy during this difficult time. Your love, support, and well wishes are deeply appreciated,” they concluded.
The late actor grew up in Edmonton and graduated from the University of Alberta with a bachelor of fine arts in 1989.
Arnold was a founding member of Free Will Players - a company that produces the Freewill Shakespeare Festival in the city. His other credits include the TV series Mentors (1998) and the movie White Coats (2005), per IMDB.
Julien's wife, Sheiny Satanove, is the managing director of The Punctuate Theatre, and the company also paid tribute to the star.
Their statement read: "Julien was a cherished member of the Edmonton theatre community whose warmth, talent, and generosity touched so many lives he left us 'as he lived — immersed in his passion for theatre."
Following his death, a GoFundMe was created in support of Arnold's wife. The page aims to raise $75,000 to assist Satanove with “costs related to his passing, including funeral costs, rent, groceries, and time off work to grieve".
As of the time of writing, $58,455 CAD has been raised so far. “A cherished member of the Edmonton theatre community, Julien left us doing what he loved most," the description added.
Our thoughts are with Arnold's loved ones at this time.
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