Roy Dotrice 1927-2017

[Thomas Lapsley]

Unless you already know, actor Roy Dotrice has passed away on October 16 at the age of 89. Among his credits was his performance of Lincoln in Herbert Mitgang's play "Mister Lincoln" which was aired on PBS in 1981. About the play, I was still wondering why PBS has not issued it on DVD.

[RJNorton]

Tom, thank you for posting the sad news.

Mister Lincoln can be watched on YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pYDD3IRBQto

Here is a still from the play:

[BettyO]

So very sorry to hear of Mr. Dotrice's passing.

He was a delightful fellow and stopped at Surratt House waaayyy back about 1978-1979 or so. I was a young whippersnapper about 26 years old then. Mr. Dotrice was starring in a one-man production about Mr. Lincoln at Ford's Theatre at the time. Both he and his wife came to Surratt House and took a tour with myself and fellow volunteer Ellie Whitehead. I was just getting into re-enacting back in those days so please don't look too hard at my "farby" costume!

By the way - Mr and Mrs Dotrice's daughter, Karen, starred as the little girl, Jane Banks, in the Disney movie, Mary Poppins! Young Karen was a Disney movie regular in those days and also starred in the movie, The Three Lives of Thomasina, which I loved as a kid!

   

   

[RJNorton]

Love that second photo, Betty!

[L Verge]

I agree completely with Betty about Mr. Dotrice being a wonderful fellow and a great actor. Several of us from the Surratt House gang were able to attend a one-man performance that he did on stage at Ford's Theatre. I believe that it was the first time that anything having to do with Lincoln was allowed there while the Ford's Theatre Society (the artistic arm of the theater that takes over when the NPS leaves at 5 pm) had a very "opinionated" leader back in the 1970s and 80s.

Mr Dotrice walked out on stage at the opening, tipped his stovepipe hat to the Presidential Box, and stood silent for a few seconds before starting his monologue. I think it sent chills down the spine or tears to the eyes of nearly everyone there.

After his visit to Surratt House, he stayed in touch with us off and on for several years. If anyone remembers the TV series on Beauty and the Beast, Mr. Dotrice played the father of the Beast, if I'm not mistaken.