James DeFelice
James DeFelice (January 6, 1937 - October 5, 2024) was an American-Canadian actor, playwright and screenwriter based in Edmonton, Alberta,[1] most noted as writer of the theatrical films Why Shoot the Teacher?[2] and Angel Square.[3]
Born in Lynn, Massachusetts, he was educated at Northeastern University, Tufts University and the Indiana University Bloomington,[4] and was a sportswriter for the Boston Globe before moving to Edmonton in 1969 to become a theatre professor at the University of Alberta.[5] In Edmonton he regularly acted on stage and directed theatre productions, as well as writing stage plays.[1] His plays included The Bird Prince, The Elixir, Fools and Masters, Ladder to the Moon, The Merchants of Dazu, Take Me Where the Water's Warm and A Yard of Pucks.[1]
He also had occasional supporting acting roles in film, including in Harry Tracy, Desperado, Draw!, The Gunfighters, Cowboys Don't Cry, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford and Passchendaele.
He retired from the University of Alberta in 2002, but remained an active participant in the city's theatre community until his death in 2024.[5]
Awards
[edit]| Award | Date of ceremony | Category | Work | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Canadian Film Awards | 1977 | Best Adapted Screenplay | Why Shoot the Teacher? | Won | [6] |
| Genie Awards | 1991 | Angel Square with Anne Wheeler |
Nominated | [7] | |
| Elizabeth Sterling Haynes Awards | 1995 | Outstanding Fringe Director | Letters in Wartime | Nominated | [8] |
| 1996 | Special Achievement | Overall contributions to theatre in Edmonton | Won | [9] | |
| 1998 | Outstanding Direction in a Play | The Baltimore Waltz | Won | [10] | |
| 2004 | Outstanding Direction in a Play | Underneath the Lintel | Won | [11] | |
| 2007 | Outstanding Performance By An Actor In A Leading Role | Closer and Closer Apart | Nominated | [12] |
References
[edit]- 1 2 3 Anne Nothof, "DeFelice, James". Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia, October 21, 2024.
- ↑ Robert Martin, "Why Shoot the Teacher: a loving look at hard times on the Prairies". The Globe and Mail, July 2, 1977.
- ↑ Rick Groen, "Film Review: Angel Square". The Globe and Mail, November 15, 1991.
- ↑ Liz Nicholls, "Theatre icon plays with memory; Like everyone involved with this production, James DeFelice has personal connections with Alzheimer's". Edmonton Journal, April 19, 2007.
- 1 2 Liane Faulder, "Stage notes: Edmonton theatre community mourns Jim DeFelice". Edmonton Journal, November 15, 2024.
- ↑ Maria Topalovich, And the Genie Goes To...: Celebrating 50 Years of the Canadian Film Awards. Stoddart Publishing, 2000. ISBN 0-7737-3238-1.
- ↑ "Genie candidates announced". Edmonton Journal, October 10, 1991.
- ↑ Liz Nicholls, "Phoenix leads with 18 nominations for annual Sterling theatre awards". Edmonton Journal, June 2, 1995.
- ↑ Liz Nicholls, "Stage Polaris takes home bouquets for Secret Garden". Edmonton Journal, June 25, 1996.
- ↑ Liz Nicholls, "Tinka soars, no strings attached; Ronnie Burkett's satire captures five awards as city honours its best theatre". Edmonton Journal, June 30, 1998.
- ↑ Liz Nicholls, "Lintel guys big winners at Sterlings". Edmonton Journal, June 29, 2004.
- ↑ Liz Nicholls, "Frankenstein in control; Catalyst Theatre show attracts half the nominations for annual Sterling Awards". Edmonton Journal, June 5, 2007
External links
[edit]- 1937 births
- 2024 deaths
- 20th-century American dramatists and playwrights
- 20th-century American male actors
- 20th-century American screenwriters
- 20th-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights
- 20th-century Canadian male actors
- 20th-century Canadian screenwriters
- 21st-century American dramatists and playwrights
- 21st-century American male actors
- 21st-century American screenwriters
- 21st-century Canadian dramatists and playwrights
- 21st-century Canadian male actors
- 21st-century Canadian screenwriters
- 20th-century American male dramatists and playwrights
- American male screenwriters
- American male film actors
- American male stage actors
- American theatre directors
- American emigrants to Canada
- 20th-century Canadian male dramatists and playwrights
- Canadian male screenwriters
- Canadian male film actors
- Canadian male stage actors
- Canadian theatre directors
- Male actors from Lynn, Massachusetts
- Male actors from Edmonton
- Writers from Lynn, Massachusetts
- Writers from Edmonton
- Screenwriters from Massachusetts
- Screenwriters from Alberta
- Northeastern University alumni
- Tufts University alumni
- Indiana University Bloomington alumni
- Academic staff of the University of Alberta
- Best Screenplay Genie and Canadian Screen Award winners
- Dramatists and playwrights from Massachusetts
- 21st-century American male dramatists and playwrights
- 21st-century Canadian male dramatists and playwrights
