Equity Mourns Patrick Quinn
Sep. 25th, 2006 09:04 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
mrdreamjeansI only met Patrick a couple of times, knew him more from reputation, but he was a class act. He had just been selected to replace Allen Eisenberg who is retiring as the Executive Director of Actors Equity after 25 years. This tragic event occurred over the weekend. I post this for those people who may have seen Patrick perform or who are in the business. So very, very sad ... My condolences to his partner Martin and his family.
It is with deep sorrow that Actors' Equity Association announces the
passing of Patrick Quinn, the former President and newly appointed
Executive Director. He died Sunday morning of a massive coronary. He
was 56 years old.
Mr. Quinn was a working actor for all of his adult life and a strong
champion for the rights of his fellow actors. He had served as a
Councillor of Equity since 1977 and held many leadership positions
within the Union. He was elected President in 2000. During his tenure,
Mr. Quinn led the Union with strength and distinction through the
aftermath of September 11, 2001, during which he worked closely with
the other theatrical unions and employers to stabilize the industry
and reinvigorate tourism for New York City. A strong advocate for
theater labor, he walked the picket line in a show of union solidarity
during the Local 802 Musicians strike on Broadway in 2003 and faced a
similar situation a year later when Equity's own Production Contract
negotiations nearly resulted in a shut down of Broadway and road
houses across the nation.
A native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, Quinn began
his Equity career in 1970. He made his Broadway debut in the revival
of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF with Zero Mostel. His other credits include ten
Broadway shows, including A CLASS ACT, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, LEND ME A
TENOR and the revival of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
His most recent appearance was in the Cape Playhouse production of
SYLVIA and earlier this season he appeared in GUNMETAL BLUES at the
George Street Playhouse. Last year he starred as Daddy Warbucks in the
record-breaking engagement of ANNIE at the Walnut Street Theater and
reprised that role in this season's ANNIE WARBUCKS.
Mr. Quinn is survived by his partner of 12 and a half years Martin
Cassella. He is also survived by his brothers James and his wife
Sondra, of Naples, Florida; Gerard and his wife Gail of Cotesville,
Pa; John and his wife Marguerite, of Doylestown, Pa; and a sister,
Lizanne Antonucci and her husband Joseph; and nine (9) nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Actors' Equity
Foundation, BC/EFA, or the Actors' Fund of America.
It is with deep sorrow that Actors' Equity Association announces the
passing of Patrick Quinn, the former President and newly appointed
Executive Director. He died Sunday morning of a massive coronary. He
was 56 years old.
Mr. Quinn was a working actor for all of his adult life and a strong
champion for the rights of his fellow actors. He had served as a
Councillor of Equity since 1977 and held many leadership positions
within the Union. He was elected President in 2000. During his tenure,
Mr. Quinn led the Union with strength and distinction through the
aftermath of September 11, 2001, during which he worked closely with
the other theatrical unions and employers to stabilize the industry
and reinvigorate tourism for New York City. A strong advocate for
theater labor, he walked the picket line in a show of union solidarity
during the Local 802 Musicians strike on Broadway in 2003 and faced a
similar situation a year later when Equity's own Production Contract
negotiations nearly resulted in a shut down of Broadway and road
houses across the nation.
A native Philadelphian and graduate of Temple University, Quinn began
his Equity career in 1970. He made his Broadway debut in the revival
of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF with Zero Mostel. His other credits include ten
Broadway shows, including A CLASS ACT, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, LEND ME A
TENOR and the revival of THE SOUND OF MUSIC.
His most recent appearance was in the Cape Playhouse production of
SYLVIA and earlier this season he appeared in GUNMETAL BLUES at the
George Street Playhouse. Last year he starred as Daddy Warbucks in the
record-breaking engagement of ANNIE at the Walnut Street Theater and
reprised that role in this season's ANNIE WARBUCKS.
Mr. Quinn is survived by his partner of 12 and a half years Martin
Cassella. He is also survived by his brothers James and his wife
Sondra, of Naples, Florida; Gerard and his wife Gail of Cotesville,
Pa; John and his wife Marguerite, of Doylestown, Pa; and a sister,
Lizanne Antonucci and her husband Joseph; and nine (9) nephews and nieces.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Actors' Equity
Foundation, BC/EFA, or the Actors' Fund of America.
![[identity profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/openid.png){kind=small}
![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
no subject
Date: 2006-09-25 02:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-25 02:26 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-25 03:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-25 02:29 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 02:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-25 02:40 pm (UTC)Back in 2003 when AFM Local 802 was on strike and AEA was going to join, Patrick Quinn was at that meeting. A very strong-minded man, he will surely be missed.
::hugs to you::
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 02:08 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 02:11 pm (UTC)And the general public: (a) doesn't realize what's going on; (b) they do realize what's going on and don't care; or (c) some combination of (a) and (b) but feel that saying something isn't going to change things at all.
I can only wonder how long it takes before live orchestras are completely obliterated for touring productions. That will surely be a sad day.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-25 02:57 pm (UTC)Patrick was obviously a very good leader and, from all reports, a good person. It's so sad that he's gone.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 02:10 pm (UTC)HUGS!
no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 04:26 am (UTC)He was one whose successes in theatre - a steady career of solid work - that served as a touchstione of inspiration for all of us struggling in the business. I'll look for him, with some sadness, in the next edition of Theatre World.
no subject
Date: 2006-09-26 04:27 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-09-27 02:12 pm (UTC)It's all any actor can ask for ... to be a working actor respected by his peers ... I hope I will have the same legacy ....
Hugs ...