John Dunn-Hill

Born in Glasgow, John left home at fifteen to study culinary arts, and spent his early years working as a chef on naval and cruise ships. But he had a passion for theatre, and soon left the kitchen for the stage. He trained in Paris at the École Charles Dullin, where he studied with such masters as Marcel Marceau, Jean Vilar, and Alain Cuny. In his professional life he worked with Lindsay Anderson, Donald McWhinnie, and Samuel Beckett, among others, and he founded two companies, the Group Theatre and The King's Head Theatre. About him, Anderson said "I was impressed by the intelligence and breadth of his feeling for drama, not just as an actor but as a shrewd and creative judge and assessor."

John came to Canada in the mid-seventies and continued to act. Locally, he was known for playing Marco D'Ascola in the Radio-Canada series Omertà, and he appeared in dozens more movies and television shows, where his gift for bringing a vast array of characters to life with sensitivity and verve made itself deeply felt.

In his later life John enjoyed painting, writing, telling stories, and spending time with his dog Blanco. He was a fixture in his neighbourhood of Petite Patrie, and will be deeply missed by his friends and neighbours.

John passed away in peace at the Montreal General Hospital. He is survived by his daughters Nadia Dunn-Hill and Tansy Troy.