Denis-Arndt-Obituary

Denis Arndt

Ashland, Oregon

Feb 23, 1939 – Mar 25, 2025

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BORN
February 23, 1939
DIED
March 25, 2025
LOCATION
Ashland, Oregon

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It is with a heavy heart that I announce the passing of our dad, Denis Leroy Arndt. He died peacefully in his bed in his beloved cabin home of almost 50 years in Ashland, Oregon; he wouldn't have had it any other way. The year he was born, 1939, the Wizard of Oz came out showing the first movie...

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I was a fan of Mr. Arndt, seeing him first when I visited the Shakespearean festival in Ashland. At this moment, I am watching a rerun of The Practice, and he is portraying an attorney. Since the first time I saw him perform, I have been a fan of his. And now the world is diminished with his passing.

I was a regular attendee at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in the 1970s and early 1980s, and one of the greatest pleasures was to watch Denis Arndt weave his magic on stage. I will never forget his performances as Jack Rover in "Wild Oats" and Iago in "Othello". He was a gift to every theater audience that had the privilege of being in his presence. I share your sorrow at the loss of this amazingly gifted man.

A VERY FUNNY SWEET GENTLEMAN WHO MADE IT A POINT TO COME THROUGH MY CHECKSTAND AT SAFEWAY IN ASHLAND TO SHARE A JOKE OR 2 WITH ME... RIP

I was hoping to see Denny at a Rogers High reunion reunion. He was Tom Sawyer in our play and I was the sheriff. He was so good. Sorry that he has exited the stage

He was THE favorite of my husband's and mine for years at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival in Ashland. I bawled like a baby watching him in A Moon for the Misbegotten in the Black Swan Theatre. Superior in Shakespeare productions. We were always thrilled to see him pop up in TV and film roles. I didn't know he flew helos in Nam.

We were so lucky to often have Denny as a house guest when he got a job shooting in LA! Our kids loved him and there were always so many laughs and then from time to time Denny would sit at our piano and just have at it! Such a special wonderful human! All his work had a unique Denny stamp and he was brilliant in Heisenberg! Always a treat to watch and be with! His zest for learning devil live on!

My condolences to the Arndt family. I knew your Dad as a loud and brash man with an amazing talent to make Shakespearean language sound like regular chit-chat. In 1980, when I started in the OSFA costume shop, Denny Arndt was the sun and the moon of the Festival. I will never forget his brilliant talent, his panache and his gusto for life. Rest in Peace Denis, and thank you for Vietnam service.

All the world´s a stage, And all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances, And one man in his time plays many parts

What a wonderful tribute to your dad - it so captures his spirit and persona! I had the privilege of directing him 1st in DISTANT THUNDER and then on LIFE GOES ON, where every season we brought him back to play a completely different character! We were friends for over 40 years, but my one big regret was I never got a chance to go sailing with him on his boat. DBagger (which is how he signed all his e/mails 2me) - May the wind keep you on a broad reach whatever your next...