Richard Murray "Richie" duPont

PITTSFIELD -- Richard Murray "Richie" duPont, 24, of 60 Elizabeth St. died Tuesday morning as a result of an early morning house fire. At the time of his death, Mr. duPont was a professional actor who had recently relocated to the Berkshires from Los Angeles.

Born in Pittsfield on Oct. 17, 1980, son of Richard L. and Margaretta Conrad duPont, he was educated in Lenox schools and at Berkshire Community College. While at school in Lenox, he became interested in theater and fine arts through his association with Shakespeare & Company's schools team, and was a principal in several student productions.

Mr. duPont was a member of the Screen Actors Guild and a stage actor.

He was a communicant of St. Ann's Church in Lenox. An avid reader, he enjoyed going to the Lenox Coffee Shop and the Lenox Bookstore. He also enjoyed golfing, and hiking in Kennedy Park.

Besides his father of Pittsfield and his mother, of Lenox, he leaves three brothers, Michael B. duPont, Ryan H. duPont and Adam H. duPont, all of Lenox; a sister, Lauren H. duPont of Amherst, and his paternal grandparents, Richard H. and Yvonne H. duPont of Lenox.

FUNERAL NOTICE -- The funeral for Richard Murray "Richie" duPont will be Saturday at 8 from ROCHE FUNERAL HOME in Lenox, followed by a Liturgy of Christian Burial at 9 at St. Ann's Church, celebrated by the Rev. Daniel B. Brunton, chaplain at Providence Care Center of Lenox and former pastor of St. Ann's. Burial will follow in St. Ann's Cemetery. Calling hours will be Friday from 5 to 9 at the funeral home. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to the Richard M. duPont Theatrical Scholarship Fund in care of the funeral home, 120 Main St., Lenox, MA 01240. He is also survived by many cousins. Ms. Ava Roy, the director of The Infamous Genius Theater Co., is also a graduate of Lenox Memorial High School and a classmate of Mr. duPont's. A professional actor, Mr. duPont appeared as a body double in "Herbie Fully Loaded," "Zoey 101," and "National Lampoon's Lost Reality II." He had anticipated returning to California later this year to audition for the upcoming sequel to "Pirates of the Caribbean" as actor Johnny Depp's body double. On stage, he most recently appeared in the 2005 Berkshire Theater Festival production of "Equus." He debuted at the Festival in a 1999 production of "Crucifer of Blood." He was a member of Infamous Genius Theater Company, based in San Jose, Calif., and a cast member of the Copake (N.Y.) Theater Company, appearing in its production of "Lonestar." He was a familiar figure at the Lenox Coffee Shop where he often ensconced himself with a double latté, most recently with a copy of Harry Potter in hand. He might also have been be found prowling the aisles of the Lenox Bookstore in search of inspiration, or at one of its frequent poetry readings.