Brenan Baird

A Tribute will be held on March 16th, 2014, for longtime Seal Beach resident Brenan Baird.

Brenan passed away after a two year battle with cancer at the age of 50 on November 4th, 2013 while gazing at the ocean, one of his favorite things to do.

Brenan was born in Edmonton-Alberta Canada and moved to Los Angeles from Port Coquitlam, Vancouver, BC at the age of 20 to pursue a career in acting. He was a graduate of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts.

A regular performer at the Long Beach Community Playhouse and The Huntington Playhouse, he was well known by patrons and the press, receiving a Dramalogue and an Ovation Award in 1993 for his performance of Benedict in "Much Ado About Nothing," as well as another Dramalogue Award for "Funny Money" in 1997 at the International City Theatre.

He made dashing and handsome look effortless.

He also appeared on television and in film, in such shows as "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine," "Ladies Man" with Alfred Molina, and most recently "Sassy Pants: with Anna Gunn and Haley Joel Osment.

At 6 foot, 6 inches, Brenan was a powerful presence on stage and in life, portraying classical leading men in some of the most well-known period pieces such as "School for Scandal," "Hay Fever," "Private Lives" and many of Shakespeare's best works, and was much loved by audiences for his command of Noel Coward characters. At Long Beach Community Playhouse alone he performed more than 14 different shows including "Corpse!," "Private Lives," "Lady Windermere's Fan," "Bedroom Farce" and "Much Ado About Nothing," almost all of them directed by local favorite Darlene-Hunter Chafee.

In fact, he married Darlene's daughter, longtime resident Victoria Chafee-Parch and they raised their son Pierce in Seal Beach. Locals may recall the picture above, which personifies the deep love and fun that Brenan and his son felt daily for each other.
And if you've ever had a great dish of pasta at Papalucci's in Belmont Shore, hopefully you were lucky enough to have Brenan bring it to you. His charm and personality there were as rich and fun as the food.

At his passing, Brenan was still deeply involved in acting, along with managing other actors, as well as working for Porsche of North America in Beverly Hills.

If you remember Brenan (or even if you don't), reflect for a moment on the words of history's greatest playwright, as Brenan would have liked you to do so, after his passing. There is commonality in these words for each of our stories.

From "As You Like It,"
By William Shakespeare


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,
His acts being seven ages.
At first, the infant,
Mewling and puking in the nurse's arms.
Then the whining schoolboy, with his satchel
And shining morning face, creeping like snail
Unwillingly to school.
And then the lover,
Sighing like furnace, with a woeful ballad
Made to his mistress' eyebrow.
Then a soldier,
Full of strange oaths and bearded like the pard,
Jealous in honor, sudden and quick in quarrel,
Seeking the bubble reputation
Even in the cannon's mouth.
And then the justice,
In fair round belly with good capon lined,
With eyes severe and beard of formal cut,
Full of wise saws and modern instances;
And so he plays his part.
The sixth age shifts
Into the lean and slippered pantaloon,
With spectacles on nose and pouch on side;
His youthful hose, well saved, a world too wide
For his shrunk shank, and his big manly voice,
Turning again toward childish treble, pipes
And whistles in his sound.
Last scene of all,
That ends this strange eventful history,
Is second childishness and mere oblivion,
Sans teeth, sans eyes, sans taste, sans everything.


Our beloved friend made only five of these stages, but he lived each of them as a warrior; strongly, brilliantly, beautifully and we will never forget him for the richness he added to our lives.

In lieu of flowers, take your kid (or yourself) to see a play. And when you are there, and you see wonder and joy in people's eyes, and when you are moved by passionate work, remember Brenan... and he will be there.

Visit the link below to see the date and time of A Tribute to Brenan Baird to be held at The Imagined Life Theatre - 5615 San Vicente Blvd. Los Angeles on March 16th, 2014, or contact Kenny Rice at (626) 665-2419. There will be food, drink, fun, love and light. All who knew him are welcome.

http://www.playbillvip.com/show/save_the_date/White_Light/1999/A_Tribute_to_Brenan_Baird_7445