Fred Euringer, actor, director, playwright and professor emeritus of drama, died at age 90 on July 5, 2024 after a prolonged illness. He is survived by his wife Rosemary Euringer, who cared for him tenderly through his final years, his sons, Jason and Tristan, his daughter, Amanda, his grandchildren, Rael Abbondanza and Lillian Euringer, and his remarkable daughters-in-law, Jennifer Foster and Janet Song.

Born in 1933 to German immigrants in Toronto, Fred grew up in small town Acton, Ontario where his parents were employed by the Beardmore Tannery. Together they ran the York House where Mr. Beardmore and commercial clients were hosted by the company.

In the 1950s, he attended the University of Toronto to study Anthropology. One fateful night, one of his classes was cancelled, and just outside the lecture hall a poster for the play Uncle Vanya caught his eye. It inspired him to join Hart House Theatre where he spent many hours working on productions directed by Robert Gill and Herbert Whittaker. That serendipitous moment ignited his deep love for the arts and launched what became a trailblazing career in the theatre.

Fred became an actor and director with the Straw Hat Players, performing Summer Stock in Port Carling with the likes of Timothy Findlay and Bill Davis, as well as the late actor Donald Sutherland, who became a lifelong friend. In 1959, Fred won a graduate school scholarship to study directing at Yale University. He returned after one year to work at Crest Theatre and the Village Playhouse in Toronto, before joining the Canadian Players on their North American tour with Pat Galloway, Douglas Campbell and Max Helpmann. While at the Stratford Festival in the 1960s, he wrote the play Blind Man’s Buff. Years later, his memoir, A Fly on the Curtain, celebrated those exhilarating early years in Canadian theatre.

In 1963, Fred went to Queen’s University in Kingston where he turned a one-man operation into the first university drama department in Ontario. It was there he met another dear friend, English professor, Fred Colwell. After receiving a Canada Council grant, Fred studied mask and mime in Paris with the world-renowned Jacques Le Coq, and returned to become a leading educator of mask work in Canada. He spent nearly thirty years at Queen’s and two at the University of Calgary. He taught workshops at the National Theatre School of Canada and LAMDA in London, England. Between 1975 and 1985, he wrote the short story collection A Dream of Horses and the play Night Noises. In 1986, he was the Artistic Director of Shakespeare Plus in Nanaimo. Fred performed and directed at The Thousand Island Playhouse, Centaur Theatre, the National Arts Centre, the Globe Theatre and Theatre Calgary, while also taking on acting projects in film and television.

Through those hectic years, Fred found much peace at his Kingston home, surrounding himself with nature, books, good food, and even better conversation. A superb gardener, he embodied the expression, “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.” Fred planted tens of thousands of trees during his lifetime, leaving a living legacy for generations to come. 

 “Fred Euringer changed my life,” was heard so often from students, colleagues, and even the occasional hitchhiker, that it became a family quote. His contribution to Canadian theatre was monumental; his impact on his students, friends and family no less profound. His creativity, intelligence, humour and dedication to his loved ones will be missed always.

A Celebration of Life for friends and family will be held on September 28th 2024 at James Reid Funeral Home, located at 1900 John Counter Blvd. in Kingston.

In lieu of flowers, please consider donating to the Fred Euringer Award in Drama at the DAN School of Drama and Music, Queen’s University, Kingston.