Bill Text: NY J00503 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Mourning the death of Donald Moffat, legendary actor, distinguished citizen and gifted artist

Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 40-23)

Status: (Passed) 2019-02-27 - ADOPTED [J00503 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00503-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 503

BY: Senator HARCKHAM

        MOURNING  the  death  of  Donald Moffat, legendary
        actor, distinguished citizen and gifted artist

  WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to honor  and  pay
just tribute to the memory of those prominent individuals whose creative
talents have contributed to the entertainment and cultural enrichment of
the citizens of the State of New York; and

  WHEREAS,  Donald  Moffat,  a  beloved  actor  of  stage,  screen and
television, died on Thursday, December 20, 2018, in Sleepy  Hollow,  New
York, at the age of 87; and

  WHEREAS,  Born  in  Plymouth,  England, on December 26, 1930, Donald
Moffat was the only child of Kathleen Mary  (Smith)  and  Walter  George
Moffat; his parents ran a boarding house in Totnes, England; and

  WHEREAS, Upon the completion of his studies at the local King Edward
VI  School,  Donald  Moffat  performed  national  service with the Royal
Artillery from 1949 to 1951; he went on to study at the Royal Academy of
Dramatic Art in London until 1954; and

  WHEREAS, This extraordinary stage, screen and television actor was a
naturalized, thoroughly Americanized Englishman who in the  early  1950s
was  a  player  with the Old Vic theater company, the London crucible of
many of Britain's most ambitious performing arts; and

  WHEREAS, In 1956, at the age of 26, Donald Moffat realized his dream
and moved to the United States, settling in Oregon, where he worked as a
bartender and a lumberjack; he soon resolved to return  to  acting,  and
made  his  Broadway  debut as two characters in "Under Milkwood" (1957);
and

  WHEREAS,  Donald  Moffat,  in  a  career  that   lasted   nearly   a
half-century, amassed virtually all of his remarkable 220 credits in the
United  States; his roles included 80 stage plays (he directed 10 more),
approximately 70 Hollywood  and  television  movies,  and  at  least  60
television  productions,  including series, mini-series and anthologies;
and

  WHEREAS, A truly consummate professional, Donald Moffat  could  play
any supporting role from Shakespeare, O'Neill, Ibsen, Beckett, Pinter or
Shaw,  as well as lawyers, doctors, husbands, and tough guys- characters
who make the stars shine and place the accomplishments of  the  ensemble
above personal glory; and

  WHEREAS,  Donald  Moffat's  motion  picture credits include "Rachel,
Rachel" (1968), "The Trial of the Catonsville Nine" (1972),  "The  Great
Northfield Minnesota Raid" (1972), "Showdown" (1973), "Earthquake"(1974)
and "Winter Kills" (1979); and

  WHEREAS, Furthermore his most memorable film role was as the corrupt
president  in  "Clear  and Present Danger" (1994), a Harrison Ford movie
based on the Tom Clancy novel; and


  WHEREAS,  During  the  1990s, Donald Moffat slowed his working pace,
and tapered off into retirement a few  years  later;  one  of  his  last
appearances, which gained high accolades, was of aging, penniless former
President Ulysses S. Grant in an Off Broadway production of John Guare's
"A Few Stout Individuals" (2002); and

  WHEREAS,  Donald  Moffat  is  survived  by his wife, Gwen Arner; his
daughters, Lynn, Catherine, Kathleen (known as Wendy), and  Gabriel;  10
grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren; and

  WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
the lives of those extraordinary actors of world renown who enriched the
lives  of  others  through  their  artistic endeavors; such an actor was
Donald Moffat, whose extraordinary and innovative  career  will  forever
live  in the hearts of many and continue to inspire generations to come;
now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its  deliberations  to
mourn the death of Donald Moffat, legendary actor, distinguished citizen
and  gifted  artist;  and  to  offer  sincerest condolences to his fans,
friends, and family members; and be it further

  RESOLVED, That a copy of this  Resolution,  suitably  engrossed,  be
transmitted to the family of Donald Moffat.