The entertainment world has lost a versatile talent with the death of Canadian actor Richard Donat, who was 84 and whose career spanned more than five decades across television, film and theater.
Donat died March 28, 2026, at South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater, Nova Scotia, following a two-year illness. His longtime partner Maggie Thomas and sons Owen and Morgan were by his side, according to family confirmation.
Born Richard Francois Donat on June 1, 1941, in Kentville, Nova Scotia, he was part of an acclaimed acting family. His uncle, British star Robert Donat, won the Academy Award for Best Actor for “Goodbye, Mr. Chips” in 1939, playing opposite actress Greer Garson, and starred in Alfred Hitchcock’s “The 39 Steps.” His older brother Peter Donat played Fox Mulder’s father, William, in “The X-Files” and appeared in two films for director Francis Ford Coppola.
Peter died in September 2018 at 90 from diabetes-related complications, while their uncle Robert died in 1958 at just 53, with cerebral thrombosis certified as the primary cause of death, brought on by a brain tumor.
For many viewers, Richard Donat was best known as Vince Teagues, sketch artist and editor of the local Haven Herald newspaper, on the supernatural drama “Haven.” He played the role from 2010 to 2015 on the series, which was loosely based on Stephen King’s novella “The Colorado Kid” and filmed on the south shore of Nova Scotia, about a 45-minute drive from Donat’s home in Bridgewater.
“I have always lived here and then this show comes along, and suddenly your life is changed,” Donat reflected about working on the hit series. “It is quite extraordinary really.”
A graduate of the National Theater School of Canada in 1967, Donat built an impressive stage career after relocating to Toronto in the mid-1970s. He gained critical acclaim for his portrayal of Cuirette, a macho biker living with a drag queen, in playwright Michel Tremblay’s groundbreaking play “Hosanna.” The two-hander premiered in English at Toronto’s Tarragon Theater in May 1974 before transferring to Broadway’s Bijou Theater that October, establishing Donat as a fearless and versatile performer.
His theater accolades included winning the Dora Mavor Moore Award for his performances in playwright Bertolt Brecht’s “In the Jungle of the Cities.” He later won a Merritt Award for Outstanding Performance for his role in playwright Sam Shepard’s “Fool for Love” in 2007. As a director, he won the Mecca Award in 2004 for “The Drawer Boy.”
Science fiction fans knew Donat as the voice of Deej Warrick, the father of Wicket, in the animated “Star Wars” series “Ewoks,” which ran for two seasons on ABC from 1985 to 1986. The role introduced him to a generation of young viewers who grew up with the beloved characters.
His extensive television work included appearances in “Little House on the Prairie,” “Trailer Park Boys,” and “Hemlock Grove.” From 1998 to 2000, he played Dr. Burnley in “Emily of New Moon” and Colonel Boyle in the sitcom “Blackfly” from 2001 to 2002, showcasing his range from drama to comedy. He also appeared in “Sullivan’s Crossing” as Roy Gunderson.
On screen, Donat earned a Genie Award nomination for “My American Cousin” in 1985. His additional film work included “Tomorrow Never Comes,” director Kathryn Bigelow’s “The Weight of Water,” “The Event,” and director Mira Nair’s “Amelia.”
Beyond acting, Donat also became a cherished voice on CBC Halifax radio during the Christmas season, where he regularly read Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem “Christmas at Sea,” making the tradition his own and bringing joy to listeners year after year.
His obituary described him as “a passionate gardener, a loving and supportive partner, a devoted father and an extremely proud grandfather.” Donat is survived by his partner Maggie Thomas, sons Owen and Morgan, and grandchildren Charlize, Nadia, Mira, and Taran. The family requests that donations be made to South Shore Regional Hospital in Bridgewater in his memory.
