Greg Kramer

{{Short description|British-Canadian author, actor, director, and magician (1961 – 2013)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2016}}{{Infobox writer

| name = Greg Kramer

| image =

| birth_date = {{birth date|df=yes|1961|3|11}}

| birth_place = Hertfordshire, England

| death_date = {{death date and given age|df=yes|2013|4|8|52|1961|3|11}}

| death_place = Montreal, Quebec, Canada

| occupation = Writer, actor, director, magician

| period = 1980s–2013

| nationality = British, Canadian

| notableworks = The Pursemonger of fugu, Hogtown Bonbons, Couchwarmer

| spouse =

}}

Greg Kramer (11 March 1961 – 8 April 2013)Richard Burnett. [http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Remembering_Greg_Kramer-13386.aspx "Remembering Greg Kramer"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130515085623/http://www.xtra.ca/public/National/Remembering_Greg_Kramer-13386.aspx |date=15 May 2013 }}. Xtra!, 10 April 2013. was a British-Canadian author, actor, director, and magician.{{cite encyclopedia | url=http://www.canadiantheatre.com/dict.pl?term=Kramer%2C%20Greg | title=Kramer, Greg | encyclopedia=Canadian Theatre Encyclopedia | date=15 April 2009 | accessdate=15 August 2016 }} Born and raised in Hertfordshire, England, he emigrated to Canada in 1981 and spent the remainder of his life living in Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal.

Early life

Kramer was born in Hertfordshire, England on 11 March 1961.

Career

His first novel, The Pursemonger of fugu, published by Riverbank Press in 1995,[http://www.cormorantbooks.com/authors/kramergreg.shtml Cormorant Books: Greg Kramer] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110928023648/http://www.cormorantbooks.com/authors/kramergreg.shtml |date=28 September 2011 }} was shortlisted for the City of Toronto Book Award. His other novels included Couchwarmer (1997) and Wally (2004). His short story collection Hogtown Bonbons (1999) was originally published by Xtra! in Toronto as a regular column. He also wrote several theatrical plays.

As an actor, he appeared regularly on the television series Forever Knight, John Woo's Once a Thief and Tales from the Neverending Story, and as a voice actor in Tripping the Rift, George and Martha and Arthur. He also had supporting roles in numerous films, including 300, The Day After Tomorrow, I'm Not There and On the Road. In theatres he worked across Canada, from the Vancouver Playhouse to the National Arts Centre in Ottawa.

Directing credits include Tiger's Heart at the Centaur Theatre, Marat/Sade (Dora nomination, best production), and Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal, which garnered him a Best Director MECCA award. Also a magician, Kramer was the magic consultant and coach for Des McAnuff's production of The Tempest at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival, featuring Christopher Plummer. As a playwright, his credits included Lies of the Vampyre, Skateboard Tango, and Isadora Fabulist! written for Imago Theatre,{{Cite web |date=2013-04-19 |title=Show goes on after creator's death |url=https://thecjn.ca/arts/show-goes-creators-death/ |access-date=2023-01-10 |website=The Canadian Jewish News |language=en-US}} as well as Queens and the Great Out Doors.

Personal life and death

Kramer was found dead in his Montreal apartment on 8 April 2013. Although a cause of death was not immediately confirmed, Kramer was HIV-positive and had previously had a lung removed due to a bout of lung cancer. His last play Sherlock Holmes was performed at the Segal Centre for Performing Arts in Montreal from 4 to 26 May 2013. The play, which starred Jay Baruchel in the titular role, had also cast Kramer as Inspector Lestrade.[https://www.theglobeandmail.com/arts/theatre-and-performance/punk-rock-renaissance-man-greg-kramer-dies-on-eve-of-rehearsals/article10961376/ 'Punk-rock renaissance man' Greg Kramer dies on eve of rehearsals], The Globe and Mail, 9 April 2013. The play went ahead, with fellow cast member Patrick Costello stepping in to replace Kramer as Lestrade.[http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=5fd504ae-baf4-45bf-994a-847f4a1fcaea "Segal presents playwright Greg Kramer's 'final gift to the world'"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140302184357/http://www2.canada.com/montrealgazette/story.html?id=5fd504ae-baf4-45bf-994a-847f4a1fcaea |date=2 March 2014 }}. The Gazette, 4 May 2013.

Kramer was openly gay.[http://archives.xtra.ca/Story.aspx?s=2291658 "Prudes vs. Libertines"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081210202459/http://archives.xtra.ca/Story.aspx?s=2291658 |date=10 December 2008 }}, Xtra! West, 14 October 2004.

Filmography

Year ! Title ! Role ! Notes
class="wikitable"
2000	Wilder	Dugald Ferdinand
2001-2014	Arthur	Nemo (voice)
2002	Abandon	Andre
2004	The Day After Tomorrow	RAF #2
2006	300	Ephor #1
2007	I'm Not There	Drunk
2012	On the Road	Mississippi Gene