Joy Coghill | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | (1926-05-13)May 13, 1926 Findlater, Saskatchewan, Canada |
| Died | January 20, 2017(2017-01-20) (aged 90) Vancouver,British Columbia, Canada |
| Other names | Joy Coghill Thorne |
| Education | University of British Columbia (BA) Art Institute of Chicago (MFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Actress, director, writer |
| Years active | 1950–2003 |
| Spouse | John Thorne |
| Children | 3 |
| Website | www |
Joy Dorothy Coghill-Thorne, CM, (May 13, 1926 – January 20, 2017) was aCanadian actress, director, and writer.[1] Her obituary inThe Vancouver Sun described her as having had "a seven-decade run at the top of the Vancouver theatre world."[2]
Coghill was born inFindlater, Saskatchewan, Canada on May 13, 1926,[3] the daughter of J.G. Coghill and Dorothy Pollard Coghill.[4] Her father was a Presbyterian minister.[2] She was educated atKing's Park Secondary School andQueen's Park Secondary School in Glasgow, Scotland.[5] After returning to Canada, she attendedKitsilano Secondary School and began performing in school theatre productions.[2] She earned aBachelor of Arts degree from theUniversity of British Columbia in 1949 and aMaster of Fine Arts degree from theArt Institute of Chicago in 1951.[4]
Coghill and Myra Benson founded Canada's first professional touring children's theatre, Holiday Theatre in 1953.[6] From 1967 to 1969, Coghill was the artistic director of theVancouver Playhouse. She was the first woman to hold that position.[7] In 1994, Coghill founded Western Gold, a theatre company for senior professional actors in Vancouver. She also served as a director for theNational Theatre School's English drama section in 1960.[5][8] She held honorary degrees fromSimon Fraser University and the University of British Columbia.[9]
Her best-known work isSong of This Place, a play about the Canadian artistEmily Carr. In addition to her writing, Coghill has made guest appearances onDa Vinci's Inquest as Portia Da Vinci and as the dying human host Saroosh/Selmak on theStargate SG-1 episode "The Tok'ra, Part 1 & 2".[10]
Coghill received fourJessie Richardson Theatre Awards for her theatrical accomplishments in Vancouver, British Columbia: Vancouver Professional Theatre Alliance Award (1988–1989),[11] Community Recognition Award (1989–1990),[12] Outstanding Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role (1990–1991),[13] and Unique Mandate and Contribution to the Theatre Community (1998–1999).[14]
Other awards include a Governor General's Performing Arts Award for Lifetime Artistic Achievement, the Gemini Humanitarian Award,[6] theDominion Drama Festival acting award and a Canadian drama award.[4] On October 25, 1990, she was made a member of theOrder of Canada and cited as "a champion of Canadian talent and quality and as "a continuing inspiration to her colleagues in theatre throughout the country."[15]
Coghill was married to John Thorne, a producer for theCanadian Broadcasting Corporation.[2] On January 20, 2017, Coghill died of massive heart failure atSt. Paul's Hospital, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. She was 90. She was survived by three children and two grandchildren.[16]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | Shivers | Mona Wheatley | |
| 1978 | Jacob Two-Two Meets the Hooded Fang | Mistress Fowl | |
| 1984 | Change of Heart | Edna | |
| 1987 | Blue Monkey | Dede Wilkens | |
| 1994 | Andre | Betsy | |
| 1998 | The Sleep Room | Mrs. Olson | |
| 1999 | Double Jeopardy | Neighbor In Garden | |
| 2000 | A Day in a Life | Dorthy |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1955 | General Motors Theatre | Sally | Episode: "Never Say No" |
| 1959 | Studio Pacific | Alice | Episode: "Anyone for Alice" |
| 1980, 1985 | The Beachcombers | Gertie | 2 episodes |
| 1986 | Nobody's Child | Patient #1 | Television film |
| 1986 | Red Serge | Ruby Burris | Episode: "Apron Springs" |
| 1987 | Airwolf | Reverend Mother | Episode: "Flowers of the Mountain" |
| 1987 | Christmas Comes to Willow Creek | Charlotte | Television film |
| 1989 | Unsub | Mrs. Gleason | Episode: "White Bone Demon" |
| 1991 | 21 Jump Street | Mrs. Dixon | Episode: "Coppin' Out" |
| 1991 | Omen IV: The Awakening | Sister Francesca | Television film |
| 1991 | Street Justice | Rosemary Lyttle | Episode: "Sanctuary" |
| 1991 | My Son Johnny | Anna Cortino | Television film |
| 1993 | Miracle on Interstate 880 | Sister Mary | |
| 1993 | Sherlock Holmes Returns | Ms. Baker | |
| 1993 | Whose Child Is This? The War for Baby Jessica | Earlen | |
| 1994 | Snowbound: The Jim and Jennifer Stolpa Story | Dr. Jorgenson | |
| 1994 | The Commish | Mrs. Dawson | Episode: "Revenge" |
| 1995 | The X-Files | Linda Thibedeaux | Episode: "Aubrey" |
| 1995 | The Other Mother: A Moment of Truth Movie | Sister Vincent | Television film |
| 1995 | Sliders | Mrs. Ezra Tweak | Episode: "Summer of Love" |
| 1995 | My Life as a Dog | Auntie Auntie / Astrid Árnesson | 6 episodes |
| 1996 | Color Me Perfect | Jennifer | Television film |
| 1996, 1997 | Poltergeist: The Legacy | Elizabeth Baker / Mrs. Blake | 2 episodes |
| 1997 | Viper | Mother Grace | Episode: "Echo of Murder" |
| 1998 | The Outer Limits | Jean | Episode: "The Vaccine" |
| 1998 | Stargate SG-1 | Saroosh / Selmak | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | The Crow: Stairway to Heaven | Laura Stansbury | Episode: "Before I Wake" |
| 1998–2003 | Da Vinci's Inquest | Portia Da Vinci | 6 episodes |
| 1999 | Nothing Too Good for a Cowboy | Violet Hutchison | Episode: "Deja Vu All Over Again" |
| 2000 | The Christmas Secret | Old Woman | Television film |
| 2002 | Living with the Dead | Mrs. Ziff | |
| 2003 | Betrayed | Mabel Stewart |
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