Richard Allen Willis, 1927 - 31 Aug 2017
WILLIS, KARSTEN, BARRY
Posted By: Sandy Ficken (email)
Date: 10/29/2018 at 14:49:22
Richard Allen Willis, author, actor, and teacher passed away on Aug. 31, 2017, at home in New York City. The cause of death was from age-related dementia.
He grew up on a small farm near Marengo, which he wrote about in his well-received memoir of the Depression, “LONG GONE,” published in 2007. His short- stories appeared in “The Author's Journal,” “Words of Wisdom,” “Red Wheelbarrow,” “Phantasmagoria,” and “Iconoclast.”
As a professor of theatre for 25 years, he taught and directed at Northwestern University, where he received his Ph.D, and at Lewis and Clark College as chairman of the Department of Theatre in Portland, Oregon. In Portland, he became a member of Screen Actor's Guild, Actor's Equity and the American Federation of Television Artists.
He appeared in featured roles in films including “Drugstore Cowboy,” “Cops and Robbers,” and “The Last Innocent Man.” He also did corporate industrials and regional theatre. After moving to New York City, he found work in print, Off-Broadway and soap operas. For three years he was seen on “One Life to Live,” as Asa Buchanan's butler, Nigel. Other recurring soap opera appearances include, “All My Children” and “Another World.”
He is survived by his wife of 25 years, Linda Barry Willis; nephew, Bill Willis; Bill's wife, Lori; and their children and grandchildren.
Williamsburg Journal Tribune 18 Oct 2017
His parents, [Richard] Aubrey Willis & Maude Karsten Willis
See Pioneer Republican 17 Jan 2008 re his book
Iowa Obituaries maintained by Steve Williams.
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