Sci-Fi Bulletin: Exploring the Universes of SF, Fantasy, Horror and Spy-fi!

Celebrated Canadian actor Douglas Rain, perhaps best known as the voice of HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey and 2010: Odyssey Two, has died at the age of 90.

According to Stanley Kubrick, Rain had “just the bland mid-Atlantic accent” that he felt was right for the role of the computer. He reprised the role for Peter Hyams’ 2001 sequel, and also voiced a computer in Woody Allen’s Sleeper.

His primary acting roles were in Shakespearean and other classical dramas, but, as his 2001 co-star noted, his attitude was that people weren’t interested in those, but something on which he worked for two days!

“Canadian theatre has lost one of its greatest talents and a guiding light in its development,” Stratford Festival artistic director Antoni Cimolino said. “Douglas Rain was that rare artist — an actor deeply admired by other actors. The voice of HAL in 2001: A Space Odyssey, Douglas shared many of the same qualities as Kubrick’s iconic creation — precision, strength of steel, enigma and infinite intelligence, as well as a wicked sense of humour.

“But those of us lucky enough to have worked with Douglas soon solved his riddle and discovered that at the centre of his mystery lay warmth and humanity, evidenced in his care for the young members of our profession. Douglas dedicated his talent to the stages of his native land, and we are proud in return to dedicate the coming season’s production of Othello to his memory. We owe him so much.”