Douglas Rain (March 13, 1928 – November 11, 2018) was an Canadian actor and narrator. Though primarily a stage actor, he is also known for providing the voice of the HAL 9000 computer for the film 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) and its sequel, 2010 (1984).

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Life and career

Rain was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba. He studied acting at the Banff School of Fine Arts in Banff, Alberta and the Bristol Old Vic Theatre School in Bristol, England. As a stage actor, his association with the Stratford Festival of Canada spans more than four decades.

He has performed in a wide variety of theatrical roles, most notably in a Stratford, Ontario production of Henry V, which was adapted for television in 1966.[2] In 1972, Rain was nominated for the Tony Award for Best Supporting or Featured Actor (Dramatic) for his performance in Vivat! Vivat Regina!

Filmography

• Oedipus Rex (1957) – Creon
• Just Mary (1960, TV series) – (voice)
• The Night They Killed Joe Howe (1960, TV drama, co-starring Austin Willis and James Doohan) – Joseph Howe
• Universe (1960, short film)[3] – Narrator
• One Plus One (1961) – The Divorcee segment
• William Lyon Mackenzie: A Friend to His Country (1961, Short) – William Lyon Mackenzie
• Robert Baldwin: A Matter of Principle (1961, Short) – William Lyon Mackenzie
• The Other Man (1963, TV mini-series) – David Henderson
• Twelfth Night (1964, TV Movie)
• Fields of Sacrifice (1964) – Narrator
• Henry V (1966, TV Movie) – Henry V
• 2001: A Space Odyssey (1968) – HAL 9000 (voice)
• Talking to a Stranger (1971, TV mini-series) – Alan
• Sleeper (1973; voice) – Evil Computer / Various Robot Butlers (voice, uncredited)
• The Man Who Skied Down Everest (1974) – Narrator (voice)
• One Canadian: The Political Memoirs of the Rt. Hon. John G. Diefenbaker (1976; TV mini series; voice)
• 2010 (1984) – HAL 9000 (voice)
• Love and Larceny (1985, TV Movie) – Ashton Fletcher
• The Russian-German War (1995, Video documentary) – Narrator (voice)

Death

Douglas Rain died in November 11, 2018 at the age of 90 at St. Marys Memorial Hospital of natural causes.