Canadian classical actor William Hutt dies

STRATFORD, Ontario, June 27 (UPI) -- William Hutt, a Canadian actor praised widely for his portrayals in classics like "King Lear", died Wednesday in Stratford, Ontario, at age 87.

Hunt suffered from leukemia.

He established a reputation as a respected classical actor, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. said, through the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada. Hutt took on the great roles like King Lear and Prospero, giving what the CBC called "unforgettable performances."

The actor even played Lady Bracknell in Oscar Wilde's "The Importance of Being Earnest."

He appeared in productions around the world, sharing the stage with other great actors like John Gielgud, Peter Ustinov and Alec Guinness.

Hutt won every major theater award in Canada, and was made a companion of the Order of Canada, the CBC said.

He played a sort of parody of himself in the Showtime backstage drama-comedy "Slings and Arrows," as an aging actor in failing health who gets a last chance to play Lear.

He chose his final role before retirement when he played Prospero in "The Tempest" at the Stratford Festival in 2005.