Roger Abbott
Roger Abbott
A venerable Canadian comedian and honorary degree holder from Brock has died.
Roger Abbott, who received an honorary doctor of laws from Brock in 1993, died on March 26 after a 14-year battle with leukemia.
Abbott co-founded Royal Canadian Air Farce, which began as a weekly broadcast on CBC Radio in 1973. It ran as a weekly TV show on CBC from 1993 to 2008. His famous impersonations included Jean Chretien, Leonard Cohen and Peter Mansbridge.
Abbott received the honorary degree with Air Farce co-stars Don Ferguson, Luba Goy and John Morgan.
His other honours included the Gemini Humanitarian Award, the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, a Juno and a star on Canada’s Walk of Fame.
“I’m heartbroken to tell you that our beloved friend, Roger Abbott, died last night at Toronto General Hospital, 14 years after being diagnosed with chronic lymphocytic leukemia, a progressive disease that he kept secret from all but a few close friends and family until a week ago,” Ferguson said on the Air Farce website.
Related links:
• Air Farce actor Roger Abbott dies — CBC News
• Air Farce founder Roger Abbott dies at 64 — thestar.com
A video tribute from his friends and colleagues:
