ROY

I met Roy McCall in 1992. He was 61, I was 22.

My job had led me to a downtown Chicago hotel where I would be training actors for “living history.” Roy was my George Washington. He was tall, strong, and handsome like Washington, but far jollier than one might imagine our first president to be.

Roy was so fun to be with that week. He regaled us all with jokes and stories...a true extrovert, but kinder and gentler than most outgoing types. He’d recently retired to Naperville after years on the road with Mead.

(Roy sold Trapper Keepers...during the years I didn’t go without one.)

He was living his life’s dream when we crossed paths. A Chicago actor! He’d worked at the Goodman...and on a John Hughes movie.

Roy retired from the stage a few years ago after some heart trouble.

He’s still my favorite actor.