1997 - Actor Campbell Dies

Veteran theatre actor DOUGLAS CAMPBELL has died of heart failure, aged 87.

The Scotland-born star passed away on Wednesday (07Oct09) in a Montreal, Canada hospital surrounded by his family.

Campbell began his acting career in 1953 at the annual Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Ontario, Canada, where he regularly performed until 2001.

He also directed several productions and later took his skills to Broadway, appearing in Gideon and overseeing an adaptation of Moby DICk.

The actor starred in a string of movies, including 1985's Perfect, opposite Jamie Lee Curtis and John Travolta, and portrayed Santa Claus in 2000 holiday film Once Upon a Christmas.

Campbell was awarded the Order of Canada medal for his services to the arts in 1997.

He is survived by his wife Moira Wylie and six children.