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Hamilton Spectator
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Beloved Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake dies at 53
Toronto actor Michael Blake, who spent 10 seasons at the Stratford Festival, has died. In a news release, the festival called Blake, 53, 'one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare.' Blake was well known at Stratford for his Shakespearean roles, which included Macduff in 'Macbeth,' Master Page in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' Don John in 'Much Ado About Nothing,' Cominius in 'Coriolanus,' the Duke of Clarence in 'Richard III,' Albany in 'King Lear' and Dumaine in 'All's Well That Ends Well.' In 2019, he played the lead in the festival's 'Othello.' In her review for the Star , Karen Fricker praised Blake's performance. 'Blake's Othello is beautifully spoken, poised and feline: in all ways attuned to the world around him,' she wrote. 'He's succeeded by contradicting in practice the low expectations that society has of him. Which is not to say he's crafty; he's savvy and principled.' Blake performed in 25 Stratford productions between 2011 and 2023, including 'Napoli Milionaria!' 'The School for Scandal,' 'All My Sons' and 'Tartuff.' The festival noted that Blake also appeared at theatres across Canada, and in film and television, including 'Due South,' 'The Expanse,' 'The Lost Symbol' and 'Murdoch Mysteries.' According to his biography, Blake was born in Toronto and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. He played the adult Simba in the original Toronto run of the musical 'The Lion King'; was an inaugural member of the English acting company of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and was a member of the first graduating class of the Soulpepper Academy in Toronto. 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' artistic director Antoni Cimolino said in the news release. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality. 'We will all remember him both for his art and his person. He was a member of our artistic family and he will be deeply missed.' Funeral details have yet to be announced. The festival said it will dedicate a production to Blake's memory in 2026. This story has been edited from an earlier version that gave an incorrect age for Michael Blake.
Hamilton Spectator
21-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Hamilton Spectator
Beloved Stratford Festival actor Michael Blake dies at 54
Toronto actor Michael Blake, who spent 10 seasons at the Stratford Festival, has died. In a news release, the festival called Blake, 54, 'one of the most gifted actors of his generation. He played an extraordinary variety of parts and did so with an ability and ease that was rare.' Blake was well known at Stratford for his Shakespearean roles, which included Macduff in 'Macbeth,' Master Page in 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' Don John in 'Much Ado About Nothing,' Cominius in 'Coriolanus,' the Duke of Clarence in 'Richard III,' Albany in 'King Lear' and Dumaine in 'All's Well That Ends Well.' In 2019, he played the lead in the festival's 'Othello.' In her review for the Star , Karen Fricker praised Blake's performance. 'Blake's Othello is beautifully spoken, poised and feline: in all ways attuned to the world around him,' she wrote. 'He's succeeded by contradicting in practice the low expectations that society has of him. Which is not to say he's crafty; he's savvy and principled.' Blake performed in 25 Stratford productions between 2011 and 2023, including 'Napoli Milionaria!' 'The School for Scandal,' 'All My Sons' and 'Tartuff.' The festival noted that Blake also appeared at theatres across Canada, and in film and television, including 'Due South,' 'The Expanse,' 'The Lost Symbol' and 'Murdoch Mysteries.' According to his biography, Blake was born in Toronto and graduated from the National Theatre School of Canada in Montreal. He played the adult Simba in the original Toronto run of the musical 'The Lion King'; was an inaugural member of the English acting company of the National Arts Centre in Ottawa and was a member of the first graduating class of the Soulpepper Academy in Toronto. 'Each part Michael played was powerfully realized,' artistic director Antoni Cimolino said in the news release. 'His work was true and realistic. His portrayals had an integrity that was compelling. It drew you into his reality. 'We will all remember him both for his art and his person. He was a member of our artistic family and he will be deeply missed.' Funeral details have yet to be announced. The festival said it will dedicate a production to Blake's memory in 2026.
India Today
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- India Today
Top 7 Indian blockbusters of 2025
Top 7 Indian blockbusters of 2025 Jul 19, 2025 From historical epics to massy comedies and gritty thrillers, Indian cinema in 2025 delivered box office gold. Here's a quick look at the seven biggest blockbusters that ruled the year. Credit: Instagram/Adhik Ravichandran Note: All figures are based on data from and and denote collections in India. Credit: Instagram/Ajay Devgn Vicky Kaushal shines in this historical epic based on Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj. The film stormed the box office with Rs 604.1 crore nett in India. Chhaava Credit: Instagram/Vicky Kaushal This comedy-mystery unfolds on a luxury cruise, where imposters fight over a billionaire's will. A laughter riot, it grossed Rs 218.33 crore approximately. Housefull 5 Credit: Instagram/Akshay Kumar Mohanlal returns as Stephen Nedumpally in this intense political thriller directed by Prithviraj Sukumaran. It earned Rs 123.25 crore gross in India. L2: Empuraan Credit: Instagram/Mohanlal A cocky basketball coach trains neurodivergent adults for community service and ends up transforming himself. The emotional drama minted Rs 195 crore gross. Sitaare Zameen Par Credit: Instagram/Aamir Khan Productions Venkatesh Daggubati headlines this festive Telugu drama, directed by Anil Ravipudi. It made Rs 186.7 crore gross at the domestic box office. Sankranthiki Vasthunam Credit: Instagram/Venkatesh Daggubati A don seeks redemption but must confront his violent past. This gritty action-drama struck a chord and earned Rs 180.75 crore gross. Good Bad Ugly Set in 1989, an honest cop battles corruption and power in Rajasthan. With its gripping narrative, it stands at Rs 173.44 crore nett and counting. Raid 2
