Posted by Bruce MillerRuan Woolfolk, our good friend and a talented Richmond actor, died in a Chicago hospital on May 13. He was 36 years old. He had been pursuing his career outside Richmond for the last few years. We do not know the cause of death.
Ruan played Tom Robinson in Barksdale’s 2003 production of To Kill a Mockingbird, Jim in Theatre IV’s mainstage production of Huck and Tom and the Mighty Mississippi, and Coalhouse in Ragtime at both Dogwood Dell and the Riverside Center Dinner Theatre in Fredericksburg. He toured with Theatre IV for two years, and with the national company of Man of La Mancha. With Sight and Sound in Pennsylvania, he performed in Behold the Lamb, Noah’s Ark, Ruth, and Christmas Celebration.
On YouTube, you can find video of Ron singing in the Riverside production of Ragtime. Below is a photo of Ruan in our production of Mockingbird.
Ruan is survived by his large and loving family in Spotsylvania, Washington D. C., and Maryland. We mourn his passing. With love and respect, we will be dedicating our fall production of Driving Miss Daisy at Hanover Tavern to his memory.--Bruce Miller
9 comments:
Ron was such a sweet and happy guy. I'm so sorry to learn of his death. I can only hope that his final days were pleasant and peaceful. Thanks for sharing this sad, sad news.
i was so sad to hear this. he was such a kind person and working with him on ragtime was a delight. he always made his cast members, even the ensemble members who were just blinks compared to him in that show, feel included and liked.
another member of the angel row.
I had the privilege of seeing Ruan perform as Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime. He embraced the character, the story, the cast and each audience with a grace and passion few possess. It was a pleasure and a joy to watch him work.
I, like so many, will miss him.
I went to high school with Ruan and sang in a choir that he was a keyboardist for after high school. He was one of my best friends. To say my heart is broken by is passing, but I know that he loved Jesus. Rest in peace my friend!
I had the pleasure of living and working with Ruan while we were in a production called "Blast From The Past." He was truely one of the kindest and warmest people I have had the oppurtunity to work with. His passing remains a mystery to me.. but he will certainly be missed.
I just found out. I worked with Ruan on "Once on This Island" at Dogwood Dell. He became a great friend. His presence, beautiful energy, and amazing talent will be missed.
I worked with Ron "Ruan" at the radio station in Richmond... we'd both been in Dreamgirls at the Dogwood Dell in Richmond. Also, I remember him in "Once on This Island", and we both auditioned for "Guys and Dolls". He was definitely a fun and funny person, and a talented guy--a triple threat (singing, dancing, acting), as they call 'em! I am so shocked at this news--he was so young. I will keep his family in my prayers.
Ruan worked with us at Gretna Theatre in PA in 2006 and was a warm and funny man - we are sad to hear of his passing. We hold him in our memories.
I was getting some books together to donate to charity when a photgraph I had taken of Ruan fell out. It was one of his favourites. I also took the Photo of him that is displayed above at top of this page. I had no idea he had passed. We had lost contact not long after I took these head shots for him. He was a sweet guy and we only spent about 3 weeks as friends before loosing contact. I always wondered where he was and what he was up to.... Seems he has just answered my curiosity. Cheers Ruan!! Peace
Luke
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