Monday, January 05, 2009

The University of North Carolina Wilmington community is deeply saddened by the loss of actor Pat Hingle, a friend of the university and a mentor to the students, faculty and staff in the theatre and film studies departments. He died Saturday, Jan. 3, at his home in Carolina Beach. He was 84.

“I will remember his zest for life, his generous spirit, his gift for storytelling, and his dedication to sharing his intelligence regarding his craft with younger actors, especially UNCW students. He was an extraordinary person and a wonderful friend. We will miss him,” said Chancellor Rosemary DePaolo.

Pat Hingle began his career on stage and screen in the golden age of theatre and film, and lent his enormous talent to big-budget blockbusters, small local productions and everything in between. He appeared in numerous critically and commercially successful films and plays as well as multiple television series, specials and movies. His stage career included 24 plays on Broadway, including “Cat on a Hot Tin Roof,” “That Championship Season,” “JB,” “The Odd Couple” and “The Dark at the Top of the Stairs,” for which he was nominated for a Tony Award.

His screen credits include: “Splendor in the Grass,” “Hang ’Em High,” “The Falcon and the Snowman,” “Norma Rae,” “Sudden Impact,” “The Quick and the Dead,” four “Batman” films and the “Road to Redemption.” On TV, Hingle portrayed characters in “Dawson’s Creek,” “Matlock,” “Touched by an Angel,” “American Gothic,” “Murder, She Wrote” and many other shows.

He also gave command performances for the White House during the Johnson Administration and for the Library of Congress during the Reagan Administration. Locally, his professional appearances included “Our Town” at Kenan Auditorium and “Tuesdays with Morrie” at Wilmington’s Thalian Hall.

With his extensive experience, Hingle was a tremendous mentor and friend to UNCW. He was instrumental in shaping the Pat Hingle Theatre Guest Artist Fund, announced in November 2007 during a university tribute to him.

Once endowed, the Hingle fund will generate support to recruit professionals from the field of theatre – whether actors, directors, scene or costume designers or playwrights – to work with UNCW students, enhancing the learning experience for them as well as elevating the program’s overall excellence. To contribute, please send a check made out to UNCW and note on the check that it is for the Pat Hingle Theatre Guest Artist Fund. Checks should be sent to Marla Rice-Evans, University Advancement, UNCW, 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403-5990.

Media contacts:

Marla Rice-Evans, associate vice chancellor, University Advancement, 910.962.7055 or riceevansm@uncw.edu

Dana Fischetti, news and media relations manager, Marketing and Communications, 910.962.7259 or fischettid@uncw.edu