Local thespian inspired, influenced many

Bill Ogilvie, director, teacher and stage and film actor, died Thursday at his home in Honolulu. He was 68.

Born William Prescott Ogilvie in Phoenix, Ogilvie was raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He studied acting in New York City before embarking on a career in theater that brought him to Hawaii in 1969.

His early work with Diamond Head Theatre (then known as Honolulu Community Theatre) and Manoa Valley Theatre (then known as the Hawaii Performing Arts Co.) was the start of a 45-year career as an actor, director and educator in Hawaii.

Gene DeFrancis, who worked with Ogilvie in Diamond Head Theatre’s production of "One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest" in 2003, and again in two subsequent productions, recalled "his voice, his passion, his energy."

"He was and is an inspiration to me," DeFrancis said Thursday. "Bill knew how to make everyone on that stage shine. He was the master of ensemble theater, and from ‘The Cuckoo’s Nest’ we took a ride on ‘The Twentieth Century (Limited)’ to ‘Apartment 3A.’ My concern and regret (is) that he may never know how much he meant to me, my life and my career."

Stacey Pulmano, who starred opposite Randl Ask and Howard Bishop in Diamond Head Theatre’s 2011 production of "Hairspray," remembered Ogilvie as an acting teacher who "made me feel ‘safe’ as a young actor. I was able to experiment, try new things, and push myself. Bill not only provided a safe environment, but also always put a smile on my face when I would see him around the theater."

Jonathan Clarke Sypert, multitalented actor and dancer also known as iNTREPiD, described Ogilvie mas "the first director to push me past myself."

Hawaii stage veteran Cecilia Fordham recalled "his work in the last decade with students in not only acting, scene study, film and theater, but (also) debate and speech tournaments. He mentored and encouraged young people and attended their performances."

Jennifer Okabe Laa added that Ogilvie "pushed kids to take risks and brought out the very best in them. And he was so generous! (He) made each kid feel like his favorite, and made each kid feel like they were talented and special and unique."

Theater audiences knew Ogilvie as a versatile actor. Among his most memorable roles were Argentine political leader Juan Peron in "Evita" at Diamond Head Theatre, Fredrik in "A Little Night Music" at Diamond Head Theatre, Mendy in "The Lisbon Traviata" at Diamond Head Theatre and Richard Nixon in Manoa Valley Theatre’s production of "Frost/Nixon."

Ogilvie received a Hawai‘i State Theatre Council Po‘okela Award for leading male in a play in 2009 for his portrayal of Nixon.

Carolyn Whitaker met Ogilvie at the callback auditions for "Evita" in 1991.

"I was so fortunate to play alongside Bill, (who was) my Juan Peron, in that fabulous production and then the following year to play his lover Desiree in ‘A Little Night Music.’ Bill was a committed, intelligent, thoughtful and talented actor who allowed his fellow actors to feel safe in his presence. He gave it his all each and every performance and it was a thrill to be with him on stage every night."

Ogilvie had lengthy credits as a director of shows as diverse as "One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest," "Fiddler on the Roof," "Six Degrees of Separation" and "Arsenic and Old Lace."

Wil Kahele hailed Ogilvie as "the best mentor, motivator (and) teacher anyone could ask for."

Mea Moon remembered him as "my mentor, father figure, teacher, director, friend."

"He believed in me and made me believe in myself," Moon said. "He gave me my first taste of directing and opened up a whole new world for me. He gave me freedom to imagine and create."

Ogilvie had a parallel career as a television and film actor that included appearances on "Lost," "Baywatch Hawaii," "Jake and the Fatman," "Magnum, P.I." and the original "Hawaii Five-0."

He also experimented with "Kanaka Komedy" as a member of Booga Booga following the departure of founding member Rap Reiplinger.

David A. Simmons summed up the feelings of several friends and colleagues in saying that he considered Ogilvie as having been more than a talented actor and director.

"He was a great person. I won’t mention names but during rehearsals I witnessed Bill stamping out a case of bullying when no one else would act. I admire so much about Bill and he will be missed."

Ogilvie is survived by his wife, Ann Hamilton Ogilvie; his daughter, Julia Hamilton Ogilvie of New York City; and his mother, Louise Ogilvie, who resides in the Lillian Booth Actors Home in Englewood, N.J.

A private service with family will be held at a later date.

"He wasn’t a ‘let’s have a big memorial service’ type of guy," Ann Ogilvie said Friday. "If we do some kind of celebration it would be down the road."

Donations in Ogilvie’s name may be made to the Friends of Kennedy Theatre, Honolulu Theatre for Youth, Diamond Head Theatre, Manoa Valley Theatre or Kumu Kahua Theatre.