Yahoo News ‘Once Upon a Time,’ ‘Smallville’ Actor Chris Gauthier Dies at 48
Chris Gauthier, a Canadian actor best known for his TV roles in Once Upon a Time, Eureka and Smallville, died on Feb. 23 at the age of 48.
In a statement shared with The Hollywood Reporter, his manager Elena Kirschner shared that Gauthier died “suddenly and unexpectedly following a short illness.”
More from The Hollywood Reporter
“He was a kind, witty, passionate and empathetic man and we will all miss him dearly,” Kirschner added. “Our hearts go out to his family that he spoke of with such love and pride and we ask that you respect their privacy during this difficult time.”
TriStar Appearances’ Chad Colvin also issued a statement on Facebook, according to various reports. “When I first entered the talent repping business almost nine years ago this month, it was at the behest of one certain actor. But I knew I needed more clients to start with if any event was going to take my entry into the business seriously,” wrote Colvin. “And the second actor to jump on board, due to remembering my pedigree being on the Eureka set as press, was Chris Gauthier. He felt my excitement for this new endeavor, he trusted me and he had faith in what I wanted to do to get him out there with the public and fans more.”
The representative continued, “Without Chris and his enthusiasm and dedication, I wouldn’t be where I am now, able to book almost the entire Eureka cast. His word of mouth, his trust and his never-ending joy of life inspired me daily.”
Gauthier was born in Bedfordshire, England and resided in Vancouver, British Columbia. He is survived by his wife and two sons.
The actor got his start with a small role in the Josh Hartnett-starring rom-com 40 Days and 40 Nights. He also appeared in horror films Freddy vs. Jason and Riding the Bullet. His big break came with his role as villain The Toyman in Smallville, which was a recurring role. He then had a supporting role in the Sci-Fi channel series Eureka in 2006. The actor became best known for playing Smee in Once Upon a Time, making his debut on the show during its second season.
Upon hearing the news of Gauthier’s passing, his Once Upon a Time co-star Colin O’Donoghue took to Instagram, sharing a photo of them on set. O’Donoghue wrote, “Rest in Peace Chris! Heartbroken! My love and thoughts go out to Erin and the boys! You will be missed brother! You were the real captain!!”
Once Upon a Time showrunner Adam Horowitz also commented on Gauthier’s passing on X, writing, “So sad to hear of the passing of Chris Gauthier. Such a kind, sweet, and talented person. You will be missed.”
Best of The Hollywood Reporter
