Festival Honors Passing of Actor Libby George

Libby George as Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit, 2004. Photo by Karl Hugh.

Libby George was a beloved Festival actor who performed here for five seasons in the late ‘90s and early 2000’s. She passed away peacefully at age 81 on October 15, 2024. She will be remembered for her vivacious nature and humorous portrayals of some very popular roles.

She played such memorable characters at the Festival as Nurse in Romeo and Juliet (1998), Mistress Quickly in The Merry Wives of Windsor (2000), Dotty Otley in Noises Off (2000), Veta Louise Simmons in Harvey (2002), and Madame Arcati in Blithe Spirit (2004), among others.

Festival Executive Managing Director Michael Bahr said of George, “We were incredibly blessed to have an artist like Libby George on the Festival stages. Her performances as these characters set the standard––it is as if they were each written for her, from Madame Acarti, Mistress Quickly, Dotty, and the Nurse, Libby’s ability to portray a human and comic reality brought connection to audiences. Libby was an incredible human being; she was joy and sparkle in a room; she positively radiated.”

George was born in Mill Valley, California, and because her father was in the Air Force, she spent the majority of her childhood living all over the world. Her family eventually moved back to Stockton, California, prior to her attending college at University of the Pacific. She lived for over 30 years in New York, NY, and had a full-time acting career on the stage, in movies, and on television shows. She retired to Stockton where she enjoyed spending time with family and friends. She was preceded in death by her husband Richard Thomsen.

A graveside service is scheduled for Friday, November 15, 2024 in Stockton. To read George’s full obituary, click here.

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