TSC actor Johnny Lee Davenport passed away Sunday night in Boston. He was nearly 70 years old. His wife Kelly and his daughter were heroic caregivers these past few months. He was allowed to pass peacefully.
You may remember Johnny Lee as our Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Prospero in The Tempest, King Duncan in Macbeth, Malvolio in Twelfth Night, the title role in Othello, and in our small talented company of Richard III.
I worked with Johnny Lee the last half of my life in several theatres. I spent more time with him onstage (usually killing him or being killed by him) than with anyone else. He was a big brother to me, a fellow soldier, and a genuine light to hundreds. He could have made much more money doing film and TV work, but he felt compelled to do classical theatre. Thank goodness.
He was born in Baton Rouge. He began making a living as an actor in Chicago. He was a veteran of Vietnam and on the receiving end of innumerable racist actions and words. His responses were full of grace and education, which were great lessons to me.
He loved being here in Memphis and knowing you all. He loved living with his TSC host families and being with our actors, staff, and Board members.
He once told me how important he felt it was that we had created Tennessee Shakespeare Company in Memphis, and how much he admired your support of this mission. Thank you for helping us make an artistic home for the big man.
As Cassio says over Othello’s body at the end of the play: “For he was great of heart.”
– Dan McCleary
P.S. These TSC photos feature him in roles you can likely guess or remember. But my favorite is the one with him standing at Kelly’s side.
