Leonard
Stephenson

(LEFT: As  Hoke Coleburn from
Driving Miss Daisy)

Leonard Stephenson died Wednesday, August 1 of 2007. He had recently been diagnosed with cancer and when it went into his lungs, the end came mercifully quick; too quick for those of us who knew him, worked with him, applauded his performances and most assuredly for she who loved him.
 
Steve was the founder of the theatrical troupe A Mixed Company and headed up Rattler Productions; touring the states with “Driving Miss Daisy” and “The Emperor Jones” as well as Athol Fugard’s “My Children, My Africa!” I had the great pleasure of seeing him perform at Cal Tech several years ago when his company migrated west from Lee, Massachusetts for a tour.
 
When my best friend told me she was to marry, I was taken aback. Caroline? Married? Holy Moses! “He must be a hell of a guy to land you!” All I cared about then was that he treat her right. It came to pass that he meant far more to me than that however. Steve had an infectious laugh. He used to get me giggling over the most ridiculous things; like whether Caroline’s onions would fall through the grill’s grate and why couldn’t she just put a steak over the coals like the rest of the world? Caroline, being a vegetarian, would never dream of such a thing. He deeply loved his wife. All the passion he put into his performances I saw in his eyes when he looked at her.
 
Time passed and I stayed in LA and found my own passionate love. Caroline and I e-mail each other now and see each other only when traveling, but I still love the petite blonde who rescued me periodically, from my own foolishness and the world’s general woes. Now, when I should be with her I’m 3,000 miles away without the ability to be at her side but my heart has been with her since she wrote and told me of Steve’s illness. I confess I prayed for a speedy end to his misery. He was far too good a man to have to suffer the tortures of that insidious rot. I picture him strutting a heavenly stage, bellowing as Jones was wont to do, and making God himself tremble before the onslaught.
 
And now upon receiving word of his passing, I cried for Steve and for Caroline and for the multitudes that won’t hear that deep and sultry voice speaking the words of Alfred Uhry or Fugard or countless others playwrights that tickled Steve’s imagination enough to bring a Stephenson production to the boards. If you didn’t see him, you missed something too special for mere words. If you did, then cherish that memory, as the blend of mind, spirit and talent that was Leonard Stephenson has moved past us and we’re that much poorer for it.

- Jessie Lilley Campbell