William Hutt showed that it was possible to be a great classical actor without sacrificing his Canadian accent or cultural identity. His imperishable portraits of Tartuffe, King Lear, Lear's Fool, Feste, Khlestakov, Duke Vincentio, Titus Andronicus, Timon, Argan, Lady Bracknell, James Tyrone, Sr., and Prospero ensured that he will be remembered as long as there is cultural memory. Offstage, he could be charming and witty or moody and oppressively grand. He remained the Duke of "Dark Corners" to many who wished to know him more intimately. In this detailed, probing, and thought-provoking biography, Keith Garebian weaves together Hutt's private and public lives, his most intense conflicts, deepest yearnings and anxieties in order to show how Hutt brought his life to his work and work to his life in a manner that left him vulnerable to wounds of the heart yet open to radical re-invention as an actor.

Keith Garebian is the author of five previous poetry collections — Frida: Paint Me As a Volcano (Buschek), Blue: The Derek Jarman Poems (Signature), Children of Ararat (Frontenac), and Moon On Wild Grasses (Guernica) — and fourteen books of non-fiction. His writing has earned him numerous awards, including the William Saroyan Medal (Armenia), three Mississauga Arts Awards (Established Literary), Canadian Authors Association (Niagara Branch) Poetry Awards, and numerous grants from the Ontario Arts Council and the Canada Council.

Keith Garebian's profile page

William Hutt was one of the greatest actors of our time: a true theatre legend. He was also a deeply private person, an enigma even to those of us who knew him and worked with him. In this absorbing new biography, Keith Garebian not only offers us his personal perspective on Bill’s so potent art but also delves deep into the complexities and conflicts within the master magician himself.

Antoni Cimolino, Artistic Director of the Stratford Festival

A radiant national genius.

Robin Phillips

You cannot contemplate the establishment and the flourishing of Canadian theatre without the name of William Hutt.

Martha Henry

Probably Canada’s all-time most versatile classical actor.

Christopher Plummer

The greatest actor in our country, and one of the truly great actors of our time.

Timothy Findley

"The greatest actor in our country, and one of the truly great actors of our time." - Timothy Findley "A radiant national genius." - Robin Phillips "Probably Canada's all-time most versatile classical actor." - Christopher Plummer "You cannot contemplate the establishment and the flourishing of Canadian theatre without the name of William Hutt." - Martha Henry "He was our Northern Star."- Antoni Cimolino

This is a compelling, genuinely delightful biography that not only focuses on the trajectory of Hutt’s long and active career and personal life, but also situates this personal history in the development of Canadian theatre.

Canadian Literary A Quarterly Criticism and Review

Few would dispute that Christopher Plummer is Canada’s most famous classical actor. But when it comes to our most versatile classical actor, few, including Plummer himself, would argue that the honour goes to William Hutt. Of course, younger critics simply have to take the word of us older ones, who were fortunate to see Hutt onstage. He died in 2007, leaving behind a legacy of unparalleled performances, predominantly at the Stratford Festival. Unfortunately, unlike Plummer, Hutt seldom had the opportunity to commit his work to film–although when he did, as in the 1996 version of A Long Day’s Journey into Night, it proved what a magnificent actor he was. Now, with the recent publication of Keith Garebian’s William Hutt: Soldier Actor, he has the major biography that he deserves. Keith, who published two previous books on Hutt when the actor was still alive, has been labouring on this one for years and the result is a rich, highly readable tome, lavishly illustrated with photos (as all books about the theatre should be), that covers the full scope of the man and his achievements.

Martin Morrow, President of the Canadian Theatre Critics Association