William Hutt born in 1920 in Toronto crafted a distinguished career rooted in Canadas theatre scene Opting for a quieter path he joined the Stratford Shakespearean Festival becoming an integral part since its inception in 1953 Renowned for his iconic Shakespearean roles like Hamlet and Lear he periodically explored film and television showcasing his talent in performances like Tiny Alice on Broadway and Long Days Journey Into Night After 37 seasons at Stratford he retired in 2005 with a reprisal of Prospero in The Tempest marking a celebrated legacy Hutt an influential mentor shaped the careers of numerous Canadian performers like Colm Feore and Christopher Plummer leaving an indelible mark on the theatre He was slated to return to Stratford in 2007 but had to cancel due to health reasons Graduating from the University of Toronto in 1949 he impacted the theatrical world through his 130 productions over 39 seasons at Stratford