[msb-alumni] John Peakes, Lansing Area Actor Dead at 83

From: Steve <pipeguy920@xxxxxxxxx>
To: <msb-alumni@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 27 Jan 2017 17:00:28 -0500

BlankI remember his Thee Stereo Shoppe commercials in the 1980-era. Also, in
looking at IMDB, he appears in four different movies.

BoarsHead Theater co-founder John Peakes dies at 83 Mike Hughes, for the
Lansing
State Journal

John Peakes, whose BoarsHead Theater took Lansing to the upper reaches of the
arts scene, died Thursday at 83. "I think his mind lasted longer than his body
wanted to," said his son, Ian Merrill Peakes. "He wanted to stay for our son,
Owen."

As always, Ian said, John had great timing. Owen, 8, came into the room and
said, 'I love you. The grandfather, on a morphine drip, "woke and said, 'Oh hi,
you're there." Then he smiled and went back to sleep.

John died a while later with his son, his wife, Judith, and his ex-wife,
Connie,
at his side.

That tender moment may help define a man who covered all the extremes. Tall
(6-foot-3) and booming, Peakes could make a quick impact.

"He just had a great presence," said Jane Zussman, a theater buff.

It was a presence he could maintain on and off the stage. John Peakes and Ibi
Janko in 1998 Boarshead Theater production of "Wrong Turn at Lungfish". (Photo:
Greg deruiter/The Lansing State Journal)

"He was intimidating," Guy Sanville recalled of the days when Peakes was his
teacher and director. "He was very professional and to the point."

But Sanville, now the artistic director of Purple Rose Theatre, adds that
Peakes
was no bully. "He was kind; he looked you in the eye and never looked away."

Dick Hill, who was directed by Peakes, also noted that kindness. Yes, they
"butted heads quite often," he said. Still: "I had some times of personal
problems, and he was immediately supportive and loving."

It took a great range of emotions and skill to tackle the near-impossible job
undertaken by Peakes and Richard Thomsen. In 1966, the two former University of
Iowa professors were creating professional theater at the Ledges Playhouse in
Grand Ledge. They made BoarsHead a year-round theater in 1970 and moved into
the
Center For the Arts in 1975, for a time still doing summers in Grand Ledge.

They launched stars -- William Hurt, Kristine Thatcher, Carmen Decker, many
more -- and new plays. Money was scarce and, Ian said, spirits were high.

"I had the best childhood. I had these wonderful, intelligent, silly people
around me. It was a great mix of people."

This undated photo shows BoarsHead co-founder John Peakes and actress and
director Kristine Thatcher, who
began her career in Lansing. (Photo: Lansing State Journal)

Yes) Peakes continued after Thomsen left for New York. He slowed for a while
after the traffic death of Ian's older brother Jonathan, but then returned to
full-time.

"They did great work," Ian said. "They had this little theater, and it lasted
for 40 years."

BoarsHead closed in 2010, a few years after Peakes had moved to Philadelphia,
where he continued to be busy as an
actor, a director and a theater fan.
"That meant a lot to Ian," said Terry Nolen, artistic director of the Arden
Theatre in Philadelphia. "If his dad gave a standing ovation, he was always
quick to tell us."

And there continued to be ovations for the older Peakes. His "last great show,"
Sanville said, was "On Golden Pond," three years ago at Purple Rose. "He was
wonderful." Ian looked back at me and said, "That's my dad," with tears in his
eyes.

Ian's own career has prospered, including 20 shows at the Arden -- "we choose
our productions around Ian Peakes," Nolen said -- and others nationwide.

His father's death came Thursday morning, during a brief break between
out-of-town jobs. "He always had perfect timing," Ian said.

Following his father's wishes, he said, there will be no memorial service. Once
Ian returns to Philadelphia, there will be a small family gathering and a note
to friends. "Then they can all raise a glass to him, wherever they are."

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[msb-alumni] John Peakes, Lansing Area Actor Dead at 83

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