Doreen Brownstone, a performer and champion swimmer who became a well-known actor in Winnipeg has died. She was born in Leeds, England, on September 28, 1922 and died in December 2022. She was 100 years.

A cause of death was not stated.

Aside acting, Doreen also taught swimming for more than 40 years.

Doreen was also active in the Winnipeg Little Theatre, and in an amateur theatre group headed by John Hirsch, their drama teacher and director (or as Brownstone says “he was our Theatre School”).

During one of the rehearsals with established Canadian actor Gordon Pinsent, they talked about where they would go from here and Brownstone suggested forming their own theatre company, which led to the formation of Theatre 77, with Hirsch as the artistic director.

During Doreen’s lifetime, she  starred in over 100 productions.

Her dedication to community and professional theatre won her the title of the Grande Dame of Theatre.

She was married to Billy Brownstone and they had three children.