An Angel Just Got their Wings!

It is with great sorrow we share the news that Ensemble member John Mohrlein passed away on December 8 after a long, courageous battle with cancer. He passed peacefully surrounded by those who loved him deeply.

Artistic Director Gwendolyn Whiteside shares, “John was an incredible visual and theater artist. He saw beauty in everyone and everything. His talent, enthusiasm of life, profound generosity, and passion will be long remembered. An Ensemble member for 25 years, John strengthened every production on or off stage. There will never be another man like him. Bells are ringing.”

Information about memorial services will be shared at a later date.

JOHN MOHRLEIN was a proud Ensemble member of American Blues Theater for 25 years. At American Blues, he appeared in Waiting for Lefty, Half of Plenty, A View from the Bridge, The People’s Temple, Strictly Dishonorable, The Million Bells of Ocean, American Dead, The Hairy Ape, A Lie of the Mind, Endgame, American Buffalo, The Skin of Our Teeth, One Day Only, The Threepenny Opera, A Stone Carver (Jeff nomination for Best Actor, After Dark Award for Outstanding Performance); and directed Catch-22. In addition, John performed in several editions of The Ripped Festival as well as the annual holiday classic It’s a Wonderful Life: Live in Chicago! for the past 20 years in the roles of “Clarence/Mr. Potter” (Joseph Jefferson Award nomination for Ensemble and production).

Other theater credits include: The Glass House at the Art Institute of Chicago; Golden Boy and Tuesday’s Child at Williamstown Theatre Festival; Front Page, Black Snow, Red Noses, as well as six additional productions at Goodman Theatre; and The Cripple of Inishmaan, Heart of a Dog, and Murder of Cardinal Tosca at Northlight Theatre.

His extensive television and film work includes “Golden Boy”, “Good Night Sweet Wife”, “Dillinger”, “Killing Floor”, “Early Edition”, “Crime Story” (recurring role), “Fargo” (recurring role), “Chicago Cab”, “Untouchables”, “Devil’s Dominoes”, “Stranger Than Fiction”, “On the Right Track”, “The Resentful Angel”, “No Place to be Somebody”, “Hellcab”, “Hero”, and “Cold Justice”.

In my years of doing Santa for “It’s A Wonderful Life: Live In Chicago” we always had great fun, kidding each other both in the dressing room and onstage. I know an angel ( or many) just got their wings!