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Jonathan Crombie Mourned: The 48-Year-Old Star Of ‘Anne Of Green Gables’ Dies Of Brain Hemorrhage In New York City

By Pam Wright
Published on: 09:10 PST, Apr 19, 2015

Jonathan Crombie is being mourned as fans come to grips with the loss of the actor who starred in the beloved 1985 CBC miniseries, Anne of Green Gables, and is remembered as being “as generous, as kind, as sensitive and as ambitious” as the character he portrayed.

Best known for his role as Gilbert Blythe in Anne of Green Gables, Jonathan Crombie died of a brain hemorrhage on April 15 in New York City. He was 48.

Jonathan Crombie’s sister, Carrie Crombie, confirmed the news of his death to CBC News.

According to Carrie, brother Jonathan Crombie loved nothing more than performing.

“He was funny, he was sweet, he loved acting, he loved comedy and singing and dancing. As a little kid, he just loved Broadway shows and all of that kind of stuff and would sing and dance in the living room.”

The son of David Crombie, who was mayor of Toronto from 1972 to 1978 and served as a cabinet minister in the 1980s, Jonathan Crombie most recently starred in an episode of The Good Wife. He is also known for his role in Broadway’s The Drowsy Chaperone, of which Carrie Crombie said he would be most proud.

“I think he was really proud of being Gilbert Blythe and was happy to answer any questions… he really enjoyed that series and was happy, very proud of it — we all were. [But] I think his proudest part was when he played the lead in Drowsy Chaperone on Broadway. That was just an amazing thing for him to be able to do.”

According to Entertainment Tonight, the current mayor of Toronto, John Tory, extended his condolences to Jonathan Crombie’s family on Twitter.

“On behalf of the people of #Toronto, I extend to the entire Crombie family my deepest sympathies on sudden death of actor Jonathan Crombie.”

Anne of Green Gables producer Kevin Sullivan said there were incredible similarities between the real-life Jonathan Crombie and his character on Anne of Green Gables.

“Jonathan was as generous, as kind, as sensitive and as ambitious, in some ways, as the character he came to be identified with. I think for legions of young women around the world who fell in love with the Anne of Green Gables films, Jonathan literally represented the quintessential boy next door, and there were literally thousands of women who wrote to him over the years who saw him as a perfect mate.”

Sullivan went on the voice the sentiments of fans worldwide when they learned of Jonathan Crombie’s untimely death.

“I think there will be hundreds of people who will be floored that this has happened. It’s such a devastating tragedy.”

[Photo Credit Steve Wilkie/PBS]

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