Photo: Rich Lam/Getty
Michael Kopsa, a Canadian actor and voice-over artist who appeared on television inThe X-Files,Smallville, andStargate SG-1as well as the filmFantastic Four, has died. He was 66.
His former wife, Lucia Frangione, shared the news Tuesday via Twitter, announcing the late actordied of a brain tumor on Sunday.
“The great Michael Kopsa, my dear friend and the father of my child, Nora, passed away Oct 23 2022 of a brain tumour,” she wrote. “He was an incredible stage and screen actor, voice actor, carpenter, musician and painter. Most importantly, he was a loving and richly present father.”
Kopsa’s representative Jamie Levitt ofLauren Levitt & Associates Inc.— who worked for the late actor for over two decades — told PEOPLE that Kopsa “was loyal. He was a terrific actor. He was a good friend, father, and an outstanding member of our community.”
“He was an intense human who followed politics and had strong opinions,” Levitt continued. “If he presented crusty on the outside, it was only to protect his gooey heart.”
Recalling a memory of working together with Kopsa, Levitt told PEOPLE, “He and I once had an argument about him going in to see a casting director for an audition.”
“I was forcing him to go in. He was yelling at me saying this casting director didn’t like him and so the ‘fight’ went,” the talent agent shared. “In the end, he did go in the room. And while he didn’t book that part with that casting director, he booked the next one and the rest flowed….and even though he fought me in that moment, he adopted a saying I asked him to repeat as he was finding his feet ‘the money is coming and will not stop. The roles are lining up for me.’ And he never looked back.”
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Born on Jan. 22, 1956, in Toronto, Kopsa later moved to the United States to study acting at the Circle in the Square Theatre School, spending four years in New York until 1984. He thenmoved back to Canadato finish an arts and science degree at the University of Toronto, according toThe Hollywood Reporter.
He was a familiar face in Hallmark movies, includingValentine in the Vineyard,Marrying Father Christmas,Love in WinterlandandIt’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas, among others.
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On Hallmark Channel’s official Instagram, the network remembered Kopsa in a post, writing: “A friend and colleague to many, today we honor the legacy of Michael Kopska.Always in our hearts❤️.”
Kopsa landed his first feature film role in 1985’sTimingbefore booking a slew of other movie gigs likeFantastic Four,Apollo 18,Love HappensandRise of the Planet of the Apes.
As a voice actor, he worked onMobile Suit Gundam, theGalaxy Angelanime series,Ninjago,Alien RacersandPrincess Castle.
source: people.com
