West End performer Owain Rhys Davies has died aged 44

Actor Owain Rhys Davies has died at the age of 44.

Davies trained at Sir Paul McCartney’s Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA), where he earned a BA (Hons) in Acting, before continuing his studies at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York and the Groundlings.

His UK theatre work included appearances in the West End and on national tours. He performed on the UK and Ireland tour of The Lion King as Ed, Zazu and Timon, and covered the role of the Lion in The Wizard of Oz at The London Palladium. His other West End credits included understudying the role of Pepper in Mamma Mia! at the Prince Edward Theatre and playing Bingo Little in By Jeeves! at The Landor.

Tributes have poured in from across the theatre world over the last few days. Welsh National Theatre posted: “Owain was a remarkable talent whose work enriched Welsh theatre and screen, and whose contribution to the performing arts will be remembered by audiences, colleagues, and friends alike. His passion, creativity, and dedication to his craft made a lasting impact on the cultural life of Wales.”

The news was confirmed by Davies’ brother, who shared: “Owain was fortunate enough to have more than one family. Alongside his biological one, he built extraordinary, family-like bonds with many of his closest friends, colleagues, and loved ones. I am incredibly proud that, while he was my brother, he was also a brother to so many others. We know that this loss will be felt by a great many people, and we take comfort in knowing how loved he was.”

He added: “Our understanding at this stage is that Owain passed suddenly, naturally, and peacefully.”

Davies also performed at the Royal National Theatre as a Swing/Protean in A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. His regional and subsidised theatre credits included Imagine This at the Theatre Royal Plymouth, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Royal Lyceum Theatre in Edinburgh, Fiddler on the Roof at The Arts Centre, Abigail’s Party at the Chapter Arts Theatre and The Caucasian Chalk Circle at the Paul McCartney Theatre.

Writer and director Thomas R Wood shared: “He was the kind of fast friend I could miss for a year and pick right back up again, going more than a decade now. He was there when I was alone in London and again a few months back when I was figuring out NY and he was figuring out life.”

Performer Michael D. Xavier added: “I can’t believe I’m actually posting this. My fabulous friend, Owain Rhys Davies has left us. I spent time in LA hanging out with Owain a few years ago and he made me feel safe and connected when I was so far from home and friends. Last time I saw him was to watch our friend Gina Beck shining in Guys and Dolls. I’m gutted to not have seen him since. Owain was so talented, kind, thoughtful and the most sarcastic person I’ve ever known. To make him laugh was like striking gold!”

Outside the UK, his stage work included playing William Shakespeare in Something Rotten! at the Cape Rep Theatre and appearing in UMPO Stranger Things at The Rockwell Los Angeles, for which he received an LA Stage Award for Outstanding Performance.

Actor Peter Caulfield said: “Owain put me up in LA when he lived there, he was such a sweetheart. And such a talented Welsh actor- who was proud of his roots. He was always the most generous, funny, self deprecating, lovely person.”

On television, Davies appeared as Agent Wilson in the revival of Twin Peaks for Showtime and Sky Atlantic. His other television credits included The OA for Netflix, My Dead Ex for Hulu, The Indian Doctor for the BBC and Hulu, The Rex Roman Project for BBC Three, and the BBC/S4C productions The Cockle Farmer and Cowboys & Engines.

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