R.I.P. Charles Nelson Reilly

Charles Nelson Reilly has died. The AP is reporting it was of complications from pneumonia.

I met him several times, and he was always the very best type of person. The first time was when I was a pre-teen and working as an extra on The Ghost and Mrs. Muir television series. Years later, he was the guest of Fred Hyatt on The Sunday Opera at KPFK, where I was the engineer. After mentioning that I had worked with him earlier, he instantly began treating me like a long-lost colleague. During future visits, he would be the one reminding me of how we had worked together those many years before.

He was passionate and committed to his art, which was theater in its very many varieties. I personally witnessed hours-long discussions about opera and the musical stage, and he obviously knew of what he was speaking. Both on and off the air, he was quick with jokes and stories. He filled the room with his presence and always left everyone smiling. He was a good guy and will be missed.