Canadian theatre director Daniel Brooks, first Siminovitch Prize winner, dies at 64

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Daniel Brooks, a renowned Canadian theatre director who won a number of awards in a career that spanned over four decades, has died at 64.

A news release announcing his death says he died in Toronto on Monday after a long illness.

In his over 40-year career, Brooks was a director, writer, actor, producer and teacher, and frequently collaborated with other artists, including fellow Toronto natives Don McKellar and Tracy Wright, with whom he co-founded independent theatre troupe Augusta Company.

Brooks was nominated in 1992 for a Governor General’s Literary Award in the drama category for The Noam Chomsky Lectures, co-written with Canadian theatre artist Guillermo Verdecchia.

In 2001, Brooks was the winner of the inaugural Siminovitch Prize, which its website says recognizes artists who have made a significant creative contribution to theatre in Canada.

Brooks’ family says a celebration of life will be held this summer.