Gary Reineke was a renowned American actor, born in Wisconsin to Lester Reineke, a builder, and his wife Merle, one of ten siblings. He graduated from the University of Wisconsin and initially pursued a career as an English teacher.
However, Gary's dissatisfaction with the school system led him to enroll at a theatrical academy in Seattle, where he was mentored by acting coach Arne Zazlove. This marked the beginning of his acting journey, which commenced on stage in 1968 and on screen in 1974.
Throughout his career, Gary performed in various theatrical roles, including the iconic parts of Inca king Atahualpa in The Royal Hunt of the Sun and Hamlet in Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead. He also appeared on Broadway during a brief run of the play Execution of Justice in 1986.
Gary's performance in Sam Shepard's play Buried Child in 1980 earned him a Dora Award, and his portrayal of Pinkerton detective Seavey in The Grey Fox (1982) garnered a Canadian Genie Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.
During the 1980s and 1990s, Gary became a staple in Canadian and American television productions, appearing in notable shows such as Due South, The Murdoch Mysteries, Dieppe, Mutant X, Street Legal, and A Nero Wolfe Mystery.
Gary Reineke passed away on September 23, 2024. He was predeceased by his wife, the talented Toronto-born actress Brenda Donohue, who sadly succumbed to cancer in 1979 at the age of 28.
