Richard S. Thomsen was born in Audubon, Sept. 22, 1932 and died at his home in New York City, Nov. 18, 2008, at age 76. He is survived by his wife, Libby George Colahan Thomsen of New York City; former wife Barbara Channer Thomsen of Charles City, children Anders Thomsen (Sarah) of Savannah, Ga., and Kira Thomsen-Cheek (Russel) of Seattle, Wash; Granddaughter Freya Emmet Thomsen, brother Frank Thomsen of Independence, Ore., sister Janet Schwarzkopf, of Charles City, and many nieces, nephews, great nieces and great nephews, ersatz grandchildren, nieces and nephews and countless lives and careers he influenced around the country.
He was a graduate of the University of Iowa and held B.A. and M.A. degrees with an ABD in Journalism. He was an Air Force pilot at the end of the Korean War; a print and radio journalist and television anchorman; college professor; artistic director of the Boarshead Michigan Public Theater of Lansing, Mich., (where he was the Michiganian of the Year in the Arts in 1981.). He was a playwright, an actor and director in New York City for the last 24 years. He performed on Broadway, off-Broadway and in theaters across the country, on national tours and in numerous films and TV shows out of New York. He last worked on stage this January through March at The Denver Center Theater as Bardolf in The Merry Wives of Windsor, directed by his friend David Ivers and will be seen soon in a yet to be released episode entitled "Thaw" of FX's Rescue Me.
His remains have been donated to the Mt. Sinai Medical School. In lieu of flowers, please make donations in his name to a small non-profit professional and union theater company of your choice. A memorial celebration will be announced at a later date.