Doug Long (1962-2025)
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Actor, Director, Professor and beloved theater & film educator, Doug Long has passed away after a battle with leukemia. Doug was a cherished figure in the Chicago Theater community, connecting students and professionals with the rich world of Chicago theater through teaching, directing, and acting, and he was a frequent presence on Chicago stages as well as being known for giving many their first theater jobs.
After moving to Chicago with his wife in 1996, Doug began pursuing a career in theater. One of Doug’s earliest roles was in 1999, playing Mr. Pink in a 1999 production of Quentin Tarantino’s RESEVOIR DOGS, by Azusa Productions. He then went on direct plays for the Retro Theatre Company, the Annex Theatre and the Bailiwick. He was assistant director for a staging of SLAUGHTERHOUSE FIVE for Steppenwolf Theatre Company, and directed for both The Theatre Building and Victory Gardens Theater, where he taught several courses. In 2000, Doug joined the faculty at Depaul University, eventually becoming the Director of the First-Year Program, where he became the force behind the Discover Chicago Immersion classes, designed to help freshmen learn research, writing and critical thinking skills, and find community by exploring the city with their classmates, faculty and staff leaders. The program went on to be recognized as one of the best of its kind in the nation by U.S. News & World Report, and Doug lead the program for 15 years. In September, Doug was awarded the university’s Spirit of DePaul award for those who exemplify the spirit of the university, and DePaul is renaming its Innovation in Teaching Award in his honor. Doug never retired. Whilst at DePaul, Doug also taught “Chicago Theatre,” a course that introduced freshmen to DePaul and Chicago by sending them to theater productions around the city, and “Chicago in Film,” which allows freshmen to study Chicago through its portrayal in cinema. Doug also taught courses on movie musicals, the films of Alfred Hitchcock and on the year 1939 in Hollywood. Doug was passionate about theater from the very beginning, enjoying writing and directing plays with his twin brother, Dave, and casting family members and friends in small parts. Doug then went on to earn a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism and Theater in 1984 from Ball State University, where he acted in and directed plays, and also worked on the student newspaper and its weekly magazine. After college, he worked for a time as a reporter for local newspapers in Anderson. Doug then returned to Indiana University, where he earned a 1989 Master’s Degree in Theater and Drama, and then a 1995 MFA in Directing. From 1987 until 1996, Doug served as Director of Audience Development for Indiana University’s theater program and advised student directors on full productions. In addition to his duties at DePaul, Doug also taught theater at College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn. Outside of work, Doug researched and wrote about classic movies, including book reviews for Film Quarterly. He also pursued theater projects and was active as a choir member and reader at St. Barnabas Episcopal Church in Glen Ellyn. In addition to his wife Kay and twin brother David, Doug is survived by a son, Adam; a daughter, Sarah; two more brothers, William and Benjamin; and his parents, Fred and Patricia. Jeanne Williams, an actor who also is the associate director of academic services in DePaul’s theater department, worked with Doug for more than nine years in the first-year program’s Chicago Theatre class. “Doug was the person who always shined the light on others, (and) he was proud to give that spotlight to his students, colleagues and friends, but many times, the spotlight was on them because Doug was the one who led them to it. He had a great eye for casting and allowed his actors to explore boundaries, then would gently guide them to the space he wanted them to be in.” With thanks to the Chicago Tribune. |