René Auberjonois

René taught me so many things - how to question the status quo. He challenged me to dive deeper and push myself to read new authors and types of books I would never have tried. Sometimes, I loved them. Sometimes, I learned they weren’t my cup of tea. He introduced me to art and artists.

We talked politics - relentlessly. I loved that I could hit him up when something came across the news and get his take on it. We were very much politically aligned.

He celebrated my successes with me, and when I had losses, he comforted me and talked me through them.

For so many people, he was Odo, or Clayton, or Pendergast - or any of the other amazing characters he played. But for me, he was my friend, my family.

I still miss him. Sometimes, it’s with a gentle smile at a memory. And other days, it’s full-on sadness with tears.

I realize I’m not alone in this loss, and I’m grateful - still to this day - when people tell me how wonderful a guy he was and that they’re sorry he passed away.

But, I do feel like I should start sharing on here again. I don’t know with what frequency that will be, but I will post things relating to René and his long career.

I hope you enjoy that content and help keep his legacy alive.

René Auberjonois passed away today. You will read many obituaries that will list his extensive body of work over the years. He was a Tony Award winning performer who brought so many characters to life throughout his career.

But those obituaries won’t tell you about René and his passion for Doctors Without Borders, or how he donated the proceeds from his “Odo Bucket” drawings at every convention to that organization. They won’t tell you about his affection for his fans and how he interacted with them at conventions and on social media.

They won’t talk about his passion for people watching and street photography of those same people. Nor will they list that his artistic talents also included unique line drawings and fantastic sculptures.

René Auberjonois was so much more than the body of work he left behind. He was a generous, kind, passionate man who loved life and those around him. He possessed a wry sense of humor and was well read. He loved fiercely, and he was fiercely loved.

We can be grateful for what he left behind and know, that while we miss him, we are fortunate enough to see his smile and hear his voice anytime we want with a simple push of a button.

However, we must also remember that René Auberjonois was more than simply a collection of characters. He was a husband, father, brother, grandfather, and friend. He was, to put it simply, the best of men.