Douglas Rain, the Canadian actor who famously provided the calm and creepy voice of the computer HAL in the 1968 sci-fi masterpiece “2001: A Space Odyssey,” has died at age 90, according to reports.
The CBC reported on Sunday that Rain died at a hospital just outside Stratford, Ontario.
Rain had a long career as a Shakespearean actor, performing for 32 years in the Stratford Festival. He had more than 100 film and television credits, but his most memorable was as the sentient computer in Stanley Kubrick’s groundbreaking film.
“Open the pod bay doors, HAL.”
“I’m sorry, Dave. I’m afraid I can’t do that. … This conversation can serve no purpose anymore. Goodbye.”
