Joseph Shaw, an actor, director and teacher who trod the boards at Stratford and was founder of the George Brown Theatre School in Toronto, has died.

Shaw died at Stratford General Hospital on Wednesday with his son, Timon, at his side. He was 87.

Joseph Shaw as Julius Caesar in the 1965 production at the Stratford festival.
(Peter Smith/Stratford Shakespeare Festival)

He had been suffering from emphysema, according to a statement from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival released Thursday.

Shaw acted for 24 seasons at the Shakespearean festival in the southwestern Ontario town of Stratford.

He played Duncan in Macbeth, Caesar in Julius Caesar and Pedant in The Taming of the Shrew.

"Joseph Shaw was a memorable character actor," said Stratford's former artistic director Richard Monette, who knew Shaw since he was 20.

Joseph Shaw founded the George Brown Theatre School in Toronto.
(Stratford Shakespeare Festival)

"He had a wicked sense of humour, a generous heart and was loved by the acting company at Stratford. He will be truly missed," Monette said.

Shaw was born in Britain and began playing Shakespeare while still in school.

He studied drama for two years at the Central School of Drama in London, and appeared with various companies throughout Britain.

He came to Canada in 1954, performing at the Crest Theatre in Toronto where he also served as associate director.

He staged plays and musicals in Montreal, Halifax, London, Toronto and St. John's, as well as at the Shaw Festival and in American regional theatres.

He joined the Stratford festival in 1962 and took on roles such as King of France in All's Well That Ends Well (1982 and 1988); Old Adam in As You Like It (1996 and 2000); Seigneur Anselm in The Miser (1998); and John of Gaunt in Richard II (1999).

"Joseph's acting style was highly unique," said Don Shipley, Stratford's co-artistic director.

"During the years he graced our stages, he provided audiences with exceptional and unforgettable performances. He was a major talent who believed passionately in his work and was relentless in his pursuit of excellence."

Shaw started the George Brown Theatre School and served as its director for its first 10 years. Many Canadian actors remember him as a mentor and a teacher.

At the Shaw Festival in Niagara-on-the-Lake he is remembered for playing the leading role of Charles Condomine in a sell-out Blithe Spirit.

His screen work included The Veteran and The Lady with Wendy Hiller; leading roles in The Brass Pounder from Illinois and Pierre Berton's The National Dream and roles in Chasing Rainbows, Seeing Things, Street Legal and A Gift to Last.

More recently he appeared in The Great Defender and Dieppe. He retired from acting in 2006.

His wife, actress Mary Savidge, predeceased him in August 1982. He is survived by his son, Timon.