Paul-Almond-Obituary

Paul Almond

1931 - 2015 (Age 83)

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AGE
83

Obituary

LOS ANGELES (AP) - Paul Almond, a Canadian-born filmmaker whose landmark 1964 documentary "Seven Up!" inspired an extended look at British children's unfolding lives, has died. Almond was 83.

Almond died of complications from heart disease at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center on April 9, his longtime friend David Stansfield said Thursday.

"He wanted all his life to be a poet. But he had to earn a living and ended up being a producer and director," Stansfield said.

The Montreal native started his career at the CBC and went on to produce and direct more than 100 dramas for the Canadian network as well as U.S. and U.K. broadcasters, according to Almond's website. He also wrote and adapted plays for TV.

He brought the works of Harold Pinter, Tennessee Williams and other famed writers to TV, and his projects featured future stars including Sean Connery, Maggie Smith and William Shatner, Stansfield said.

Almond, also a big-screen filmmaker, took great pride in the movies "Isabel" (1968), "Act of the Heart" (1970) and "Journey" (1972), which he wrote and directed, his friend said. The movies starred Almond's then-wife, actress Genevieve Bujold.

It was in England that "Seven Up!" emerged from a pub discussion in which Almond observed that Britain's social class system was firmly entrenched. His companion cited the maxim, "Give me a child until he is 7, and I will give you the man," and the idea for the project was born, Almond's website recounts.

The critically praised "Seven Up!" in which 14 children from different social and economic backgrounds talk about their lives and futures, ended up being the foundation for a continuing look at them by filmmaker Michael Apted.

Apted, a researcher on the original film, revisited its subjects every seven years for the documentaries including "7 Plus Seven" in 1970, "21 Up" in 1977 to the latest, "56 Up," released in 2012.

Almond, who received a lifetime achievement award from the Directors Guild of Canada and was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada, turned to writing full-time in 1990. His published works included the "Alford Saga," eight adventure novels based on family history. His survivors include his wife, Joan; Matthew Almond, his son with Bujold; as well as stepchildren and grandchildren.

A memorial is planned for April 26, what would have been Almond's 84th birthday, at St. Aidan's Episcopal Church in Malibu, California, the seaside city in which lived, Stansfield said.

___

LYNN ELBER, AP Television Writer


Copyright © 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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I regret that the last time Mr. Almond was in Campbellton, N.B for a book signing, I was in Ontario. I had discussed possible locales for this event, he chose the one I recommended. I had wished for another Alford Saga and another conversation or email and another time that he might come again.
I had a very small bit in one of his films made in Shigiwake. When he was awarded the Order of Canada, I congratulated him and asked if I should now call him "Lord Paul" and he said to...

When our loved ones we lose Our heart does break The sorrow no one can away take ( John 11:33)

May Gods loving care comfort and sustain your family in this most difficult time. Isaiah 49:13

God will satisfy your need of comfort. Death is something we are never prepared for. ( Isaiah 61:2)

The death of a loved one is accepted as an expected event, it will never be a natural normal event for God has put eternity into our hearts .

Sleep peacefully, Paul Almond. Job well done!

May God bless you and your family in this time of sorrow.

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