Frank Shirar

Frank Shirar wandered into Rover's life last year as we began our new adventure in the renovated Plano Stages' Cox Building Playhouse. An actor for years and years, including award winning work while overseas in the armed services, Frank was taking a chance on a small theatre he had barely heard about and on a script he never knew existed, Agatha Christie's Love From a Stranger adapted by Frank Vosper.


Later that year he took on our boot camp
style endurance test One Day Only 7!


This season, he appeared in Rover's production of Steven Dietz's Private Eyes as the therapist... yes named Frank. During the rehearsal, Frank was again diagnosed with cancer and began treatment before the show opened.

He never missed a performance.

Heck! he never even missed an entrance.

He was thoughtful and opinionated, focused but not inflexible.

This past week on Sunday June 24th, Frank passed away with his family in attendance, as his son Paul states, "He was surrounded by love, family, and faith. My mother and I were by his side."

Many of us involved with what was to be Frank's last production saw him in April at a cast get together. He had threatened to show up with a pot of menudo rather than sweets or snacks. His confidence, sly banter and signature defiance towards his condition never suggested the awful difficulties he was undergoing.

Now that is a great actor.

Thanks so much Frank. We miss you.