Remembering René Auberjonois
Growing up, it was really hard for me to get to sleep and really the only way my mom could get me to go to bed was to let the TV play until I passed out. We would end up watching reruns of Golden Girls, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Star Trek: DS9. Familiar voices from such actors as Sir Patrick Stewart, Estelle Getty, Armin Shimerman, and René Auberjonois would help me drift off to dreamland, much to the relief of my sleep-deprived mother.
Others might remember him more for his time in MASH as Father Mulcahy, but I recall René Auberjonois best as my favorite out-of-this-world changeling. It was also a most welcomed surprise when he would show up in other beloved series of mine, Madam Secretary, Warehouse 13, Winx Club, NCIS, etc. But no matter what title you know him for, one thing was always quite evident – his remarkable talent. His distinct characterizations came as no surprise – especially once you learn he used to teach at the prestigious performing arts conservatory, Juilliard – though his talent was being forged long before his teaching days.
According to his website biography, “René was born into an already artistic family, which included his grandfather, a well-known Swiss painter, and his father, Fernand, a writer. The Auberjonois family moved to Paris shortly after World War II, and it was there that René made an important career decision at the age of six. When his school put on a musical performance for the parents, little René was given the honor of conducting his classmates in a rendition of Do You Know the Muffin Man? When the performance was over, René took a bow, and knowing that he was not the real conductor, imagined that he had been acting. He decided then and there that he wanted to be an actor.”
The thing I found to be so evident in Auberjonois’s portfolio is his passion. On his website he references passion as his biggest motivator and advises young actors/creatives to pursue their dreams for passion rather than money.
“When young folks ask my advice about whether or not to pursue a career in ‘show biz’, my answer is usually something along the lines of: Do it for the joy – not the fame – do it anywhere there’s an audience – don’t worry about being a professional. If you can imagine yourself contented doing anything else as a profession – DO THAT!”
– René Auberjonois
As an actress, I have heard this advice many times before, but the repetition never undermines the meaning. Passion is the tesseract to all creative types’ motivation. It contains their purpose and reason. René inspired others of a similar mind to follow the path they feel most impassioned by. This is a vital element to having a life you feel worth living. It is truly an incredible thing he did to allow such candid interaction with his fans. There is an immense gratitude and admiration for him for never having given up on his dream and giving inspiration to others, like myself, with the same passion.
Out of the plethora of roles he has played over the years, the one with the most impact on my own life was Odo, a changeling aboard the space station, Deep Space Nine. His chemistry with Nana Visitor in particular was undoubtable. Colonel Kira and Odo’s partnership was one of my favorite aspects of the series – alongside that of Armin Shimerman’s performance as everyone’s favorite ferengi, Quark.
I can only hope as we mourn this galactic loss, that his memory may live long and the love for his impassioned work will prosper. My deepest condolences to his family, friends, and fans.
