Jonathan Crombie, best known for playing Gilbert Blythe in the Anne of Green Gables TV movies, has died at 48. The actor suffered a brain hemorrhage in New York City on Wednesday, April 15.
Crombie's sister, Carrie Crombie, confirmed his passing to CBC News on Saturday. "We've been going through lots of stories the last couple days," she said. "He was funny, he was sweet, he loved acting, he loved comedy and singing and dancing. As a little kid, he just loved Broadway shows and all of that kind of stuff and would sing and dance in the living room."
Crombie played Gilbert Blythe in the CBC TV film Anne of Green Gables in 1984, and again in its 1987 and 2000 sequels. "He really enjoyed that series and was happy, very proud of it — we all were," Carrie said. But above all, she thinks his favorite role was when he played the lead in Broadway's Drowsy Chaperone in 2007. "That was just an amazing thing for him to be able to do."
The Toronto, Canada native also has several TV credits to his name. He's appeared in The Good Wife, 21 Jump Street, Power Play, and voiced Benjamin Bear in The Secret World of Benjamin Bear.