Patrick Quinn, the newly appointed executive director of the Actors’ Equity Association, died suddenly of a heart attack in the early hours of Sunday, Sept. 24. He was 55. Maria Somma, a spokesperson at Equity, confirmed the news. Mr. Quinn died while at his country home. The Council of Actors’ Equity Association announced on Aug. 22 that he would be the union’s new executive director, effective Oct. 5. He was to have succeeded Alan Eisenberg, who is leaving after 25 years in the position. A native Philadelphian, Quinn began his Equity career in 1970. His credits include 10 Broadway shows. He was first elected to the Council, Equity’s national governing body, in 1977. Since that time he has served as third vice-president, first vice president and for 17 years chaired the Union’s negotiating teams for its flagship Production Contract. In 2000, the membership elected him to the first of three terms as president. Quinn is a founding member of Equity Fights AIDS and has served as the second vice president since 1993 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. He is a trustee of The Actors’ Fund of America, Equity-League Pension, Health and 401(k) Trust Funds, the Actors’ Equity Staff Pension Plan, and serves as Secretary of the Actors’ Equity Foundation and a delegate to the Associated Actors and Artistes of America. Actors’ Equity Association is the national union representing 45,000 stage actors and stage managers. It is a member of the AFL-CIO and is affiliated with the International Federation of Actors (FIA), a worldwide organization of performing arts unions. In his new role, Quinn would have directed the collective bargaining process for more than 30 national and regional contracts, overseen the Union’s finances, supervised Equity’s staff located in five offices, and represented AEA within the industry as well as to the public. Tall and boyishly handsome, Mr. Quinn was a genial presence in Broadway shows like Beauty and the Beast, Lend Me a Tenor, The Sound of Music and A Class Act. His most recent appearance was in the Cape Playhouse production of Sylvia and earlier this season he appeared in Gunmetal Blues at the George Street Playhouse. Mr. Quinn is survived by his partner of 12 and a half years, Martin Cassella. He is also survived by his brothers James and his wife Sondra, of Naples, Florida; Gerard and his wife Gail of Cotesville, Pa; John and his wife Marguerite, of Doylestown, Pa; and a sister, Livanne Antonucci and her husband Joseph; and nine (9) nephews and nieces. In lieu of flowers, donations should be made to the Actors’ Equity Foundation, BC/EFA, or the Actors’ Fund of America.
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