Leonard Steve Stephenson

08/01/2007

Leonard Steve Stephenson, 63, of 755 Maple St., an actor and producer who brought drama by building awareness and understanding of race relations to theatrical stages across the country, died Wednesday at Fairview Commons in Great Barrington of cancer. Born May 16, 1944, in Berkeley, Calif., son of Albert and Lila Belle Rattler Stephenson, he attended local schools in Berkeley. He had an early taste of performing, singing Dayo with Harry Belefonte at a local Boys Club show at the age of 7. The experience gave him a life-long love of the stage. Mr. Stephenson earned a degree in marketing from National University in San Diego in 1982. He enlisted in the Marine Corps in 1961, serving in Vietnam and working as a prosecutor for JAG. He rose to the rank of gunnery sergeant before being discharged in 1982. While in the Marines, he helped found the Honolulu Opera Company and a regional repertory company in Okinawa, Japan. Mr. Stephenson pursued acting full-time after a 21-year career in the Marine Corps, appeared in television shows including "Hill Street Blues," "St. Elsewhere," "McGyver" and the soap opera "Santa Barbara" early in his acting career. He formed his own company, Berkshire-based Rattler Productions, where his productions brought the works of Athol Fugard, and Alfred Uhry to high schools, colleges and regional theaters, bringing awareness of race relations and the black experience to audiences throughout the United States. His lead roles included Hoke Colburn, the black driver in "Driving Miss Daisy," and Mr. M, the schoolteacher in Fugards antiapartheid play "My Children My Africa." He also played the lead role in Eugene ONeill's "The Emperor Jones." He was a member of the Lee VFW Post as well as Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television Actors and Actors Equity. Mr. Stephenson moved to Lee to marry his wife, Caroline Meyer Young. They were married on Dec. 24, 1987. Besides his wife, he leaves two daughters, Cathondra Stephenson of San Diego, Calif., and Ursula Stephenson of Chico, Calif.; two sisters; and three grandchildren. FUNERAL NOTICE -- There will be no services for Leonard Steve Stephenson, who died Wednesday, Aug. 1, 2007. KELLY FUNERAL HOME 3 Main St. Lee, MA 01238 is in charge of arrangements. Mr. Stephenson leaves many nephews and nieces, and his community of friends, theatrical colleagues and the young actors he mentored.

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