Anne of Green Gables' Gilbert Blythe passed away

[Gray Bunny]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/jonathan-crombie-anne-of-green-gables-actor-dead-at-48-1.3038948

I'm sure I'm not the only person here who loved the Anne of Green Gables films of '85 and '87. Actor Jonathan Crombie (a.k.a. Gilbert Blythe) passed away on April 15th of a brain hemorrhage at the age of 48.

Anyone else love this film series/book series back in the day?

[DRW50]

Sorry to hear this. It sounds totally unexpected so I can't imagine how his family must be feeling right now. I was more into Avonlea than the movies or books, but I remember what a handsome man he was.

[I Am A Swede]

How sad.

I absolutely loved the miniseries "Anne of Green Gables", and also the similar tv-series "Road to Avonlea" which came a few years later.

Please register in order to view this content

[Taoboi]

OMG!!!

One of my first childhood crushes.

Loved the books, the movies, and the show when we would have those Disney free preview weekends.

I am sorry for their loss.

[Khan]

This news seems unreal to me. I absolutely loved his performances in the miniseries.

May God be with him and his loved ones always.

[DRW50]

http://foreveryoungadult.com/2015/04/18/you-will-always-be-our-gilbert-blythe/

[All My Shadows]

I started the book long ago but never finished it, but I plan to soon. The miniseries and related TV series seem to be right up my alley.

RIP

[DramatistDreamer]

I just finished reading Jonathan Crombie's obituary in the NY Times. He was still young and so active. Truly sad. May he RIP and may his family find some eventual comfort and healing somehow.

It was after watching the film on PBS as a child that made me run out and buy the books. I haven't seen the 2000 movie (how can I have missed that one!) but I loved Anne of Green Gables and Anne of Avonlea. The location of the films were stunning and beautifully shot (made me want to book a ticket to visit P.E.I.) the cast was wonderful. And I am always tickled when I see Megan Follows pop up in any TV show or film. I read that Crombie was cast after the producers saw him in a school play, (I wonder if this ever happens anymore?) even with virtually no prior professional experience, he must have been such a professional to hold his own in a show with the likes of Colleen Dewhurst and Richard Farnsworth (I adored them both). I loved the chemistry Crombie and Megan Follows had on that show! I wonder how Follows feels to have learned of his death.

Man, I looked forward to watching the installments on PBS back then. I could go and watch the series all over again, although I suspect it would make me sad if I were to watch right now-- I'd constantly be thinking of Crombie's death, which would lead me to thinking about Dewhurst, Farnsworth and everyone else in the cast who had passed. Sometime down the road, I'd like to check out the 2000 film and revisit the earlier series.

[Gray Bunny]

For Christmas about 4 years ago, I got the 5 disc DVD of Anne of Green Gables, which includes Anne of Avonlea (1987) and Anne: The Continuing Story (2000). I have to admit, I have not watched The Continuing Story in its entirety yet. Megan Follows' voice is different, but she still looks the same! I like how they revisited Green Gables, now owned by someone else, and Diana (same actress) was still married to Fred (different actor), living large after Aunt Josephine left her her riches. But then the story introduces Cameron Daddo (whom I still equate with MODELS INC.) and I didn't finish it.

I always loved watching this when it'd air on PBS as a kid in the early 90's. My sister and I liked to reenact some of the school scenes from Anne of Avonlea when she had to put up with those snooty Pringles and Miss Katherine-with-a-K.

What I learned much later was that the storyline was completely restructured on Anne of Avonlea (or "Anne of Green Gables: The Sequel," as it was sometimes billed) and incorporated aspects of 3 of the following books: Anne of Avonlea, Anne of The Island, and Anne of Windy Poplars. Either way, the world of Anne was fun escapism. I never truly knew the time frame of when they were supposed to take place, but in The Continuing Story it is confirmed that that particular film takes place during World War 1.

[DRW50]

A lot of fans seem to severely dislike the third one.

[katie_9918]

The third one was a complete departure from the book timeline. In the final book of the series (Rilla of Ingleside), it was Anne and Gilbert's three SONS who went off to fight in World War 1.

I very much enjoyed Sullivan's first two films and his Road to Avonlea series (Crombie even appeared as Gilbert Blythe in the tribute episode to Colleen Dewhurst following her death), and there were some great moments in the third movie.

This does get me in the gut a little. The Gilbert of the books was just every girl's dream boy and Jonathan Crombie portrayed him so well. He truly became Gilbert Blythe and I like that he was happy about that.

Damn. A brain aneurysm. That's frightening.

[Cat]

Gilbert Blythe! Wow. He was excellent in the series. (And obviously the books were amazing. Anne of Green Gables was a beloved favorite of mine for a long, long time).

RIP, Jonathan Crombie. This is sad news indeed.

In honor of Gilbert and Anne's feisty relationship on screen:

[MoTheGreat]

I recorded the series, I'm guessing I never saw the 3rd one when they had three sons.

I love their courtship. I didn't have to worry about them not getting together. They probably the first couple I rooted for.

Hoping they show series in all parts.

[Khan]

Now I remember why Anne Shirley felt like such a kindred spirit to me.

[Cat]

For me too. There wasn't a false emotion about her.

And Megan Fellowes embodied that character with a lot of feeling, spirit and charm.